WEDNESDAY.
The 2008 journey thus far: 235 Locks & 337 Miles & 29 Swing\Lift Bridges
Journeys using bus pass: 14
Myra needed to have her blood pressure taken, as her doctor gives her enough tablets to last for the boating season provided that she has it checked half way through. Barry the lockie gave us directions to the surgery, so away we went. No problems there at all, an appointment was made for one hour later, her pressure taken and was well down. We bought some very tasty Cornish Pasties from a local independent bakery.
After lunch, we played dodge the showers and looked around Bingley. There was a small exhibition, by the local historical society in the library about the mills in the area with some aerial photographs. These showed the original line of the canal below the 3 rise which was closer to the railway line before the opening in December 2003 of the Bingley relief road. Some 150 metres of canal on a new line was built, one pedestrian tunnel and one bridge required removal, this was one of the most expensive parts of the overall £47.9 million cost.
We wandered around alleys and cobbled side streets to the river. Walking into the church, we were impressed by the glass, a leaflet informed us that one was by Burne Jones and William Morris. Unfortunately, the location of the organ made it impossible properly to see the window from the interior. Some intricate carvings above the choir stalls were nicely executed. A stroll back to the canal took in the new footbridge across the relief road which joins the towpath at the 3 rise bottom end.
Showers, some very heavy, clearing early evening with long sunny spells.
