Leeds & Liverpool

Today's the day .......................... to get afloat

Readers of this journal will be aware that every year, about this time, I disappear off to spend a week with four good friends from student days - meandering along one of Britain's canals. 

This year we had chosen to explore a bit more of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.  The entire length of the canal between those two great cities is 127 miles with 91 locks - and it was dug out completely by hand by labourers or Navvies as they were called.  Work started in 1771 and the canal was completed some 45 years later.

We had done the bit between Skipton and the Foulridge Tunnel several years ago.  This time we were going westwards from Burnley towards Wigan - which is perhaps not everyone's choice for a holiday destination.  But then, we are an intrepid bunch - and we relished any challenge that might be thrown up along such a route ..........................