Tuesday 24 May 2011

Bingley to Shipley

A busy day today, and we still have the strong winds. We completed a total of 11 locks, including 3 staircases, Bingley 5 Rise, Bingley 3 Rise and Dowley Gap 2 Rise, plus 5 swing bridges. Although we did have lock keeper assistance at both the Bingley staircases. The day didn’t go without complications, one of the swing bridges wouldn’t close, eventually we were told just to slam it to drop the locking mechanism, which did the trick and we could get our key back out. Stopped for lunch at Saltaire and had a very nice meal in the Boathouse Inn, afterwards visiting Salts Mill, which includes the David Hockney Gallery. On returning back to the boat we found that some low life had thrown my flowers and life ring overboard, we might have given the wind the benefit of the doubt if it hadn’t been for the footprints left on the gunwhale. Leaving Saltaire we immediately pass through Shipley, but moorings didn’t look inviting so we went a little further into countryside.

019 Looking down Bingley 5 Rise, dropping 60 ft

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Yet another strange paddle gear

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Going down

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Exiting the last chamber

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Looking back at Bingley 5 Rise

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Looking down Bingley 3 Rise, dropping 30 ft

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Damart Mill

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Exiting Dowley Gap 2 Rise, dropping 18 ft 4 ins

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Saltaire, built by Sir Titus Salt in 1853, moored between New Mill (NHS) and Salts Mill

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A view of New Mill (NHS) and the River Aire

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Shipley Wharf

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