We needed to arrange a pump out and to take on more diesel but this proved a little more dificult than suggested in Nicholson's Guide. The first marina we drove into (taking 20 minutes in the process) proved to be totally deserted. The next, at Rodley Wharf - who had previously told us on the phone that they did pump out and diesel - were very disinclined to serve us and we eventually agreed that it would not be worth them spending half an hour moving other boats just for that! (We did check that another marina further on provided the service and they assured us that they would be ready and waiting)
True to their word, when we arrived at Apperley Bridge we were indeed expected. Although they did not have enough fuel to fill our tank, they did manage to do the pump out for us - quite a relief!
At one lock we spotted a family of very young ducklings caught on the downside of the overflow. No doubt that had managed to get there when the water was flowing over but mother called to them and they made valiant, if not desperate, attempts to jump over the hurdle, without success. Eventually, mother came to join them and led the group down the spillway to the water at the bottom!
We continued with a series of staircases and swing bridges. There are almost as many bridges to open as locks and each one is different. Some are just for access to farms or buildings isolated on the 'wrong' side of the canal, whilst others carry traffic. At one bridge we had five cars one way and four cars waiting the other way - power!
There was only one powered bridge and another had a very complex mechanism which involved unlocking and re-locking two road barriers, winding one windlass 18 turns clockwise and the other 36 turns anti-clockwise! Saltaire was once famous for its mills, each of which was a most impressive building (no matter what it might have been like to work there). Their industrial use has long gone but many have been converted into apartments or offices and look very resplendent in their new life.
For most of today it was difficult to realise how close to urban life we were - the canal is sheltered by woodlands often on both sides and the water is very clear - ennough to see the bottom of the canal. Realising we were too late for Bingley locks tonight we moored a little early, along a very pleasant stretch of canal.
