Life on the ocean(?) wave...
Recently had a week with a boat from Snaygill and have been more than impressed.
We managed to get from Skipton up to the summit level into Lanacashire (spit), through the Foulridge tunnel, turned about, into Shipley and back to base within the week. That's 50-odd sets of locks, too many swing bridges, 7 days of glorious sunshine and 4 chilled-out people.
4mph? Eh? OK...Do NOT go on a stag booze cruise with one of their boats, they've just had a bad experience with one on our last night. Boat due back at dusk (no cruising after dark), speed limit 4mph, slow for moored boats, no drink-driving. Every rule broken. And then they thretened to throw the owner of the boatyard in the canal.
But, for the standard law-abiding intelligent people, their boats are fine. Clean, tidy, one small mechanical problem with the engine got sorted quickly. Makes a big difference dealing with a family run firm. We used almost everything on board and didn't miss anything that wasn't there.
Wanted to do this sort of holiday since being a kid, but never got round to it. Once we'd found our shipmates (Jared [Admiral of the fleet] & Joe) we, well I, started the worrying. "How do we operate the locks", "how does the boat handle with the steering point in the middle and the tiller going the wrong way?", "reversing - ARRRGGHHHHH"
Snaygill gave us basic training on the boat, all the gear on-board as well as handling, mooring, swing bridge operation. And they had a chap meet us at the first set of locks to talk us through it (though he was strictly hands-off). And then the fun started...
Nearly every set of locks was different - only down to the format of the ground paddles though.
Nearly every swing bridge was different too. And god forbid you take your finger off the button of the automated ones.
Foulridge tunnel was an experience. 18 minutes through, 23 back. I took it through, Jared brought it back - and he's the faster driver! With only a window of 10 minutes to enter the tunnel every hour we were lucky to make it to the green light on the return leg after turning in the first winding hole.
What amazed me more than anything was the difference in bank-side scenery. We had the lot - town centre in Shipley and Skipton, mill conversions in Stockbridge, industry on Barnoldswick (pronounced Barlick), open wilderness, leafy corridors, new housing, established housing. And all it took was the turn of a corner for it to change.
Both Snaygill and British Waterways were fantastic. I can't wait to get back on the Leeds & Liverpool, perhaps next time for 2 weeks to get down the Wigan flight and into Leeds. A big shout-out goes to Barry at the Bingley Five for getting us back up with the over-sized Tiggerish Moments.
