On to the Huddersfield Broad Canal

Tuesday and we set off from Mirfield in company with NB Willow, our lock buddy for the day. How is it, I wonder, that we keep befriending Australians? 

Hilary and Graeme live in Sydney and, like us, are out for 6 months on their boat. Willow is longer than us and, once again, we have to manoeuvre them into the lock first and we come in alongside. 

This is an old wharf crane in the centre of Mirfield. 

At Cooper Bridge Junction we could have continued straight on to Sowerby Bridge. Instead, we doubled back on ourselves to follow the Huddersfield Broad Canal. 

Looking back over our shoulder at the signpost onto the Calder & Hebble Navigation. 

The sky might look gloomy but not the captain. The early part of the canal was covered in duck weed but this cleared up as we moved forward. At one point we had a slight delay since the boat ahead could not open the lock gates. It appears that they didn't appreciate how to release the handcuff key locks on the paddles. 

As we entered Huddersfield we encountered the Turnbridge Loco Liftbridge dating from 1865. Doesn't it look good. 

It is now electronically operated (thank goodness) and here is the bridge half raised. Once again, traffic has to be stopped before the bridge can be opened - quite a heady power trip! 

This is the old lifting gear and the housing for the counterweights. 

Just as we cleared the bridge we found a mooring close to Sainsbury's when a hire boat pulled out and moved off. Willow also managed to find a space close by. 

In all we tackled 10 locks and travelled 7 miles. A slow old day but very enjoyable.