Although we had booked volunteers for this flight no-one turned up so we had to negotiate them all ourselves. Got stuck behind a 'grumpy old man' who did not want any help. I can understand his attitude as when i get help from another friendly boater it nearly always disrupts my routine, and that is when things start to go wrong.
Pulled over and gave him a chance to clear a few locks so that we were not pressurising him.
While we were moored up I identified the leak in my No2's hot water system.
Whilst using the facilities at the top of the flight I found out that my porta pottie is broken and needs replacing.

Fixed the leak in the hot water pipe, major triumph.
Although it is possible to walk in to Colne from where we are moored up it is nearly two miles so catching the bus is a better option, although that still involves a walk of about half a mile. Went shopping in Colne and I nearly gave up when I saw the hill I had to climb up to get to the bus with all the shopping, but my No2 came to the rescue and carried it all up the hill.

Sight seeing in Colne. My No2 purchased a new Lloyd Loom lookalike chair from a 'We sell dead peoples stuff' shop and organised delivery for tomorrow.

Took a walk into Nelson (an hour there and an hour back, but mostly along the tow path) to get some bits and pieces from Screwfix with which I fixed my calorifier, so now I have engine generated hot water again.
The nice lady from the second hand shop delivered the chair to the lay-by next to the canal bridge. She had enlisted the aid of a friend who had a car big enough to get the chair in. Got rid of the old broken chair at the facilities.

Made phone enquiries and organised collecting a Porta Pottie from Lower Park Marina which is on our route. Should be there in a few days.

Walked along to Foulridge Tunnel to check out the method of operation, if it is one or two way.

Pleasant cruising, weather fine and sunny, tunnel cold and wet. Collected porta pottie from the marina. The manager here seems happy for me to have things delivered here for me to collect at my leisure. Moored up opposite for the night.

Iowner.

Got help from the volunteer lock-keeper who has been doing this for two years now.
Deposited the damaged Porta Pottie at the facilities at the locks.
The nearest bus stop is two miles away so it looks as if I will have to forgo the pleasure of shopping while we are here.

If you say it quickly I always think that Anchor Inn sounds like Ann Corinne.
Although visiting the St Peters Church was on the agenda it was too inaccessible to be worthy of a visit so we set off earlier than expected just before midday. Negotiated three locks, the first two both needing repair to ground paddle mechanisms. A couple of volunteers appeared from nowhere and worked us through the next three locks but left us to work the last two on our own.
Found a mooring just before lock 33 but would have missed it were it not for the lock-keepers advice. Looks as if we will be staying for a few days while lock 32 is repaired but I have no problem with that as it seems to be a good place to base ourselves while we explore the area.

We have planned several trips around the area over the next week or so and our first will be an adventure on the Settle Carlisle train tomorrow catching the train at Gargrave. As Gargrave does not have a ticket office we made a point of purchasing our tickets today while we were in Skipton getting picnic provisions. For me a day out without a picnic is not a day out.

Caught the train in Gargrave , 'cause that is where we are Moored. First stop Hellifield which has a wide island platform. Next off Settle the start of the official Settle - Carlisle route. Then on to Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Ribblehead and over the Ribblehead Viaduct. Next stop Dent, the highest railway station in England, and through Garsdale and Kirkby Stephen and so to Appleby our destination. A quick look around and back the way we came. It is the journey we like rather than the destination.

Day off to recover after a long day yesterday. The band saw blades that I had ordered arrived but they were the wrong size, contacted the supplier who is re-sending the correct ones.

Day out to Buckden to my No2's favourite camping spot via Grassington.
From Buckden we walked back to Kettlewell along the river, a distance of three and a half miles, arriving at Kettlewell in time to enjoy the Scarecrow Festival which has been going since 1994.
Missed the bus back to Grassington. The bus stops in Kettlewell are a bit confusing. We waited at a bus stop that indicated that the bus we wanted would stop here but in fact it stops just around the corner. We watched it go past and chased it but the driver did not see us and we felt that we were totally stranded as that was the last bus back that day.
A kindly coach driver who had watched us chase the bus took pity on us and gave us a lift to Grassington where we met up with the bus we missed. Told the driver of our experience and he said that we were not the first and he does look out for people like ourselves who were chasing the bus but did not see us this time.
Bus to Skipton, train to Gargrave , Fish and chips at 'The Yorkshire Fryer' and off to bed.

Content

Took the train to Gargrave where we caught a bus to Malham, Day out at Malham Agricultural Show. My No2 was so enchanted by one of the Morris 1000s that she asked the owner if 'She could smell his car' at which point he invited her to sit inside. The Morris 1000 does have a very distinctive smell due I imagine to the leather seats. Left the show for the 2:30 bus but actually caught the 3:15 bus back to Settle and then the train to Gargrave. Well worth the ride as the scenery was stunning.

CRT staff knocked on the door "If you want to move, move now. We are locking up the flight due to low water levels.".
They worked us both through the three locks then left us to our own devices.
It has been a fairly dry summer and the Leeds and Liverpool has always had difficulties with water supply so it's not surprising that we have had to move.

What a cracking rainbow.

What 3 Words calls this Sour Lane Bridge, Nicholson's calls this Thorlby Swing Bridge.
While shopping in Skipton I spotted this doorstep with an inscription on it, couldn't make it out in full as half of it is inside the house but I am sure it is a gravestone.

What 3 Words calls this Lane End Swing Bridge, Nicholson's calls this Thorlby Swing Bridge.
Day out in Morecambe. Serendipity kicked in again as there was a classic car show on today.