Bringing our boat home, Silsden to Rufford

[mrscloudinspector]

Hello,

 

OK so it was last summer but I have finally uploaded my pictures to photo bucket so I thought I would post a few from our maiden voyage/steep learning curve/initiation...

 

We picked out boat up last July in Silsden, spent a bit of time with the previous owners going through all the essentials and then sharing a bottle of bubbly with them to celebrate

They very kindly allowed us to stay on their home mooring over night so that we could move our stuff on and so there we spent out first night on 'Alternative Therapy' :lol:

 

Next morning, after a bit of dithering, we decided to ease ourselves in gently and make our first trip to Skipton...and we're off

 

 

After a shedload of rain the previous dayand a bit of a dull start...the sun started to shine - this is the life

 

 

eeek a swing bridge I don't know what the hell I'm doing!

 

 

We made it!

 

 

Lets go buy some new things! Is that boat down there really ours???

 

 

more to follow....

Edited February 19, 2013 by mrscloudinspector

[Bazza954]

Crikey !!!! seems really strange seeing someone else on our old boat.

 

have fun

 

Bazza

[mrscloudinspector]

Crikey !!!! seems really strange seeing someone else on our old boat.

 

have fun

 

Bazza

 

 

Hi Barry

 

Not long now though before you pick up your new one?

[mrscloudinspector]

It was great being on the boat in Skipton would have liked to stay longer but we've a long way to go

 

 

Unfortunately the rained returned..but at least I'm a dab hand at those swing bridges now

 

Edited February 19, 2013 by mrscloudinspector

[Titus]

I wondered where Alternative therapy had gone, it's my partners favorite name for a boat

[BargeeSpud]

Crikey !!!! seems really strange seeing someone else on our old boat.

 

have fun

 

Bazza

You too Bazza!!?? Whale oil beef hooked, my sister-in-law owned it in the late '90s early '00s. It was called September Morn then, bought from Stanley Ferry kept at Bank Newton on the L & L before being sold through Harral Brokerage about '05.

[Bazza954]

Hi Barry

 

Not long now though before you pick up your new one?

Hopefully around mid April

 

You too Bazza!!?? Whale oil beef hooked, my sister-in-law owned it in the late '90s early '00s. It was called September Morn then, bought from Stanley Ferry kept at Bank Newton on the L & L before being sold through Harral Brokerage about '05.

 

we bought her in 2006 from a couple who had lived on her, she was still called september morn and had a red and green paint job.

spent 3 years doin her up, sadly parting with her in 2012.

new boat coming soon.

[BargeeSpud]

we bought her in 2006 from a couple who had lived on her, she was still called september morn and had a red and green paint job.

spent 3 years doin her up, sadly parting with her in 2012.

new boat coming soon.

Here's a little reminder Bazz.

 

[Bazza954]

Here's a little reminder Bazz.

 

The top of Bingley 5 rise if I'm not mistaken ?

[BargeeSpud]

The top of Bingley 5 rise if I'm not mistaken ?

You are indeed, correct sir. Sister in law's hubby is on the back.

Edited February 19, 2013 by Spuds

[mrscloudinspector]

My first lock, Holme Bridge- I was terrified!!

 

 

It rained and rained - the wonderful British summer!!

 

[mrscloudinspector]

Another of Holme Bridge lock - Getting the hang of things

 

 

 

OK, where was I...oh yes it had been raining a bit...

 

 

 

At least we had the stove to dry out

 

 

and the JD to warm our toes...

 

 

 

Some blue sky

 

 

Visitors

 

 

Next up Foulridge - our first tunnel, it was fantastic being on the from of the boat gliding through the still water - quite eerie

 

 

 

We were knackered but once we stopped we couldn't resist polishing bits, superb mooring at the other end

 

 

We pressed on through Barrowford locks the next day which we shared with a lovely couple who were on their way back to their mooring at Red Rock and actually lived in the town we come from but I was so busy I didn't get chance to take any pictures - doh! Not quite so attractive but quite impressive though was Burnley Embankment but we pressed on to get as far out of the town before we moored and was rewarded with an amazing sunset

 

 

[mrscloudinspector]

Next day we travelled through Blackburn and again shared the locks with a really nice couple with a lovely trad boat with vintage engine, we moored at the top of the Johnsons Hill flight which we tackled alone the next morning

 

 

We had arranged to meet my parents and Martin's mum at Botany Bay so they could join us for a cruise to Red Rock, Martin's mum hadn't been on a boat for years and she absolutely loved it- they spent many years holidaying on narrowboats when he was a kid, we were just sorry his dad was no longer with us to see us with a boat of our own

 

 

Next day we were to do the Wigan flight. We waited at the top for a while unless anyone else was going down, alas not, and all the locks were set against us! But at least the sun was shining

 

 

Top lock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We didn't pass anyone till near the bottom and then two boats came up one after the other. If the second boat crew had bothered to walk up and look they would have seen us coming down but they just drained the lock and then drained the pound leaving us grounded but the first boat in the next lock up crew realised and emptied some water out of their lock to fill it up so panic over. To be honest this was the only time we experienced boaters being anything but really helpful to us novices It was a bit scary though...

 

Me and Mr C had got a great lock routine going but it was slow going, luckily a friend of ours who has a boat came and helped us with the last half and it was amazing just how one extra pair of hands speeded it up and we moored for the night outside the (then)BW offices

 

 

We spent the next morning meeting some of the locals and picked up some flower baskets

 

 

 

 

We took a detour to Leigh to spend a night moored with our friend Chris and for some friends to come and have a look at the boat, ended up a bit of a party....

 

 

Our friends boat nb Ivan Hirst on the right

 

Edited February 22, 2013 by mrscloudinspector

[mrscloudinspector]

Turned round the next day and headed back to Wigan and on to Appley Bridge, we weren't hurry now so we decided to spend a few days pottering back to Rufford, stopping at Parbold along the way too

 

It was a shame to see Wigan Pier so neglected

 

 

Appley Bridge

 

 

Gathurst

 

 

Parbold

 

 

Parbold has an Ice cream parlour!

 

 

At last we reach the Rufford branch and start to head 'home'

 

 

We didn't stop when we got to the marina, we decided to have one more day travelling so we went up to Tarleton and saw some boats going onto the ribble link, maybe one day...

 

 

The next day we headed to the marina to settle in

 

 

 

Looking back through these has just made me even more excited about getting out and about this year, can't wait.

 

Apologies if I have got some of the details or locations wrong

[Loggo]

Great reading

[tillergirl]

Great write up and pics Mrs CI. We shall be leaving the "other side" in the next couple of weeks and we still haven't managed to meet up! Can't miss the boat now though if you do wander over............just this week had the sign-writing done.

 

[mrscloudinspector]

Great reading

 

Why thank you :-)

 

Great write up and pics Mrs CI. We shall be leaving the "other side" in the next couple of weeks and we still haven't managed to meet up! Can't miss the boat now though if you do wander over............just this week had the sign-writing done.

 

 

Hi TG

Signwriting looks fab, will try and wander over for a nosey before you head off

[BargeeSpud]

I didn't know they had a statue of me at Wigan!

 

Can I claim royalties do you think?

[muddywaters]

Thank you for sharing really enjoyed it.

Great pictures.

Got me excited for getting a boat now

[bowten]

Yep,enjoyed the photos as much as you enjoyed the trip.

[canals are us?]

Really enjoyed reading about your journey and viewing the lovely pictures, makes me look forward to getting out of the marina and exploring the fabulous network

 

James.

Edited February 24, 2013 by canals are us?

[cl@rkey]

Thanks for sharing. I think I'll be as terrified as you, when approaching my first lock!

[Homer 123]

Really enjoyed reading and seeing your photos. Only around 4 more weeks now to when I'm due to complete on my house and start my journey back home in my new boat. I will be single handed so am quite nervous of locks and tunnels!

[Glynn]

Looks nice, where are you moored, St Marys or Hitlers ?.

[mrscloudinspector]

Now, now...

 

We are on Fettlers and I would just like to say that all our neighbours are lovely, helpful, friendly and have welcomed us to the boating community B)

 

To be honest we didn't know anything about either before we got the boat and we actually phoned St. Marys first but they were full

 

I didn't know they had a statue of me at Wigan!

 

Can I claim royalties do you think?

 

 

Definately :lol:

 

Thanks everyone who commented, I might treat you to a few pics of our little trip down the Trent and Mersey last August if you're well behaved