Winter boating

The mild weather has meant more boat movements on the canal than is often the case in winter. When the canal ices over, they are forced to stay put but that hasn't happened yet this season. This narrowboat, moored temporarily by the towpath in Saltaire, seems to be someone's permanent home, not just a leisure craft.

The Leeds-Liverpool Canal through Saltaire was mercifully unscathed by the recent heavy rain and flooded river. It runs through at a level higher up the hillside than the river level. Though it is pretty full, to some extent they can regulate the amount of water it holds. The Rochdale Canal in the Calder valley was not so lucky. The Calder overflowed and merged with the canal and there were narrowboats left strewn like toys and stranded at odd angles all down the canal.