1st July

We set off from a very dusty mooring at Stockbridge, sailing into the first swingbridge of the day,

in the next two miles we went through seven more, most were electric and easy to use.

Then we arrived at the top of the Bingley Five Staircase Locks, these locks drop sixty feet, it's like being at the top of a cliff. Fortunately they are controlled and operated by BW lock keepers, with some help from the ladies. We knew when we started this canal that it is limited to boats under 60 feet, so far we haven't had a problem, here the locks are 60 feet long, so we had a bit of a problem getting out, with the stern being rammed up against the sill we could just get the gates open. This is fine except that the gates leak, combined with the lock depth of 12 feet the water pressure was like a Victoria Falls comming over the back deck.

We then moved on to the Bingley Three Staircase Locks, there was just one Lock Keeper helping here, same problem with the water comming over the back deck, but we managed.

In the next three miles we passed through a double staircase lock and a single lock, then moored up in Saltaire.

Saltaire is a very interesting town, having been set up as an estate village by Sir Titus Salt, a wealthy Victorian mill owner. We visited the museum set up in one of his mills and later the pub for a meal in the evening.

Today is Purdey and Darcey's birthday, they are two years old.