Here are some pictures of Osprey at some of the more remote parts of the canal system.

While we were moored at Silsden Andrew and I took the opportunity to cruise the Rochdale canal. When we got our license at the new lock in Sowerby bridge we were told we would be the first boat that year to attempt to go past Todmorden. We were determined to reach the end of navigation at Littleborough, which we did.

Here is a picture of Osprey at Longlees Lock on the summit level of the Rochdale on our way back. While the trip along the Rochdale was strenuous, the scenery more than made up for it! A trip to recommend. We also took the opportunity while being this far north to visit Sheffield by boat..

On a previous trip, we had taken Osprey to the Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port, and moored in the basin overnight in order to have a good look round the exhibits. There is more than enough to keep you occupied for a full day, and that is without exploring outside of the confines of the Museum. Here Osprey is pictured leaving the top lock after our stay

While we were there the wide locks were being used as a dry dock for inspecting a boat, knowing that the wide and narrow locks are linked to save water we were concerned on our way down into the basin with the instructions that a "helpful" museum worker gave us about working the locks - "Don't worry about emptying the lower lock as you work down, there is a by-wash to stop the short pound between locks flooding" We pointed out that we were only doing this as the wide locks had been drained, and therefore the water would not go where it normally went as the culvert had surely been closed "No, do as I ask" was the reply. Two minutes later the lawns were under 6" of water !.

One of the sections of the canals which is often overlooked is the last stretch of the Leeds Liverpool actually going into Liverpool itself. So much is said these days about how if you visit a city center by canal you are putting yourself in danger. We find that this is not true any more than for other parts of the system where you might pass through "civilization" and certainly, the rewards of doing so are often much greater than expected.

Here Osprey is moored at the limit of navigation, a few hundred yards past the locks down to Stanley Docks. the housing estate here is well looked after, and the locals are very friendly to boaters.

Beside the need to keep regular traffic on these "ends", if you don't visit these industrialised sites now, there is every chance that they will be transformed into housing and offices, like Birmingham is now, and you will have missed you chance to see them as they were in their original state.

If you fancy the trip, contact B/W, and they will arrange a bridge opening and escort service for you, and if you ask them nicely they will also let you down into Stanley Docks.