On top of the World (well the Summit anyway)

What a great night on Jubilee. John and Jan make the perfect host, and the nibbles and wine kept flowing. And laugh!!!! It's a wonder our sides didn't ache this morning. What a shame we are heading in different directions but you never know. One day our paths will cross again and the partying will start all over again.

From L to R. Our hosts Jan and John. Then Lindsay and Paul (Happy Daze) and lastly Ian and myself.

 We did have to don our waterproofs last night, but it wasn't just the rain we put up with. The wind arrived with vengeance, so much so, that the constant scrapping and banging on the hull as FS's moved back and forwards woke us up at some silly o'clock and Ian had to grab his dressing gown, go outside and ferret around in the top box for our balloon fender. That solved the problem, and before we knew it, it was 7.30am and Jade asking to go out.

With the wind abating this morning, we set off for the summit. The first lock (31) was already occupied. Not by a boat, but a Canadian Goose. I'm guessing, as no boat other than Jubilee had been through,  that was a couple of days ago.

Making a break for it

Free at last

 It was also at this lock that I encountered a new way of opening the gate. Not quite as easy as heaving on the balance beam, but did the job nicely.

Ian passing Jubilee and heading for lock 31.

We had a mix of sunshine and showers all day and when ever the sun came out I managed to get some of the stunning views.

We certainly had a lot of rain these last few days. Locals say this waterfall is normally only a trickle. Still, if it keeps the canal topped up let's have some more. (only overnight rain, mind).

A very dishevelled me.

Not sure if this is an extension to someone's house. Pretty unique and great to keep the bandits out.

 By lock 35 a stone marks the boundary between Lancashire and Yorkshire. One more lock to go before we reach the summit.

 But first we had to deal with Warland Gate Swing bridge. John had mentioned how difficult it was to open. It turns out mud had washed in-between the tracks, making it nie on impossible to open. In view of this Ian first cleared the tracks of mud brought down by last night's rain, and after a bit of trouble getting the latch to pull up, managed to swing it open.

Give it a good pull!

You can see how it would be impossible to move if the tracks were filled with mud.

Having driven FS through, I once more relinquished the helm to Ian and walked up to set lock 37 the East summit lock. (named Longlees Lock)

From sunshine as I approached the lock then.......

 to this, a downpour. Typical! and then......

to this, completely dry again.

 It was with some relieve that Ian entered our last of the uphill locks. From now on, it would be downhill all the way.

See what I mean about the changing weather conditions. Lovely and sunny looking back at Longlees Lock

Could this be the highest horse on the Pennines? Photo taken as we travelled the 3/4 mile long summit pound.

On the lock landing at West Summit Lock.

And the inevitable photo.

As I said earlier, it was now downhill all the way. Didn't make it any easier though as Ian battled with the high winds and I battled with the heavy gates and sticky paddle gear. Not only that, but every lock was against us as a passing walker told of a boat "about 10 minutes in front". "Get a spurt on and you'll catch it up". I had to explain why getting a spurt on wouldn't work! The distance from the West Summit to where we stopped was only a mile but with 9 locks and me walking ahead to set the next lock before walking back to open the gate to let FS out and then the same walk again to open those gates, I reckon it was nearer 2 1/2mile. I was completely exhausted by the time we stopped. Luckily, our preferred place to moor was still vacant. We had been told about it by John, and it is the top side of lock 46. The facility block was below, but that will be tomorrows visit.

What a super mooring and very rural. Only downside......the railway runs right alongside.