Locking up

Friday, 24 July 2009 10:00

Johnson's Hill Locks were before us and up them we must go

There are 7 locks and the flight is in good order – tidy and well maintained.

Bottom Lock

The view looking back from the 3rd lock, lock 62

Lock 61 has an attractive bridge (81) after the top gates

The approach to lock 60 feels very rural

The notice by lock 60 seems rather an “obvious” one, explaining how a lock works - until I looked closer and saw it was all in relief and is to enable those who are blind to enjoy the “lock experience” too.

What a brilliant idea

As we ascended lock 59 we saw our second boat of the day

Lock 58 is the top lock, we had done it! Beside the lock are a lock cottage; pub and boat services are above.

Top Lock PubCottage

Service notice

Above the lock there are a number of permanent moorings. We saw “K2” and wondered if it was Andy (from Khayamanzi)'s brother, Steve. We had a chat as we went by and the owner assured us he was the first and that Steve from the other Nb K2 was a bit annoyed to find he was the second - especially as he had checked with BW!

Nb K2, the first

Now we were out in the countryside

With sheep on the hills

After Brown House Bridge (86) the canal is lined with light woodland and is very pleasant. Withnell Fold has some old paper mills now in use for light industry.

Old Mill

Moorings opposite mill after Bridge 88

Out in open countryside again we came across the Ollerton Bridges, a sequence of three before the M65 bridge.

Ollerton Bridge 3

Ollerton Bridge 2 in distance

Looking back at Ollerton Bridge 3 the storm clouds were gathering

We were mooring pretty soon at Riley Green Bridge (91A) and we just made it before the rain really came down hard!

Opposite our mooring a little before the bridge I spotted this curlew in the field

So we had the afternoon to relax before meeting up with friends in the evening.

Johnson's Hill Bottom Lock to Riley Green Bridge – 3 hours 43 minutes, 3.59 miles, 7 locks