Airedale Country

Saturday, 15 August 2009 09:09

Road, River and Canal continue along the Aire valley

More swing bridges - but two of them were open!

Lanehouse Swing Bridge was growing grass

We wondered if this was a sky jump for those speeding boats who are towing skiers (imaginary of course!). Once we got closer we realised it was Woodhouse Swing Bridge (190).

Any skiers around?

Soon we were approaching Silsden - the home of the wide hire boat!

Silsden Boats were the last boat yard we hired from, although back then they had a fleet of Black Prince Hire Boats. Now they have a fleet of their own boats, some of which look as if they might have been Black Prince boats and have retained the livery. All Silsden Boats are ".... Drum" and look quite nice, although we are not too fond of the wide beams as they are rather big even on a wide canal! They cannot be very easy to steer but we did not have a meeting in the wrong place!

Silsden Wharf with two wide beams

It all looked much as we remembered but we were glad to get by before change over day! Two more swing bridges and the canal does a curve around the outcrop that is Lodge Hill Wood and the quarry, under a very different type of bridge.

Lodge Hill Bridge (194)

Woods and rhododendron bushes line the off side for the stretch into the outskirts of Keighley. The next swing bridge brought back memories. It is memorable for us not only because it is named Booth's Swing Bridge (195), but because the last time we were here (on that Black Prince narrowboat) it took three of us to open it. I wish I still had the photo that was taken!

I was amused to read Nicholson which says ".... little swing bridges regularly impede a boat's progress. This type of swing bridge is prone to intermittent stiffness due to the elements".  Swing bridges are not the only thing prone to "stiffness because of the elements" - my knee joints let me know if it is damp!

Anyway John took on Booth's bridge and after a certain resistance at first it opened

Our final swing bridge of the day was opened by the boat in front of us - it was electric and the one directly before the visitor moorings at East Riddlesden in the outskirts of Keighley.

Stockbridge Swing Bridge (197)

We moored up above "Puffer Parts" - a chandlery that is more like Aladdin's cave than a chandlery. We are staying here for the weekend as there are a few things to "do" from here and as the weather looks as if it is going to behave John has planned a couple of excursions!

We patronised Puffer Parts, owned by a wonderfully chatty Scot who regaled us with some stories and cheerfully sold us a new chimney, chinese hat and bungees for the cratch cover!

Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Kildwick to East Riddlesden - 2 hours 33 minutes, 5.12 miles, 0 locks