The fifth boat arrived this morning at 7.30am, a wide beam who pulled into the open lock to moor up, there was nowhere else really that he could go without being in the way. But if he thought this would mean that he’d be first down the locks he was wrong.

Roger arrived and had a guided tour of Oleanna and a cuppa before the C&RT chaps turned up. Last nights heavy rain meant that we were all prepared for a wet crossing and we went out to see what Harrys verdict was for us to cross. It turned out that even if the wind was within range we wouldn’t be going anywhere today. The heavy rainfall had caused Savick Brook to go into flood, meaning that the level was too high to get under bridges on the link. When we went down to the bottom of the staircase we could see the strong flow of water bubbling away, which would have made it near impossible to turn out from the bottom chamber safely and it would be behind us, pushing us heading to the locks, very little chance of slowing down.

Over this weekend numerous places are open to the public as part of Heritage Open Days. We’d had a vague look at what was on offer the other day, but not taken much notice as we’d be busy crossing back to the main land. So over breakfast we looked again. For a couple of hours this afternoon you could gain access to the Egyptian Balcony in the Harris Museum. We all wanted to look at the gallery anyway so this spurred us on into town. After a short walk up the very wet towpath we headed across Haslam Park to find a bus.

A rather stunning building inside and out, The Harris Museum contains the Library, Museum and Art Gallery. Built from a bequest from a Preston Lawyer Edmund Robert Harris in memory of his father, Rev. Robert Harris, who had been vicar at St Georges Church for 64 years. The building opened in 1893. The views up through the atrium are as good as they are down.

Artist John Somerscales was commissioned to paint murals for the balcony close to the top of the building. For some reason Egypt was decided on as the subject, this was before the tomb of Tutankhuman was discovered in 1922. He visited the pyramids and made watercolour sketches which informed his final murals. Eight large paintings are interspersed with studies of the Egyptian Pharos. Painted onto canvas as he would as a scenic artist in the theatre, he worked on them over a period of four years. The guides couldn’t tell us if they had been hauled up the atrium to the top of the building or whether the canvases had been rolled up and carried up the narrow staircase.

Considering we had an unexpected extra day in Preston it was nice to be able to do something that we’d only have been able to do today.

Bilsborrow to Ribble Link Bridge 1

Our mooring last night had been noisy at times but then very quiet at others. The theme park that is Guy’s Thatched Hamlet had large marquees out the back and we think they were sound checking for the next few days. They are having an Oyster festival, last night there was Irish music and dancing at the pub, today a seafood lunch. Glad we’ve not there over the weekend, I think it’ll be noisy.

Blackbird pushed over to the services this morning as we headed onwards towards Preston. A mixed day weather wise. Showers followed by bright sunshine. We pulled in at Moon’s Bridge Marina to fill with diesel. The area left free by the pump wasn’t ideal for narrowboats, we didn’t quite fit the gap. However the length of their hose meant that we had to bring the stern to about half way with the bow of Oleanna right across the cut to avoid the tuperware in front, which meant we totally blocked the canal. Luckily the first boat to appear was just as we’d finished and were pulling Oleanna back for me to climb back on board. They came past just as we were about to push out again, which left me fending off, protecting the tuperware and almost falling in.

At Swillbrook, where we’d stayed the second night the cruisers had taken over the visitor moorings, glad we’d stopped where we had last night as there was no space for one of us never mind two. On we pootled through showers, the boat ahead still just in view. We’d thought about going right to the end of the canal for me to pop into town before returning to the rendez vous for the link, but we decided to turn into the top of the link and leave me to walk the rest of the way.

The boat ahead had just moored up behind another narrowboat. There was a possible space on the other side of the basin, but we didn’t think we’d fit, so pulled along side NB Waters Edge and breasted up. It turns out that they live on the High Peak Canal and own the house with Laurel and Hardy in the garden who keep Paddington Bear company. If you’ve ever been along the High Peak you’ll know the garden I mean. Where was Jaffa? When ever we’ve pulled up next to another boat there has been Jaffa. But he wasn’t there! There aren’t even any windows for me to stare through, just green! Bring back my tasty neighbour!

After lunch Blackbird had arrived and whilst Mick attached the anchor and fixed things to the roof Bridget, Storm, Max and myself walked along the canal into town. The canal was far greener than we’d expected. Terraced gardens on the offside and at times a bit too much greenery and mud on the towpath side. The service block and house nearby were very neat and tidy. A short arm spurs off to the south which is full of boats and caravans, quite a nice looking place to moor. Then the canal just simply finishes, stops, no winding hole, just the end.

From here we could see Tulketh Mill up ahead, built in 1905 it was one of Lancashire’s biggest cotton mills. By the end of the 60’s however Prestons cotton industry was finished. In 1968 Littlewoods took over the mill and stayed there for 30 years. Then the Carphone Warehouse took over the building for a call centre employing 2000 people in 2007. We walked though some of the university to get back to Abakhan, the fabric shop where I stocked up with quite a bit of fabric for crochet bags and some wool. Bridget was a very good assistant acting as a sherpa as I made up my mind on colours.

When we returned to the basin there were people standing around the top of the staircase locks. Three boats had done the crossing today and were making their way up the locks. The wind had been quite strong for them out on the river, hopefully tomorrow will be calmer. Apparently there will be five of us tomorrow, still one boat to arrive. The C&RT chaps will be with us at 9am, they will chat with Harry (custodian of the link) over in Tarleton, checking on conditions before they let us down the locks. My escape pod has been zipped together in readiness for tomorrow. I’ve already moved in. Just a few things to bring inside in the morning and we’ll be ready for our crossing to the main land.

0 locks, 10.09 miles, 124 litres, 1 out board motored canoe, 1 right, 4 boats waiting, 3.5kg fabric, 200grams alpaca wool, 2 canalside bars, 3 boats crossed, 1 escape pod at the ready.

Garstang to Bilsborrow

Today being Thursday it was market day in Garstang. Before continuing our journey southwards we decided to have a look round. Taking over much of High Street the buses get diverted on market days. There is the usual mix of sweets, slippers and cheap diy bits and bobs (Newark still wins at this). We walked from one end to the other checking out each stall.

As we got near to the end a very cheery Hilary McGrath came past. She is the Town Crier and had her full costume on. An invite to join her for a cuppa and a slice of cake around the corner was handed to us. This was very nice of her, but after a few purchases we wanted to head back to Oleanna and be on our way. So next time we are here we might take her up on her offer.

With socks, insoles, baseball cap, hose and a pork pie in our bag we headed back just as the drizzle was getting slightly heavier. We could have waited to see if it abated, but decided to head off after donning full waterproofs. Blackbird pulled out behind us and both boats waved goodbye to Garstang. The rain kept coming, mostly drizzle as we wound our way out of town disturbing Harry the Heron time and time again.

A lonely cow and it’s very new born calf watched as we passed. Only one boat heading the other way today and luckily we met the speeding widebeam on a wide stretch. Passing Barton Grange Marina the new buildings have come on a long way since we passed a month ago. We spotted The Margaret Kane, the charity boat Roger skippers tucked away in a corner. Families with additional needs can hire the boat for short breaks at a minimum cost.

Soon the long line of visitor moorings at Bilsborrow came into view. We pulled over to the services to top up and empty tanks. With this done we pushed over and pulled in behind Blackbird. With no reasonable moorings we could think of before Preston, this will be our last stop, leaving about ten miles to do tomorrow. With the pram cover up we have nestled down inside as the heavens have opened time and time again. As Bridget said, a duvet day. The radio has been on with Test Match Special whilst Tilly has been out loving getting wet. Here’s hoping the sky runs out of rain by Saturday.

0 locks, 4.8 miles, 12 pairs socks, £5, 1 pair thermal insoles, 75ft hose, 1 hand bell, 1 tricorne, 2 full sets of waterproofs, 1 tank full, 1 tank empty, 1 very wet afternoon, 1 brilliantly wet Himalayan Balsam forest to find friends in.

Garstang

Whilst Bridget and Storm headed off to have a look at Fleetwood we stayed behind to catch up with some chores on board. The cooker needed a good clean as did the shower. It always amazes me how much of my hair ends up down the plug hole. On Lillian there was no way of cleaning it without contorting yourself through a bathroom cupboard to underneath the shower. We only did this once and the slow emptying of the shower tray turned out to be down to a small bit of plastic from a shampoo bottle lid, not my hair. On Oleanna you can just lift out the cover over the hole, this is where stuff collects, undo a screw and clean it out a thirty second job that you just need to get round to doing.

Finesse got back in touch regarding the removal of bulbs in the control panel. It is just a case of pulling and they slide out.  They also suggested opening up the grills on the bowthruster tube and having a clear out, which might save having to have Oleanna lifted out of the water to solve the problem. We had wrongly assumed that the grills were welded onto the hull, but they are held on with two bolts. Hopefully it will be possible to reach over the bow to do this, if not I think Mick will need to go in! He’s after finding some waders, I think some trunks would do. Anyhow both options would be cheaper than taking her out of the water.

They asked if we could send them some photos of the chimney, which I did including one of our next door neighbours chimney capped off. We are still concerned that the height we have will be a problem at low bridges. We’ve not come across any yet, but as we head southwards we make take a trip up the Caldon where there is a very low bridge, NB Winding Down certainly had to have it’s chimney removed to get under it.

My knitting was completed and popped in the post to Hebden Bridge and then we stocked up the cupboards including the wine cellar.

This evening we visited The Tithebarn and met up with Roger, one of the original syndicate members from NB Winding Down, and had some food. Their menu said that they had a gluten free burger option, so I jumped at the chance. However they didn’t have any gluten free buns to put my burger in. So when my food arrived it looked a third the size of everyone elses. I should have changed my order to something else, but didn’t.

We had a lovely evening catching up with Roger and hearing about the boats he helps skipper on the Lancaster Canal including Tavy Cleave that we saw him on the other day. Weather permitting Roger will join us to do the Ribble on Saturday, he’s an old hand at the crossing.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 cardie finished, £3.40 postage, 3 boxes wine, 2 emergency meals, 1 clean shower, 1 pair of trunks required, 4 burgers, 3 buns, 1 stir fry, 8 pints Guzzler, 2 J2O.

Ratcliffe Bridge to Wyre Aqueduct

Last night we checked out the buses to Garstang, two an hour and the ride would only take 13 minutes, yet it would cost over £6 return! As we needed to be heading towards Garstang anyway we decided to cruise there this morning instead of catching the bus.

We woke to rain and it carried on for much of the morning. The sensible thing would have been to stay put until it stopped, but my parcels were waiting at the sorting office which closes as 1.15pm. Mick heroically pushed off and cruised us into Garstang with me dry inside, Blackbird would follow us later. As soon as we’d moored up I headed into the town to pick my parcels up and do a bit of food shopping.

The contents of said parcels were several circular knitting needles and a set of double pointed needles. I could now continue with the top I’ve been making. This morning, whilst avoiding getting wet, surfing the internet I came across a technique of knitting with circular needles called the Magic Loop. This enables you use a much longer length of needle than required to knit small circular things like socks and gloves, even fingers and thumbs. This dispenses with the need of double pointed needles all together! I’m going to give it a try on my next project, if it works it means I’ve wasted money on the set of double pointed needles, but you live and learn.

This afternoon I’ve completed the sleeves of the top, with one set of circular needles and then blocked it ready to do round the neck and the button bands. This wool is really nice, I just have to be near it. It smells nice, feels nice and I really want to lie on it. There is Tilly’s endorsement for you, Hopefully someone will like the look of the top as much as Tilly does and buy it.

Mick in the meantime has been checking on places to buy diesel. Moons Bridge Marina does, not as cheap as at St Mary’s on the Rufford Branch, but it will save us an anxious crossing at the weekend. He has also tried to replace a bulb in the engine control panel that has gone. He was successful in getting to the back of it, but didn’t know whether to just pull the bulb out or twist it. So we’ve sent an email to Finesse for advice and also enquiring about the lithium batteries. As the evenings are drawing in now our current battery set up (still temporary) is struggling to meet our demands, so we are hoping that the third battery on order will arrive soon.

As the evenings are getting cooler Mick decided it was time to light the stove. It is autumn after all! I suspect we’ll be very toasty this evening.

0 locks, 4.55 miles, 1 wet cruise for some, 2 parcels, 0 wine boxes, 1 bulb twist or pull, 2 sleeves, 4 hours! 1 blocked top, 1 lovely place to snooze, 1 banished cat, 1 chilly afternoon, 1 stove going.

Glasson Basin to Ratcliffe Bridge 75

This morning the wind had died down and the rain stopped, so it was time to start moving back southwards ready for our booked passage back over the Ribble to what I’ve started calling the ‘Main Land’. Up on the Lancaster it has felt a bit like being on an island, which of course we are, but as the canal is cut off from the main network it has felt more so.

Blackbird winded to fill with water and by the time we’d got ourselves together and pushed off we followed them back up the cut from the basin. The local swans escorted us for some of the way, yesterday they’d been giving flying lessons to their offspring across the basin, but today they just bobbed along.

Most locks were full, only the top one was empty. The boats took it slowly between locks so they didn’t have to tread water much waiting for the chambers to be emptied and the gates to open, I suspect the going for them was slow anyway. Bridget, Max and I worked the locks and walked up the hill. Not as sunny as it had been on our way down, but the scenery was still lovely. Lots of butterflies around today, a Red Admiral flashed it’s wings at me from some brambles and hung around for a photo.

We reached the top of the locks just gone 12.30pm. Both boats waited for their crew under the bridge before turning out onto the main line. Oleanna just had enough room to turn out to the left. The plan was to top up our diesel tanks just enough to feel comfortable to do the crossing. Galgate Marina sells diesel and Mick thought that there was a self service pump here as there often is at BWML marinas. So Blackbird pulled up onto the services whilst we headed another half mile or so further north to wind. As we returned though Bridget gave us the news that diesel was only sold on certain days and the pump was not self serve. Wednesday would be too late for us. We stopped and topped up with water and emptied our yellow water before pushing back over to the towpath for some lunch.

Once we got going again we headed southwards. Waterproofs were needed on and off as showers passed by. Up on a hill surrounded by trees we got a glimpse of Ellel Grange. Sadly it was only a glimpse as the building with it’s Italianate Towers looked quite impressive. Built for William Preston, a merchant, in 1860 it is a copy of Queen Victoria’s Osbourne House. It has a few quirks, some of the internal columns are not marble but are hollow and used to drain water which is collected centrally, there are no drainpipes on the outside of the building. The twenty bedrooms are accessed from a hidden corridor. It is now a nondenominational Christian retreat  run by the Ellel Ministries.

A couple of possible moorings showed themselves with armco and picnic benches, but the canal wouldn’t let us get into the side again, so on we continued to Ratcliffe Bridge where we had our covers fitted. Tomorrow the forecast isn’t good and I have a couple of parcels to collect in Garstang. So from here I can walk up to the A6 and get a bus to the collection office before it closes.

At last some trees to climb and sideways trees and best of all some rain. Marvellous.

6 locks, 7.69 miles, 0 lead, 1 left, 1 wind, 0 diesel, 1 tank full, 1 tank empty, 2 moorings aborted, 1 cat towel deployed, 1 more required before too long.

Glasson Basin

Last night as we laid in bed I wished for a power cut as the untuneful howlings of a karaoke wafted across the basin from some sort of do on the far side. Luckily it quietened down just gone midnight allowing us to get to sleep. This morning we woke to wind and rain buffeting us against the side. Once we were up Mick deployed our tyre fenders which helped a great deal.

As it was such a miserable morning we decided to see if Lantern O’re Lune lived up to its reputation of being in the top 5 Lancashire breakfasts. We managed to dodge the rain but arrived at the swing bridge when it was swung. A visiting yacht was coming up in the lock, the second boat this morning. Two lock keepers wound windlasses and chatted to the crew, pointing out where to head in the basin to moor. Plenty of people were watching and being Sunday several cars waited, empty, to cross the bridge. A route was open to cross the bottom gates so we carried on and found plenty of seats free in the cafe.

A full breakfast was described as not for the faint hearted. We decided to opt for a veggie breakfast but with pork sausages, Mick had fried eggs whilst I had scrambled. A generous plateful and they had gluten free bread too, so we were both happy. As we ate the tables filled up, cyclists, walkers and quite a few regulars, the proprietor placing their orders before they’d even entered the door. We enjoyed our meal only one slight criticism was that even thought the sausages were nice, they could have been even nicer. But that was only a very small thing.

Very serious twitchers were watching the mud banks and salt marsh when we went to look at the high tide. This was the first time we’ve seen the river full since we’ve been here.

For most of the rest of the day we stayed indoors avoiding the weather. Tilly sat watching the rain under the pramhood, It was far too windy out there! I continued to make a giant crochet bag. Much of the day I’ve worked on this, but sadly the fabric I bought is very fluffy and the boat now has a layer of dust everywhere despite ripping it up outdoors. I’ve persevered with it to try to get a pattern, but the fabric will have to be a different type, cotton sheeting most probably.

Later in the afternoon the rain eventually stopped so we went out to see if we could find where the music was coming from last night. We walked up the canal to the first bridge and then round to the marina. Nowhere suitable showed it’s face and we’d seen lights further along. The next entrance from the road was into a field. A traffic cone sat by the gate along with a water tap, but other than that there was nothing. This looked like it was the right place for the lights, but unless they had power from the school or generators we didn’t see how there would have been power for the karaoke. Maybe it hadn’t been powered, maybe it was a spectral karaoke that just disappeared into thin air at midnight!

By the dock is an imposing building, The Caribou. This is the oldest building in Glasson. In 1787 it was known as Pier Hall a hotel for the dock. In the 1820’s it became known as The Caribou Hotel. In 2002 it was divided into seven houses and apartments. £160,000 will get you a three bedroomed house right now. The railway ran up the road in front, the station being nothing more than a small hut which has since been demolished. By the dock there is a metal plate which marks the boundary of the railway.

Garlic chicken this evening made with some of the smoked garlic I bought yesterday was very tasty and the mackerel Mick put in the kedgeree last night was very nice too. I may have to pop back to the smoke house before we leave for some more.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 miserable day,  2 boats, 1 bridge, 4 held up, 2 veggie breakfasts with meat, 1 Americano, 1 tea, 1 refill of tea, 0 need for lunch, 3 twitchers, 2.5m ripped, 1 dusty semi trad, 2 much fluff, 1 and only PB, 1 bag, 1 dusty sofa, 0 power, 0 karaoke, 1 very bored cat, can we move tomorrow please!

Glasson Basin

Lots of chatty walkers passed our mooring at 7am, waking us so we had a cuppa in bed earlier than normal. They were taking part in a 45km walk from the basin here through Lancaster, beyond and back. The car park next to the moorings which so far has managed to have around twenty cars in it was full. Mick was paper boy today, although the village shop didn’t have our usual paper, so we are coping with a substitute, it won’t last us as long as normal though.

Oleanna’s next service was due so Mick donned his overalls and climbed down into the engine bay. It was a 250 hour service which involves changing the oil and oil filters. But because we’ll be crossing the Ribble next week Mick wanted to check the fuel filters too, just in case. This isn’t due until the next service, but there would be nothing worse than to get a blockage on the high seas. First he checked the fuel filter, which was clean so everything was fine and dandy and no other action was required. He tightened the stern gland and broke for some lunch.

Whilst he was getting close and dirty with Oleanna I spent the morning ripping, twisting and winding the first lot of fabric I bought in Preston the other day. I intend on crocheting a bag with this homemade chunky yarn and if my friend Julia thinks it is sellable I suspect I’ll be making some more. The fabric I got though did create a lot of dust as I was ripping it up into 3cm strips. Next time I’ll do this outside to avoid fluff. With two full reels of yarn ready I can make a start.

Once lunch was over Mick ran the engine for a while to help warm up the oil so that it is easier to deal with. He then set to changing the oil.

Meanwhile I busied myself with a very important trip. A walk along Ten Row brought me to The Smoke House. There was a steady stream of people into the shop, never busy, but just constant. What to buy? I was here on my own, this could have been quite costly, but I was good and managed to select several things that were on offer. My bag took on weight as the credit card got a little lighter. A pair of kippers, smoked salmon, white and black pudding, Cumberland sausages, smoked garlic, Lancashire cheese and some smoked mackerel for a kedgeree tonight.

Bridget had spent the morning picking Blackberries and had a surplus so a large bag came our way. These have taken up what space was left in the freezer, a pot of compote has been made to spoon over cereal and a blackberry cobbler is ready to go in the oven for pudding tonight. I’ve had a go at making it with gluten free flour, here’s hoping it works.

Once all the oil was changed Mick turned the engine over, except it wouldn’t start! It had worked earlier after he’d looked at the fuel filter, so why not now! Oleanna’s engine is different to Lillian’s, things are in different places. Lillian had an electric pump, so the fuel system didn’t need bleeding. Oleanna doesn’t. He thought he’d bled the system, but he hadn’t undone the bleeding screw. Once this was done she started up first time. Phew, we won’t be stuck in Glasson, nice as it is.

I went for a visit to Christ Church a short distance back up the towpath. There had been a Teddy Bears picnic today and large chalky paw prints covered the footpath. But now the church grounds were quiet. I pushed the door and entered the friendly church. Quite simple with oak pews, a few stained glass windows and a very simple organ sitting on a balcony. There were lots of flowers everywhere. A couple of plaques commemorate members of the Nicholson family who built boats in the basin from the 1830’s.

Today the towpath has been busy, plenty of curious gongoozlers. As soon as you show your head outside comments and questions would start, Tilly gets them too. A couple of chaps were even pacing out the length of Blackbird this afternoon. Sat inside you can hear everything that is being said, we can’t hep but comment back. A group of very enthusiastic children have just come past, they were astounded ‘Look how Tiny the doors are!’ That’s because I don’t need big doors.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1.5m x 2.2m ripped twisted and wound, 2 reels of yarn, 1 clean fuel filter, 9 litres oil, 1 oil filter, 1 engine 2 quiet, 1 bleeding screw, 1 engine purr, 2 kippers, 6 sausages, 1 bulb garlic, 2 puddings, 1 small church, 18 paw prints, 50p a book, 3 potential puddings, 1 pot of red, 6 tiny doors.

Glasson Basin

Whilst eating breakfast this morning I could hear the familiar sound of a lock being operated. Leaning out of the side hatch I could see the mast of a boat in the lock, it was high tide. It took quite sometime for the boat to be brought up to the level of the basin before the gates could be wound open. All the time the swing bridge had been closed to traffic as it sits right over the lock, so after the two boats exited I waited to count how many cars had been held up. A grand total of two bikes! It was closed for at least ten minutes, but then there is another way round.

As we had free power, still don’t know how much, we decided to get on with emptying the dirty linen drawer. Washing machine on and the doors open so that Tilly could come and go at will, which wasn’t much. It’s boring here! Can’t believe that you think it’s a good place. Mick got on with chores whilst I got on with some work, knitting, earning a bit for the beer fund.

After lunch we met up with Bridget, Storm and Max and headed off for a walk to find some views. At the end of Tithebarn Hill was a viewing point, with views in every direction. From here we could see back to Lancaster and the memorial, Helvellyn in the Lake District and just make out Blackpool Tower to the south of us.

We then took a circular route which first took us closer to the River Lune. The tide had gone out and the now familiar sight of marsh land and mud flats lay below us down to what water there was. In the distance we could see out to sea. A ship waited for a ferry to come past before making it’s way towards Heysham behind the next headland. Numerous wind turbines filled the horizon whilst in the foreground a small light house and buoys marked the channel of the Lune.

Plover Scar Lighthouse, or Abbey Lighthouse, is a 19th Century lighthouse which marks the entrance to the Lune Estuary. It was built as the lower light of a pair of leading lights. The rear or High light once stood next to the Abbey Lighthouse cottage on Slack Lane it was originally a wooden tower, later replaced by a metal framework beacon. The leading lights helped ships navigate into the Lune estuary. Last year the lighthouse was hit by a commercial vessel and has recently undergone a brick by brick restoration. Prior to automation lighthouse keepers lived in the lighthouse cottage, they maintained both lighthouses, walking across to Plover Scar at low tide. The Raby family kept the lights for nearly a century until 1945.

Following the path along the shoreline we reached Cockersand Abbey where only the chapter house still survives in one piece. Originally a hermitage for Hugh Garth in 1180 it developed into a hospital and after ten years it gained the rank of Abbey. The chapter house remains intact due to it becoming a mausoleum for the Dalton family from Thurnham Hall in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is Grade 1 listed and a scheduled ancient monument. The building is open on occasions, sadly we are leaving the Lancaster canal on it’s next open day.

We now followed tracks and footpaths directed by Mick with his downloaded OS map on his phone. A very handy thing until the data on your phone runs out! But luckily there was still enough map to get us back. This route took us through farmers fields and across a couple of farm yards. One farmer obviously wasn’t so keen on a footpath crossing his land as he stores his manure mountain right by the stile. Along some of the tracks we spotted huge ripe blackberries that are likely to be picked tomorrow.

Tilly has made new friends on the boat behind us today. They sadly lost their cat a month ago and came bearing gifts for Tilly. DREAMIES!!!!! Not too sure about the OAP food or the flea stuff, but DREAMIES!!!!!! Thank you!!

Today has been the first day at senior school for my nephew Josh. My brother and I had to have our photos taken in our brand new uniform to mark the day. Have to say Josh’s uniform is far more colourful than ours were back in the 70’s. He looks really smart. Just as well I can’t find the photo of me!

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 misty start, 2 boats, 1 new bucket, 2 loads washing, 1 vest top just needing rib, 3420 narrowboat questions, 5.3 mile walk, 1 light house, 1 abbey, 2 ships, 4lb of jam ingredients at least, 4 chilled medications, 2 packs DREAMIES, 2 new friends I won’t eat, 1 uniformed Josh the next Leckenby growing up.

Galgate to Glasson Basin

The rain hammering on the roof as we woke this morning suggested that we wouldn’t be going very far, it was horrible. So we took our time getting up and having breakfast. But by 11am things were looking up. NB Blackbird pushed over to the services to fill with water and we collapsed the pram cover. All ready we pootled up to the junction and turned into the Glasson Branch.

Immediately there was the top lock. We had to remind ourselves what a lock was as we’ve been without them for three weeks now. All you need is a key of power as windlasses have been welded onto paddle gear. The ground paddles were easy to operate to fill the locks. But the bottom gates were hard work.

The mechanism for all but one lock is the same as on the Bingley Five and Three. You wind a handle that moves a ratchet bar along pulling the paddle sideways on the gate to open it. Having a fixed handle makes this hard as you can’t always use the advantage of your body weight to click to the next groove. But Bridget and I managed to get them moving with a bit of extra umph! Max helped out as Tilly snoozed inside.

This stretch got prettier and prettier as the sun came out. The sky a vivid blue reflected in the clear canal and the lush green of the grass surrounding us. A perfect summers day.

The canal was clear and you could make out the saucer shape of the canal bed leaving just a narrow channel to navigate through. On the last pound it reminded us of the Chesterfield canal last year and it’s weed!

The Glasson Branch opened in 1826 providing the Lancaster canal with its first link to the sea at the River Lune. Dropping down 52ft through six locks it travels 2.5 miles. The locks are wider than normal at 16ft, which meant that smaller boats coming off the river could carry on up to the canal and not have to transfer their cargo onto canal boats.

If there had been anywhere to moor on our way down we’d have certainly pulled in for a day or two. But there being nowhere we continued on to the basin. An area of long term mooring is no longer used so we pulled up and tied off to huge rings intended for much larger vessels. Across the way on pontoons are numerous sailing boats along with two life boats. With electric posts along the moorings we plugged in, but unsure of how much credit was on the post we refrained from putting the washing machine straight on.

A walk around the village in the afternoon sunshine meant that we got to see most of the sights. A swing bridge sits over a lock into Glasson Dock where a few boats were moored. The dock gates out onto the River Lune are only opened for 45 minutes before high water, then the channel out to the sea is only safe to navigate for an hour after high tide. We walked around a small section of the port which seemed to be busy with lorries using the weigh bridge today. In amongst the buildings was The Port of Lancaster Smoke House, plenty of interesting things to buy, but we refrained with a plan to return later in our stay to spend money.

If the weather stays as it is our mooring will be great for a few days, sunlight on the solar panel and electric, our washing drawer will be empty again. Just a shame there are loads of woofers and NO trees!

6 locks, 2.9 miles, 1 wet start, 1 blue day, 1 black wet nosed helper, 1 lost lead, 2 chilled medication dispensaries, 1 smokehouse, 1 way traffic on bridge, 37 lapwings, 1 walk that was a railway, 1 load of washing, 1 survey boat, ? contacts lost from my phone!