Graham has always wanted to go through Standedge tunnel on the Huddersfield narrow canal but we never made it there whilst we had Jannock.
Investigation showed that CaRT and it's trusty volunteers run a through trip boat once a month. The next available date was 25th April and they had spaces available. However, as we were awaiting news of Brenda's forthcoming (some-when) foot operation, we didn't want to commit to booking a trip and associated accomodation early as you can be sure the appointment would arrive as soon as it was all booked.
Graham had lined up several suitable AirBnB locations and we just waited.
On Monday 20th there was still no contact from NHS so we said 'Sod It' and booked it all that evening.
We arrived on Friday afternoon and stayed two nights at Royal Oak cottage in Marsden, right in the village and opposite the Riverhead Brewery tap (result!)
Friday evening we took a walk around the town and along the canal and finished up in the tap house - where else?
Saturday morning, we walked along the towpath towards tunnel end and arrived at the trip boat at 9:45 ready to check in for a 10 o'clock start.
We were given a safety briefing once on board the boat, which had glass windows and a rather murky looking glass roof. The latter became fully clear once we had passed through the deluge pouring down from from the first ventilation shaft.
The tunnel is a mix of brick, spray concret and stone lining where neccessary with jagged stone walls and roof where a lining was not needed. It was very cold inside the boat for the journey that took just over two hours. The boat seating comprises of single seats either side of a central passageway and we were allowed to take turns to go out alongside the 'front steerer' to take photographs or ask questions. The boat was pushed by an electric powered pod attached to the rear that also had a steerer aboard. By using front and rear bow thrusters they managed to give the boat some hefty clouts throughout the journey. I'm really glad we didn't do that to Jannock. We really enjoyed the experience and it was definitley worth the effort we made to complete the trip.
The samba band in the festival parade reminded us of the last Cutweb Rally at the Blue Lias.
On returning to our AirBnB, we found the sound of the DJ performing outside the tap house too intrusive so decided to try and get away from the town centre to find something to eat. Google maps identified a cafe called the Little Lock just up Warehouse Hill Road from where we were so we walked up to that and had a superb meal on the verandah overlooking the canal lock. They make their own Pork Pies so Graham nabbed a couple of them as well to take away. We then walked back along the canal to the railway station and down the hill to our accomodation.
On Sunday morning, we drove in the car to visit Saddleworth before heading North to our next AirBnB in Skipton, where, that evening we enjoyed a meal out with Roger and Margaret (ex nb Albion and db Pheonix)
