In the dark

3rd June saw us invited to join the Pendle Paddlers canoe club to take part in a mass-paddle through the mile long (nearly) Foulridge tunnel. This is very helpful because until now the tunnel was off-limits to unpowered boats which, officially, involved a major hassle getting the boat carried for nearly a mile over the hill to reach the Foulridge Wharf end.

Paddlers getting ready to head south through the tunnel

To mark the occasion the Canal and River Trust had arranged for some young waterway volunteers to join the mass-paddle, paddling from south to north through the tunnel. This would involve the Pendle Paddlers canoeing to meet them prior to the official opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting. We joined the Paddlers in their southward paddle and got halfway through the tunnel when it became apparent that a narrow boat had entered the tunnel's south end, and was heading north toward the group of canoeists.

A hasty exit from the tunnel to avoid being run over

There is no room to pass in the narrow tunnel so we all had to turn round (no mean feat for us in a kayak that is just about as long as the tunnel is wide) and head back to the Foulridge end. The sound of a narrow boat's engine, getting louder in a confined space, is a tad disconcerting but we all got back to the northern end prior to the boat emerging a couple of minutes later.

We couldn't hang about for the second tunnel passage but are told it went without a hitch and was a great success. For us it means we will be able to officially use the tunnel on our fourth day travelling from Burnley - Skipton and avoid the portage hassle. Must remember the torch and the whistle and make sure there isn't a bloody boat coming t'other way.

Paddlers waiting at the tunnel's south end