Friday 1st May 2020



We had crumpets for breakfast, another food item we had been missing, then moved onto the water point, filling not just the tank but all the containers ready to sit at Syke’s Hollow for another two weeks or so.

After dropping down the lock we stopped at the chandlery but unfortunately, the rope had not yet been delivered. We bought a couple of disposable BBQ’s and ordered an in-line water filter. This filter will be fitted between the tank and the pump to prevent any debris again passing into the pump. However, the tank will have to be empty and the system drained to fit it, also fitting the isolation valves at the same time. It would have been so much easier if these had been fitted during the build.

We stopped and chatted with BJ and Susan for quite a while and it was good to see BJ up and about again after his illness.

We left them and headed back down to Syke’s and were very relieved to see, not only the place itself, but also it being empty. We both commented that we felt as though we had arrived back home after an unpleasant experience. Neither of us though, can quite understand why it remains empty, it being such a lovely, isolated spot.

The bedding was hung out although it was soon brought back in as the rain came on, and turned very heavy, the noise on the roof at one point, was deafening.

We spent the afternoon rewatching The Last Kingdom, a series we had thoroughly enjoyed last year but a new season has been released so we decided to watch the whole series again.


                                   Whenever we take photos of Harvey we entitle them ‘At Home with Harvey’



We again had a lovely fresh meal, scallops in garlic and chives followed by a main course of smoked haddock with salad. We do eat well and are enjoying the fresh stuff while it lasts.   



Day Total: 1 lock; 1 mile; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; Day’s running hours 3.9



Overall Total: 910 locks; 1630 miles; 53 tunnels; 61 Swing Bridges; 17 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; total engine running hours 1101.6


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