Dr Bradley

She was sleeping beneath the aqueduct, so she left the river, climbed the embankment to the canal for a drink? I suspect the river water would be much cleaner.

What, describe Calder Valley pubs and exclude the Puzzle - that would be deceitful. Besides, when they are likely to go, it's unlikely I'll be there.

Although I am not currently moored there, being stuck on the wrong sides of the Pennines, Sowerby Bridge is my home town. Other posts say where you can get in a weekend presuming Mytholmroyd is reopen. In Sowerby Bridge the best pub is the Puzzle Hall which has good beer and live music. http://www.puzzlehall.com/ If you start late in the day and get through Tuel Lane Lock you can moor about 300yds past a footbridge where there are steps down to the road, turn left and you'll be at the Puzzle. Going past the Puzzle you'll come to the Works. A popular pub though not to my taste, http://www.theworkssowerbybridge.co.uk/ Across the road is the Fire House for beer and food. Along the main road is a newly opened Weatherspoons, though I've not been in and probably never will. At the canal basin is the Moorings. A pleasant enough pub and good for food. A short walk along the canal is the Navigation which I like and again good food. Up the hill from here is the Shepards Rest, a traditional pub with good beer. If you like curry the Syhiba is highly recommended. http://www.syhibarestaurant.co.uk/ Leaving Sowerby Bridge you will pass the Brandywine at Luddenden Foot and the Dusty Miller and Shoulder of Mutton in Mytholmroyd, none of which I would stop at but move onto Hebden Bridge. There are moorings by the park, above the next lock or at the Stubbing Wharf. This is good for food and renowned for cider. The beers good too. http://www.stubbingwharf.com/ Up the hill from here is the Fox and Goose. Very much a traditional local, currently being bought as a community pub. For that reason alone I would recommend it but it is also my favourite pub in Hebden. http://www.foxandgoose.org/ If you are in need of exercise walk up the hill from here to Heptonstall, a village well worth a visit with two good pubs. The centre of Hebden has less to offer, the Shoulder of Mutton is far too expensive (at least when I last went in), the Railway is a good local but tends to have the canned music very loud and the Old Gate, a recently refurbished pub, http://www.oldgatehebden.co.uk/ does not match the Stubbing for food or beer in my opinion. There is however The Trades Club. Reasonable beer and a good music venue. http://thetradesclub.com/ Not much else before Todmorden where there are several pubs, none of which stand out with the exception of http://www.barearts.com/index.html/ which is really a brewery off license with facility for sampling the beers – basically a pub, but unique. Going the other way from Sowerby Bridge, I don't rate the canal trip as highly, though still good, and the best pubs have been mentioned already.

I meant to move the boat today but beer got in the way. I'm afraid it will get in the way again tomorrow as I'll be at our annual boxing day music session.

The problem with towpath moorings is that they tend to be on pins. If I am leaving the boat (Toad in the Hole _ continuous cruisers sometimes want/need to leave their boat for 1 or 2 weeks)I look for a mooring with rings for greatest security, Armco as second best. I won't leave it on pins as I don't know where it will have drifted to once the pins are pulled, which only takes a day on the Llangollen.

The shortest lock is Salterhebble top lock and reputedly 60ft can manage it. I have done it on a boat I was told was 60ft, but didn't measure it. It wasn't my boat. The Rochdale is 72ft, and on Tuel Lane lock there are two sets of gates. Never seen the 72ft set used but I know boats have done the trip there and back. Worth the effort as it's a stunning canal once east of Rochdale.

Bumping the thread as people wish to see this who missed it earlier.

Anyone in this area see http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=61976#entry1183106

A few forum members are meeting in the Ring O Bell in Marple tomorrow about 8pm. Anyone about feel free to join us for a mini banter.

Not on the list but if you ask for narrowboat paint they know what you want. I felt I wasn't skilled enough to justify very expensive paint but am happy with the result. Not perfect but no ploughed field either, despite what Matty may say.

The anchor is a "mushroom " type, 25kg with 30 metres of chain and 150 ft of warp. I got it for just this situation, though hoped never to use it. As I drifted towards the shore on a falling tide I deployed it with far too much water beneath the boat, assuming once I got into shallower water it would dig in. Amazingly it held in 120 ft (according to my reading of chart and position). The lifeboat pulled DBL until it was up and down then I was able to haul it in. Not as hard as expected. If controlling the boat with the engine I would bring it to the stern as I couldn't get to the front and hover over the anchor though I probably could pull the boat over it if the current was not too strong. It's nice tp know it works, and I can recover it.

The Portishead life boat is an independent charity but in the process of amalgamating with RNLI. They are building a new boathouse as the old one is inadequate as can be seen on some of their other youube videos. The engine had cut out. It was my first intimation of diesel bug which reared it's head again on the Thames. Knowing what I know now I could have got myself out of the situation, but hindsight is wonderful thing. and bobbing about in that situation doesn't encourage great thinking.

Those of you have seen my previous threads will know I called out the lifeboat on the Severn Estuary trip. If anyone is interested it is on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beGkZsQ9YaU

The booking system for Rochdale summit no longer applies - I asked t Red Bull today whilst booking Harecastle. Mike, Standedge is on the Huddersfield and always needs booking.

They did drop summit booking earlier this year, but I recollect it was reintroduced in the summer due to water shortages. I haven't herd if it has been taken off again though. I'll find out next month.

http://www.paintmaster.co.uk/index.php/product-range/13-specialist-paint.html

Do it yourself; for £100 pound total.

But then you had to renew every few years wasn't it. I know I let mine expire so ha to do the current course for a new licence. Also it didn't cover DS for which an upgrade course is required.

What a smashing day for cruising, sunny but cold and only seen two other boat moving (a bit like the Pennine canals in the height of summer.) After spending a few days at the bottom of the Atherstone flight I have moved on to Hopwas where I expected to stay for a few days as yesterday the weather forecast was for plenty of rain. Today it is for three dry days so tomorrow to Fradley and booking the Harecastle tunnel for next Wednesday. I'll e at Whaley Bridge in no time - well a couple of weeks.

Yes it does seem to be spreading It needs taking off and cleaning no need to spend money on a new one. Dave uses the council drydock so I expect he has to be expensive. Portland basin is about £200 more than the average in the midlands so I might have to wit tll the spring. PS I'll be passing through Tod in December, fancy meeting for a jar?

That is incredibly expensive. I enquired about it last year and it would make a DIY job ore expensive than many yards doing it. I ight rig Bronte boats though and see what he would charge as it seems I may be in Hebden for some time.

I'll be stuck in Hebden Bridge for the second winter running, where I don't want to be.

I want it done for me I also need to call in at Whalley Bridge. Kerridge seems a suitable place, I'll ring on Monday.

Can anyone recommend anywhere between Stoke and Whaley Bridge. Don't think there is anywhere after that on the way to Sowerby bridge. ETA The heading is that the oat is lacking blacking. I have a sticky B

The beer diet and short days has done well and pain much reduced. Now two locks from the bottom of Atherstone flight - I had to stop because the football was starting. Probably won't move far in the next few days then look for somewhere to get the boat blacked.