Saturday, September 10, 2016

Shipley to Dowley Gap.

Another short day today, but unlike yesterday we made a deliberate attempt to leave late! I had a bit of shopping to do up in Shipley anyway, so it was nearly 11:00 by the time we untied and set off.

A short row of soot-stained cottages alongside the canal stand amid the modern office blocks on the edge of Shipley.
IMG_1832 

Saltaire is just a short distance away, the legacy of industrialist Titus Salt. A mill owner in Bradford initially, he recognised that the poor conditions of his workers’ lives should be improved, and had a new mill and village built out in the country, naming it Saltaire. It wasn’t all philanthropy, happy workers make better workers.

New Mill on the right, now more often known as Salt’s Mill.IMG_1834

Fine campanile tower
IMG_1837

A cluster of boats under Saltaire Bridge
IMG_1838
There are only short-stay visitor moorings at the mill, although between here and Hirst Mill Lock there are rough moorings on the towpath side. These boats are all trading, a cafe boat, trip boat and a trader selling painted canal ware.

Hirst Mill Lock is deep and usually busy with folk walking and visiting the nearby garden centre. There’s a swing bridge to negotiate just above, too.IMG_1841 

There’s a wooded section now, ending at the aqueduct where the canal crosses the Aire, then the staircase pair of locks at Dowley Gap are reached.

The pound here was down by several inches, and I got a fuzzy shot of a squirrel rooting in the strand.IMG_1843

Dowley Gap Aqueduct
IMG_1844

Dowley Gap Locks
IMG_1845

Staircase locks always appear very deep, the actual rise here is around 18 feet.IMG_1847

Clough-type paddle gear on the top gates, sadly out of commission.IMG_1848

We usually moor just past the next bridge, and that was the plan today. We were amazed to see so many boats tied up in what is normally a quiet spot! IMG_1850
We got in just around the corner, though. A bit shallow but that’s common.

Tomorrow we’ll be heading up the 3- and 5-Rise Locks at Bingley.

Locks 3, miles 3

2 comments:

Carol said...

We watched a recorded programme of Pru and Tim doing this trip last night on Great Canal Journeys. It’s still one that I want to do at some stage! Hope you’re both well, love to you both from both of us! xx

Geoff and Mags said...

Hi Carol. You'll have to downsize! Keep well. Enjoy the winter down there on the river.
XXX