Tuel Lane Lock

Today's the day ......................... to moor up

Last day of our holiday - and because we were ahead of schedule - we went on a little day trip up the Rochdale Canal to Hebden Bridge and back.

To get from the canal we were on - the Calder & Hebble Navigation - to the Rochdale Canal necessitates the negotiation of the Tuel Lane lock, the mother of all locks and at an intimidating 19ft - the deepest in the UK.

Just as well then, that you have help to do this from the resident lock keeper - Billy. And, what a wonderful chap he is too! With the help of him and his Canal Trust volunteers, he made it all look easy - and did all that was necessary with lots of good-humoured banter.

We've had a lot of that from everyone that we've met on this trip. People have been noticeably friendly - and interested in our boat and us. It was with a certain amount of sadness that we moored up for the last time back in Sowerby at the end of the day .........................