We’ve so much to blog about it’s ridiculous, but things went awry while we were plagued by a distinct lack of internet signal for the wifi whilst in Huddersfield and Standedge (apparently there was a dysfunctional Vodafone mast).
It’s okay, we’ll catch up again. And we’ve had other priorities to ponder on, as you’ll know if you read our last post below.
Barry’s now making his way to Marple by Monday (so yes, for those who’re wondering, we DID make it through the tunnel ok). I’m at my parents until Monday – though it could be Tuesday if I can’t sort out a few issues here in time!
Anyway, I digress. Onto the purpose of this post …
Precious and priceless moments
I’m aware we’ve already posted about the places and people in this blog.
This time the images are Barry’s, so they’re definitely worth a share, especially for our dear friends the Weatherley-Libeau’s who spent two extraordinary nights on board AreandAre recently.
These are for you Alison, Gary, Dylan and Jade – by the time this is posted they’ll be back in Aotearoa and the paradise that is Gisborne.
Histroic, heavenly Hebden Bridge from our mooring last month
A delightful town, such a convivial and co-operative atmosphere
Amazing canal-side homes
Houses built into the hills all around
Bunting remains after Le Tour de Yorkshire/France
A green and pleasant land
Colourful shop fronts – locally owned and managed, the only large chain store here is the Co-op! And I’m reliably informed that a huge % of businesses are owned by women
Ali, Jade and Gary – looking chilled
Off we go to do a spot of locking …
Passsing live-aboard moored boats
And the first lock of the journey
Dylan’s in charge already!
Nonchalantly walking to the lock as if they’d done it a thousand times before!
No problem at all – what a team!
Like father, like son – laid back and happy
We look quite jolly too!
The lovely lock ladies
Mesmerised by the deepest lock on the system
Only just room for the two boats
An abundance of statuesque old mill buildings all around the area
How’s this for a perspective?
Sowerby Bridge hosts a magnificent tribute to working boaters
Sowerby Bridge weir
Barry was highly amused by this – I’m not so not sure it’s terribly PC to publish on a blog!
A group photo after a meal at ‘The Moorings’ – the menu hooked us in as it looked and sounded fabulous. Sadly the food wasn’t as expected, but the company more than made up for it
Captain Jade – took to it like a duck to water
Look at the focus in their faces!
The iPad went everywhere, taking photos – Ali’s behind there somewhere
The most unusual lock paddle mechanisms on the Hebble and Calder Navigation
The quaint lock cottage at the first of the Calder and Hebble Navigation
We’re all eagerly waiting to see whether AreandAre will make it through the next two locks!
Opening the gate for Barry
oo-er! That looks like a tight fit!
Fast forward to the last lock of the day (there’s more photos, that Sandra took, of the shortest locks on a previous blog post)
Incredible structures, Guillotine locks – in the past few weeks we’ve encountered three having never previously done any!
What a mighty fine team!
Thanks guys – you were all amazing!
It was sad to see them leave us, but we totally understand how many places and people there are to see when on your overseas adventure. Getting to spend two days and nights we’ve this gorgeous family was something we’d been looking forward to for a long time, and will remember fondly forever.
We do have some wonderful friends and feel very blessed.
Haere Mai/welcome back to Gisborne – we miss you all!
Great photos Barry.
Thanks Makuini, hope you’re both well and happy 😉