We moved on to Skipton today and in the evening we took Cassie for a walk along the Springs Branch which takes you by the castle walls and leads to Skipton Woods.

Last night we moored at Kildwick and had great food and beer in the White Lion.

After two years of heavy boating the paint work below the gunnel was looking sorry for itself so today we started to put that right.

This weekend we travelled back to Essex.Monday Hilary got delayed at Liverpool St. Station.

On Tuesday there was major delays on the A14 due to a lorry fire

Phil took us to the town of Haworth in Bronte country which was very pretty and after we had lunch in the Brown Cow in Bingley.

This is the view near the Brown Cow pub over Bingley.

We moored at the top of Five-Rise locks for a second night.

I had hoped that Phil would achieve his aim to cruise the Five Rise, due to leaks in the lock gates it was not possible on the way down but we managed coming up yesterday.

Phil cruising between 3 Rise and 5 Rise

We planned to moor at the bottom of Bingley 3 Rise and was approached by the lock keeper to ask if we would go up the locks with another boat.

This gave Phil the chance to cruise the boat through the locks.

Today we turned the boat around and headed back as we were stopped by a lock closure.

Photograph of Shipley as we passed through.

Phil is now a fully fledged boater as he has learnt most of the skills to cruise a canal boat .

We hope he has enjoyed his trip.

Phil doing his duty to keep the front of the boat in the centre of the locks because of our length and the advice of the lock keeper.

This picture was taken by Phil as we travelled down the flight and indicates how deep the locks are.

Yesterday we reached the top Bingley Five Rise locks.

The lock keeper was not happy as he was having to supervise boats on his own.

At one of the many swing bridges we have done the last few days we saw this memorial.

It was dedicated to the Polish crew of a fighter plane that crashed on a training flight WW2.

This is what they call Butter Tubs in Yorkshire, they are holes formed in the rock by water.

Cassie saying hello to one of the sheep just outside the pub door.

We could not pass the highest pub in England and not have a drink.

We travelled through the Dales and enjoyed the view from the highest point.

Hilary and Phil take a chance on the stepping stones, I was ready with the camera for the big splash.

We started the day by visiting Bolton Abbey.

Hilary enjoying the day.

It was a damp day but we enjoyed the walk and views across the Dales.

On our walk Cassie caught sight of a rabbit and decided to dig it out.

At least there was enough water to enjoy the falls.

Yesterday Phil drove us around the Dales and we stopped at

Aysgarth Falls.

The River Aire showing how low the water levels are.

Tuesday was my birthday, we reached Gargrave and had a meal/drinks in the Masons Arms which was very good.

They said that they wanted two bridges to be built and they got two bridges.

This barge came at as from around the corner yesterday.

It was a barge that was used on the Leeds and Liverpool and is preserved by the Leeds and Liverpool Preservation Society

We faced the locks in Blackburn at approximately 4.30pm against all advice and made it through with no problems.

We also moored outside a pub in Burnley with no problems, are we just lucky.

Brother Phil has joined us to cruise the Leeds and Liverpool.

Today we were flagged down by bystanders as we travelled under a bridge a cow had fallen in the canal and was struggling to get out of the water.

Today we moored at Adlington for provisions,we had lunch in the Marina Cafe on the White Bear Marina on the Leeds and Liverpool.

The cafe is staffed with people with learning difficulties, support staff and helps them to integrate into the community.

Good food and value

As we entered Lock 67 we got stuck on the cill due to the dry start to the year and on the last lock B.W. staff closed the top lock after us until further notice.

Today we got up early to tackle the Wigan Flight which consists of 23 locks.

We joined up with Narrowboat Sarah (Jill and Peter) to tackle the locks.

This afternoon we reached our goal and started on the Leeds and Liverpool.

Not sure that a light house required on the canal

Today we crossed over the Manchester Ship Canal on our way to the Leeds and Liverpool