We planned to have a good walk today originally thinking we might moor somewhere just after the last of the three locks we still had to negotiate on our way down through Gargrave.  This proved to be impossible and we walked along the towpath testing the bottom with Oliver’s pole at frequent intervals.  Who did we meet along the way?

A large ledge and shallow sloping sides to the canal forced us to continue to just past bridge 174, the swing bridge near Thorlby.  Just before swing bridge 173 we had come across a boat firmly wedged across the canal.  A “crash stop” put us in danger of ending up “in the same boat” but we escaped and sorted out “Davro” before continuing on our way.

From here the three youngest members of the crew walked to the trig point at the top of Sharp Haw (357 metres).

Part of the outward journey was along the Dales High Way and was easy to find.  The return, which looked quite straightforward, proved to be quite an adventure as paths marked on the map failed to materialise on the ground.  Black skies threatened behind us at times but the rain kept away.

Why would a stile have a gate?

Oliver gets a new look.