The Jameison curse continues, and it looks like it's contagious.

First my photo of last night mooring by Aspley Basin.

Yesterday a boat called Celtic Eagle set off to do the journey up the locks to the tunnel. We had relayed our story of being stuck and the consequence of being flushed through the narrows so understandably they were concerned about the low water levels. After a couple of hours they were back! Water levels were indeed very low and the thought of fighting their way to the top of the flight after our experience may have put them off. So this morning we teamed up with them to do the Huddersfield Broad.

Turnbridge Loco Lift Bridge with Celtic Eagle about to go through

 9 locks in total, all measuring about 60ft in length. Now we are 57ft and Celtic Eagle is 56ft so it stands to reason that both boats would easily fit. Well they didn't!!! Kathy on Celtic Eagle entered first closely followed by ourselves. Gates were shut, paddles lifted and down we goes. The cill was rather closer to the stern fender then I would have liked, but both boats missed the cill with relative ease. So the first lock done and dusted and fully expected the rest to be the same. It was as we tried to open the bottom gates to exit the second lock (8) that the troubles started. Kathy reversed first but her button was hard up against the cill. Now the only way we were going to get out of this situation was to lift the rear fenders. Easily done for us as Ian had fixed the chains so that the fender would come up in an emergency. Unfortunately Celtic Eagles fenders were fixed in position. So Ian jumps back onto the boat and lifts our fender to the deck.

 This then gave me enough maneuverability for the bottom gate to open. With me now lead boat it was with some trepidation that I went into lock 7.  Again we had only enough clearance for the fenders not to contact the cill. Then Kathy reversed for the gate to open, which it did with ease, until it got to a certain point where it would move no further! With Celtic Eagle now in reverse her rear fender ended up at a peculiar angle.

Then Kathy tried to squeeze the boat through the gap but only succeeded in getting wedged against FS. So another situation where we couldn't go back, couldn't go forward. Ian and John tried everything to shift the obstructing but to no avail.  I had this horrible feeling that we would have to be brought back up again and go down singly.

After both John and Ian poked behind the gate to free what ever it was, and failing miserably, Kathy gave it one last try and suddenly, very slowly, she crept foreward. With both boats finally free, once we arrived at lock 6, it was agreed that going down together was not a good idea so we parted company to continue on our own. John was a big help by setting the next two locks and by lock 4 Kathy came out with a very welcome and much needed cup of tea.

The last two locks of the Huddersfield Broad canal went without hitch and before long we entered the Calder & Hebble river.

Lock 1 and last lock on the Huddersfield Broad.

Seems the Azola weed has reared it's ugly head.

Joining the Calder & Hebble

We went past the Calder and Hebble flood lock.

Left to Wakefield

Kirklees Low lock where John and Kathy were waiting for us to go up together.

First use of the Calder & Hebble spikes. So much easier to use then a windlass

Ian and John

Celtic Eagle on it's way to the last lock of their day.

We stopped for a late lunch above Kirklees top lock, then said farewell to our locking buddies and continued to find a mooring where we could get the dogs off. (Top lock mooring was a tad to high for the dogs to get off the boat). Brighouse seemed as good a place as any. One flood lock and two more locks taking us to the canalised section of the Calder & Hebble and we would be done for the day.

Turning into Brighouse Lock from the river.,

It was here that two more incidents happened. Ian had lifted the left gate paddle only one notch, walked across the other side to lift the right paddle when a sudden rush of water pushed me with some force towards the lock wall. Ian rushed across the lock to drop the paddle and his foot disappeared down a hole! He let out a cry of pain and stood hopping on one foot. I couldn't do anything to help so watched helplessly as he writhed about in agony. When I did eventually rise enough to go to his aid, his ankle had started to swell. He refused to be defeated and hobbled on to the last lock before the facilities to get that ready for me. 

The dreaded lock. The hole was by the paddle gear.

Having ascended without further mishap, I stopped by the facilities. With him out of action it was left to me to get the hose from the gas locker and water up. It was when I went to put the hose away that I trapped my right index finger between the locker door and FS's steel! So now I too have an injury, My nail is going a lovely shade of blue and the finger is very tender. What with Ians swollen ankle and my finger I can see us having to stay on the Sainsbury moorings for a few days. Ian is finding it difficult to put any weight on that foot so I'm really hoping he hasnt done something more serious. No doubt we will find out tomorrow!