The Hebden Spike
8/5/2019 The Calder and Hebble Navigation (2 rivers which have canal sections, as well as river sections made navigable with weirs and locks) travels roughly west to east, from the old mill town of Sowerby Bridge towards Wakefield. The C and H has two peculiarities. 1. Half its locks are 57'6" long. Santiago is 58'6" long. As the locks are designed for wide beam boats, they are 14' wide. Therefore Santiago can just fit - on the diagonal! This means roping the bow into a corner, keeping the stern very close to the dreaded cill. Not a misspell, the lock equivalent of a window sill. The cill acts to seal the bottom area of the lock's top gate. As water is released to drop the boat down, the propeller can get lodged on the cill. This is one way that boaters have died. Cap'n JJ manages the gentle release of water in these locks, while first mate stands on the stern feeling nervous, sometimes getting wet from waterfalls through leaky gates. Who said boati...
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