Day 45 Saturday May 24

Yesterday we were pulling up ropes when Gary decided to throw the hammer (needed to hammer the spikes into the ground to moor the boat) onto the boat. Big area it could have landed but hit the rail which is about 1/2 “ wide and straight into the canal! We just couldn’t believe it! Once we got to the Bay Horse Hotel where we moored for the evening, Bob and Gary went looking for hardwares to try and replace the hammer. Success for £2 but not sure if the boat place will accept the replacement. 

Gary using Maureen and Graeme’s net to try and fish the hammer out of the canal.

We had sayings on the trip - don’t do a Maureen (falling in the canal)

Don’t do a Gary ( jumping off the boat and doing an unplanned commando role straight into the bushes; throwing the hammer and losing in the canal; )

Don’t do a Bob ( banging your head at least three times quite hard on the entryway) and

Don’t do a Kath (break the blind over the sink)

Unbelievably Graeme and I didn’t get a Don’t Do! 

Last day on the barge today. Said goodbye to Graeme and Maureen this morning and they are off to Skipton. Sad to see them go as we had a great week together. Lots of fun and laughter.

The boys!

Bob, Kath, Gary and I headed off to Silsden to fill the water tank. Once that was done we headed up river until we could find a turning circle - or winding hole as they are called. Bit of rain and overcast skies today , first all week! But it stopped mid morning and whilst it was cold and overcast as least there was no rain.

Turned the boat, headed back to Silsden and moored just before where we return the boat. Silsden owes its name to an Anglo-Saxon farmer called Sighle who lived around 500 AD. He is the first resident known by name. By 1086 the Domesday Book recorded Sighlesden as the most important village in Craven, ruled by five knights. Later ownership of the land passed to the lords of Skipton Castle, right until 1947. It’s a really interesting village, known in its day for nail making!

Where we hired the boat from

An Irish pub in Silsden

Penny Peck Hall - John Gill lived here in 1838 to 1848. He delivered coal brought by canal barge from Burnley. One hard winter the canal froze over so he transported the coal himself by horse and cart. He charged a penny more for each peck of coal sold. Hence the name given to the house by disgruntled customers! And we think we have it hard today - there’s just no pleasing some people!

The canal

Silsden 

A statue dedicated to nailmaking! 

The fields are so neat and green

Cruising along today, we were the only ones on the river and it was just beautiful!

The canal from the Silsden boat hire area

The boat hire area

More beautiful neat fields!

The hardware in Silsden!

A park in Silsden

Beautiful trees along the canal

Lunch at the Robin Hood pub! It was just yummy!

More of the canal

And more

Inside the pub

Close up of those beautiful trees!