| Author |
 Topic  |
|
thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
|
|
 Posted -
09/01/2008
:
12:36
|
This now supercedes the earlier topic and is specifically aimed at all who are involved, Plus I do not like making spelling mistakes. First of all the current weather forcast for Skipton is: Saturday; showers, high 5, low 2. Sunday; showers, high 7, low 3. Not brilliant, but not like last night when for the first time ever I saw snow being driven horizontaly and illuminated by violent lighting!. With the lack of traffic on the cut at this time we may not have to empty locks before entering. A few tech, bits next. Summit - the highest section of a canal, ours is the highest of all twixt Greenberfield and Barrowford. Top of flight, section above flight, bottom of flight, that section below. This of course becomes in turn the top if you are going down. The section between locks in a flight are called pounds.. Locks have a head; top, and a tail; bottom. Each lock has six "paddles" two of these are ground paddles and are situated at either side in the canal banking above the head gates. These allow water into the lock at low level and are always opened first, some are opened with a lever and the rest with a rack and pinion, operated with a windlass NOT TO BE DROPPED INTO THE CUT, Two more paddles are one in each of the head gates and should not be opened until the water has risen above them, windlass operated, the remaing two are in each of the tail gates. These two need not concern us on this trip When using a windlass, after raising the paddle, engage the "Pawl" on the gear before doing anything else. Never let the weight of the paddle take charge. Safety is paramount, know what you are doing first. Sadly a dropped windless was the cause of multiple deaths at Gargrave a few years ago. Swing bridges, there are quite few between Silsden and Gargrave, some are often open. To open these, first cross the bridge and using a "necklace key" remove the chain device which secures the bridge beam. push the beam to bring the bridge parallel to the cut reducing the effort before helps to prevent the bridge from bouncing back into the path of the oncoming boat, hold the beam until the boat is clear, this caution also aplies to lock gate beams. Returning the bridge is the reversal of this operation. Someone on a bike can be very useful when attempting a "fast passage" but if there are other people about, take your bike over the bridge with you, its not funny when your iron is off down the towpath in the hands of a stranger. Someone on a bike can go ahead and ready the bridge or lock two is even better. I hope that this is of some help to whoever comes along and is unsure of events. But to all who come, Welcome and thank you. Keep safe and as warm and dry as is possible.
thomo
|
|
| Replies |
| Author |
|
|
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
|
|
Posted - 08/02/2008 : 17:03
I was intrighed by the traffic lights installed to control the Butts/Church street intersection. Obviously battery powered and wireless communication between the master and the slave sets. Very bright lights so I am assuming they are multiple LEDs. Impressive.....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk  |
softsuvner
|
Posted - 08/02/2008 : 21:51
For those of us who like to use ancient vehicles, replacement LED rear lights have been available for some time. A side benefit is that the lower current consumption helps the overstressed elderly dynamos.
They are not actually legal at the moment but, as I am reliably informed, traffic policemen are not trained to distinguish the bright but illegal LED from the dim but legal old bulbs!
Malcolm
|
moh
|
Posted - 13/02/2008 : 12:21
Went to visit Cally & Boo yesterday - it was a perfect day to go - I could live on that boat - it was so warm and cosy with the sun shining in. H did say it is hard work though but she loves it. It was nice to meet up.
Say only a little but say it well |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
|
|
Posted - 13/02/2008 : 14:30
Lovely to see you, Fred and Sam too, Moh!
Thanks for the loan of the book - E has nicked it and started reading it so I'll have to wait my turn. Apologies for Boo being an anti-social little begger (going off to sit in my office) but she's not been too well lately. |
moh
|
Posted - 13/02/2008 : 20:22
She probably wondered who the young whippersnapper was who had taken over her home - especially as she does not understand shih tzu speak!!
Say only a little but say it well |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
|
|
Posted - 18/02/2008 : 09:05
Are you frozen in? Has it stopped the boat rocking and affecting the TV? Must have a walk down there today.......
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
|
|
Posted - 18/02/2008 : 10:38
You bet we're frozen in - solid! It was so weird last night - there were these eery creaking noises (and this time it wasn't my knees...) and thumps and thuds and cracks all night. I got up several times: we've got rats, the boat's sinking, some hooligans have untied us and we're halfway to Foulridge, and so on. It was only when a weary voice emerged from the depths of duvet, sleeping bag and blanket - and I quote: "For heaven's sake stop prancing around - it's only the ice!" (actually not quite these words, but this is a family website) that I realised I could actually hear the ice forming and tightening its grip on the boat's hull. I can imagine how much more terrifying it would be if you were in an ice-bound ship in Baffin Bay. There's no sign of ducks or swans - if they've any sense they'll be tucked up in a nice cosy reed bed somewhere. Our central heating and stove are going full blast. Once the boat does warm up, it's very cosy. Here's a pic (hope it looks OK - it seems Web n Walk compresses pics automatically and sometimes they look awful - very pixellated) 
BTW: I saved this from my camera into iPhoto (10mb), then after cropping I exported it with a size ratio of about 650 x 450. I then opened it in Photoshop, went into Image Size, unchecked "Resample Image" (which then locked the pixels and therefore the quality) and saved it as a medium size jpg. The final filesize was 144k. This method would not be ideal if I wanted to use the pic for anything other than appearing on screen. |
Big Kev
|
Posted - 18/02/2008 : 13:02
I was watching the ducks skating on the canal at Coates bridge yesterday. Looked mighty cold. What you need is Gin........
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
|
|
Posted - 18/02/2008 : 14:59
... indeed! Saves draining the water tank and having to sail the boat to the filling point in these conditions.
Single malt and real ale also seem to work.
Got the new aerial now, BK. Took the antenna (which cost £20 and was unsuitable) back to the Skipton shop and got a refund.
Went to the car accessory shop on Wellhouse Road and bought the complete gubbins for, wait for it, the princely sum of £4.99. "Ah, you want a rubber duck aerial?" said the man. "We haven't sold any of these for 10 years!" |
Big Kev
|
Posted - 18/02/2008 : 16:41
Excellent stuff, I'll wander down with some spanners.....
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
|
|
Posted - 18/02/2008 : 18:38
One of the funniest things I ever saw was swans landing at speed on a frozen Lake Windemere. Hilarious!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
|
|
Posted - 18/02/2008 : 20:46
Didn't see them myself, but apparently the ducks were doing the same on the cut today.
Here's a pic of one of them after he'd landed:
 |
frankwilk
|
Posted - 18/02/2008 : 21:39
That's a pretty good photo
Frank Wilkinson Once Navy Always Navy |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
|
|
Posted - 19/02/2008 : 07:10
The thing that struck me about the swans was that they looked so majestic as they glided in but immediately lost all dignity when they hit the ice and skidded fo yards.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Doreen
hippies understudy
429 Posts
|
|
Posted - 19/02/2008 : 10:11
Do you remember the swan with the deformed leg,it lived on the canal for some time in the 70s.
it could not tuck its gammy leg into its body the foot always hung down
in the water, the foot got frozen into the water and it could not move.
we threw wet bread at it for two days so it could feed.
Then one morning on my way to work at the mill,crossing over the bridge what i saw was my Dad flat out on the ice as far as he dared go,with auntie Elizabeths extensible window cleaning brush with a bucket on the end, filled with hot salted water to be tipped up round the swan, it took quite a few buckets of hot water from the mill canteen across the bridge to free it ,but we all cheered him on till the swan
was free.
The R S P C A were informed on the first day , but did nothing.
Edited by - Doreen on 19/02/2008 10:29:41 AM
Dordygail 
always the one to make the best of things. |
FRABJOUS DAY, the homecoming.
