Head for the Hills # 2

A few weeks ago Sean and I paddled and Portaged our kayaks from Stretford to Littleborough along the Bridgwater and Rochdale Canals. We will leave the 'Summit' section for another day. In the meantime Kirstine and I embarked upon the following section of the Rochdale Canal between Todmorden and Sowerby Bridge, to continue along the Calder and Hebble Navigation towards Wakefield.

We began our first afternoon's paddling a mile or so to the east of Todmorden with just a 4 mile section to go before meeting our friends Lisa and Frank with whom we would stay for the night at Hebden Bridge.

There were 6 locks to portage which was thirtsy work, thank goodness for canalside pubs!

The weather on the first day was pleasant enough but Sunday morning brought us sleet and drizzle and the prospect of 12 miles and 11 locks. The early start was painful but sadly essential.

The weather improved gradually throughout the day and by the time we arrived at Brighouse the sun came out an we celebrated our arrival with some good old Yorkshire fish and chips.

The previous day's rain had brought the river levels up beyond safe limits on the River Calder sections below the Brighouse Basin locks so we decided that this would be the end for this particular paddling trip. Instead I collected the car from Todmorden and we used our remaining day with some walking along the Yorkshire coast at Robin Hood's Bay and Flamborough Head.