Castlefield to Dunham Massey

With our cinema tickets we got vouchers for 50% off our next visit if it was within the next couple of weeks. Dunkirk took our fancy, but with only one showing today at 6.30pm we decided not to bother. We could stay another day but just for the sake of saving £5 and spending £5! So after a slow start we pushed off and made our way out of Manchester.

As we turned out of the basin a Waxi (Water Taxi) was just setting off from it’s mooring at the bottom of Lock 92. He waited for us to pass the trip boats and a boat heading into the basin before we waved him past. Suspect he would have passed us anyway seeing the size of his outboard. Within a minute he was out of sight and heading to the Trafford Centre. They run a service seven days a week between Castlefield, Trafford Centre and Sale along with a service to Media City in Salford across the quays. At £8 a single it’s not cheap.

At Waters Meeting we turned left continuing our journey southwards. This is familiar water to us. At the Linotype Works the development is starting to grow. I wonder what it’ll look like the next time we pass, will it be similar to the W N Nicholson facades in Newark that stand supported by modern buildings behind? Not sure when we’ll be passing this way next, maybe not till late next year, so the site will have changed a lot by then.

We stopped on the embankment overlooking Dunham Massey to let Tilly have free reign for the afternoon. As soon as green was visible from the cabin windows she was chomping  to be out, at least it would save her chomping the curtains! This is now the third time we’ve moored here and on Sundays there are a lot of walkers and cyclists. As we pulled up a young lady asked if Oleanna was like a house, only with very small doors. She then went on to say that here was very isolated. With the amount of footfall here it certainly doesn’t feel like it, although by late afternoon they had all headed back home and left the views to us and the embankment to Tilly.

0 locks, 10.5 miles, 2 lefts, 1 waxi, 1 parcel ready to send, 1 London Leckenby catch up, 1st knitted sock, 1st heel turned, 4 hours of pouncing on a slope, 8 cumberland sausages from Glasson, 3 2 full tummies.

Boothstown Basin to Castlefield

Just as we were about to push off this morning a boat appeared around the bend behind us, that dilemma should we give Oleanna a big shove and get moving or cling onto the ropes and wait for them to pass. They were quite a distance behind so I urged us to get a move on. It turned out to be the right decision as they were much slower than us. We’d got the hose out and were starting to fill the water tank long before they passed us at Worsley. It was a hire boat having some training before they were sent off on their own.

As we approached Parrin Lane Bridge I messaged ahead to an old work friend who lives right by the M602 fly over. Today she and her husband were suffering with lurgies so we wouldn’t get chance to meet up. Last year when we passed they had just bought their house and it was moving day, on our way to Liverpool a couple of months ago Cat was on a hen weekend. Today we got a wave from Kevin, but Cat had had to pop out, so we even missed a wave from her this time. We now know where we can stop, so next time hopefully we’ll get to see each other.

Another mile on and spotting some rings we pulled in. This was close to a fishing tackle shop, no Mick hasn’t taken up a new hobby after seeing yesterdays catch, but he wanted a pair of waders. Wearing these he hopes to be able to unblock the bow thruster and save us the cost of lifting Oleanna out of the water. Photos will be taken.

The skies were starting to get darker, so we decided to have a late lunch and press on to Castlefield. Barton Swing Aqueduct was open for passage so we followed another boat across and made our way gradually to Waters Meeting where the canal branches off towards the centre of Manchester and the bottom of the Rochdale Nine. It was a damp three mile cruise. After all the containers at the Freight Terminal there is Old Trafford Football ground. Behind the dark glazing of the new Hotel Football people waved to us from the dry. Past Pomona Tram Station, the flyover that we’d seen being painted is now covered in graffiti. Then the final approach to the basin with it’s criss crossing rail bridges and red brick buildings.

It looked like the arm would be full as there were so many boats moored by the bottom of the locks. But as we rounded the bend we could see gaps. The first one is now a permanent mooring, but on the car park side there was plenty of space. So we winded and found ourselves suitable rings to moor up without leaving git gaps.

Being in the centre of the city we decided that we’d go to the theatre. After checking to see what was on where, we opted to go to HOME and see  People, Places & Things.

HOME opened a couple of years ago and we’d never been. A warm inviting building tucked away behind the railway only a few minutes walk from Castlefield. Their ushers could do with a bit more training, knowing where seats are (as most of their audience does) might help. Our seats were on the end of a row in the circle, however this was a problem with a lady who followed us into the theatre, well it would be to her husband! It turned out that when they booked their tickets the end three seats were not being sold, he always wants to sit at the end of a row. But as the theatre filled up it looks like the end seats were released for sale, why not if people want to see the show. As far as I’m aware no Box Office will be aware of why you chose particular seats in the first place, so they don’t automatically move you.

Mick offered to swap seats, no problem to us, we’d end up with better sight lines. This took a bit of convincing, but eventually she got the hang of it. Then her husband came in and we waited to be accused of sitting in his seat. Instead of saying Thank you, sitting down and enjoying the play, he complained to the usher that he’d been told the end seats were not going to be sold. One of those moments were you just want to say, “Well they have been, someone has kindly swapped so you are sitting where you originally wanted to. Sit down, shut up and I hope you enjoy the play, Sir!” Instead the usher kept pointing along the row not taking any note of what was being said.

But what of the play? Written by Duncan Macmillan, Designed by Bunny Christie, a Headlong and National Theatre production we were in for a treat. It turned out that we were seeing it on it’s first preview before a tour (cheap tickets). Two years ago the play got five star reviews, played at the National Theatre and in the West End. The reviews were well deserved and Lisa Dwyer Hogg must be exhausted after giving such a performance. She plays the part of Emma, an actress, who to get her through modern life has taken to drink and drugs, she has ended up in rehab. First she has to admit that she has a problem, but to her she is not the problem, everything else is! Emma ends up practising/rehearsing for real life. As an actor you always know where the play will take you, yet Emma has no idea what consequences telling the truth will bring.

A great production and reassuring that even a NT production can still have that actor who pulls scenery into position until it will go no further! I could feel the designers wince as a bathroom sink wobbled away. He’ll manage to put the truck on it’s mark without hitting it, one day.

0 locks, 8.54 miles, 1 full water tank, 1 waving Kevin, 0 Cat, 1 aqueduct crossed, size 10 waders, 1 puncture repair kit, £110 saved, 1 left, 1 wind, 3 raining miles, £10 tickets a bargain, 13 strong cast, 2 nearly free chilled medication tubs, 1 cracking show, 5 doubles, 1 wobbly bathroom sink, 1 outside not worth sniffing!

Plank Lane to after Boothstown Basin, Bridgewater Canal

A very wet start to the day, glad we weren’t on a mission. We woke early in case Gary returned with our cratch cover, however he arrived in a lull in the rain shortly before 10am. The straps to hold the rolled openings up have been shortened and moved higher, which means that they will now sit as high as they can giving us the maximum opening to get in and out. The press studs that had been squashed in the lock have been replaced and the slight hole has been mended and reinforced. This has been done to both sides of the cover so that they match. We just need to remember to have the cover rolled up when entering locks so as to avoid it getting damaged in future. Gary left us with a pocket full of fixings and rivets should we manage to damage any of them. Thank you Gary, a speedy repair and alteration all done within 24hrs, it helped being on their doorstep.

Another hour before Mick decided to brave the rain. We pushed off and pootled along in the drizzle, Mick with brolli in hand, me down below knitting. When the towpath appeared on both sides Mick pulled over and tied the centre rope. Here we could empty our yellow water tank without having to balance on wet gunnels. Once empty we carried on to Leigh where normally there is a line of moored boats just before bridge 11 where the Leeds Liverpool turns into the Bridgewater Canal. But there was only one boat, so we pulled up to pay a visit to Tescos for some fresh fruit and veg. The above building caught my eye. It was canteen/waiting room/office for the Lancashire United Tramways and used to be twice as big, designed to resemble a tram in the 1930s.

The day was drying up now, a few more miles before we wanted to stop for the day.

Passing under the East Lancs Road Bridge a couple of workmen pointed out a fisherman up ahead who’d just landed a big fish. Sure enough the chap was wrestling with it in his landing net and removing the hook. What was it? It was big, almost orange, a Koi Carp possibly? As we passed the chap he held it up, weighing it in his hands. As you can see it really was that big! Sadly he has no record of it and I can assure you that he did put it back in.

On we pootled, waiting to see if work was now complete on Vicars Hall Bridge. It was and wouldn’t look out of place in a lego set. One local has already tried to improve it by adding their tag.

We pulled in roughly where we’d moored when we came out this way a couple of months ago. Trees on both sides, the M60 only just audible and a great place for Tilly for a few hours before dark.

0 locks, 6.6 miles, 4 straps higher up, 1 pocket full of rivets, £0, 1 empty yellow tank, 1 half full cellar, 1 very big gold fish, 1 quiet mooring, 7.5 miles to Manchester.

Fishers Swing Bridge to Plank Lane Bridge 8, Leigh Branch

Another early start for us. Below the next lock, Dean Lock, there is a water point that we wanted to make use off. We were moored up, filling the tank and having breakfast by 8.30. With filled tank and tummies we worked our way up the lock on our own, no Blackbird to keep us company now, so the use of the centre rope and a lot of walking round to work the paddles.

At 9.45 we were pulling up and banging spikes in opposite Crooke Hall Inn. There were fisher men starting to congregate in the pub car park and we were asked if we’d be staying. Yes, but maybe not for long, was our reply. Our stay did turn out to be short as our towpath meeting with Gary happened almost straight away. Cruising close to All Seasons Covers for a couple of days is handy, I’d messaged Gary yesterday and arranged to meet him on his way back from a job this morning. We chatted through the alteration we wanted, undid the cover and off he went, all in 20 minutes of mooring up.

Just as the kettle was about to be put on a boat came past heading towards Wigan, our morning cuppa put on hold so that we could catch them up to partner through the locks, good timing. NB Zelda was the boat that had arrived at the Deep Lock yesterday just as we were going up. They were heading in the same direction as us at Wigan so we could share the four locks up and the two down the other side.

Thankfully the water levels at Pagefield Lock were good today. The last time we came in this direction the pound above was almost empty, but today the water was flowing over the bywash. This meant that Mick didn’t have to get the polishing cloth out and clean Oleanna’s mushroom vents as there wouldn’t be several hours of waiting for the level to rise.

The lady stood by the pier just looks more bored everytime we pass and the little chap over looking the bridge always has to have his photo taken, he’s one of my favourite canal side sculptures. I snapped his photo from a distance only later this evening did I realise that someone has de-cap-itated him! He used to wear a flat cap, but this has now gone. Poor poor fellow, he’s going to have a very chilly head this winter, maybe I should knit him a bobble hat and send it to the council.

Around the bend there is a new pontoon near to where C&RT have moved. Handy to get on and off your boat before the next lock. Except my key wouldn’t work in one of the padlocks and Mr Zelda had difficulty at the other gate but succeeded in the end. There was a group sat here with a couple of dogs that liked the sound of their own barking. It’s a good job I’m not scared of dogs as one bounded up to say hello and then gave my arm a nip. ‘Sorry love, he’s just saying hello’, And checking out that I tasted good!

Both boats turned right onto the Leigh Branch and worked our way down through the last two locks for some miles. At last we could now have that cuppa. The branch and the Bridgewater are wide and deep so it felt like we were zooming along. The low hanging foliage we’d cut our way through on our way up was now gone. By 1.30pm I turned the key of power on the panel to work Plank Lane bridge. At this time of day there isn’t masses of traffic and I even found a gap with not one vehicle visible to set the operation going, I still held up a few. Mick pulled Oleanna into the side and we moored up for the day. Here we will meet with Gary again in the morning.

It’s the third time we’ve stopped here. It’s good, plenty of friends to play with, just have to watch out for the woofers. Nowadays she always says that I’m ‘not to bring friends home, dead or alive’. She has never mentioned anything about the roof though, although Tom didn’t seem too pleased. It wasn’t going to be much of a party, I’d only got one friend up there before I was closed in again.

7 locks, 9.69 miles, 1 right. 1 lift holding up 18, 1 solo lock, 6 shared, –1 cap, –1 cratch cover, 1 afternoon of showers, 1 very wet cat, 1 roof party thwarted, 3rd bag completed.

Glovers Swing Bridge to Fishers Swing Bridge 45

The canal was steaming and mist rising from the fields this morning. Extra layers were needed. Mick did a milk dash into Burscough for both boats before we pushed off. A brief stop for us to dispose of our rubbish at Bridge 35 before we entered the long binless stretch ahead. Bridget had walked on and was ready to press the buttons on the next swing bridge to let us through.

In Parbold the chilled medication dispensary already had it’s menu outside, but sadly it was far too early to stop. Next time.

Bridget and Storm were now on a mission to get Blackbird back to her mooring before the weekend so that they could spend it with their grandkids. Originally we’d planned to accompany them through the locks up to Wigan and then down Poolstock Locks before we parted company. But we are wanting to catch up with Gary from All Seasons Covers to do a couple of alterations for us, so slowing down would be better for us. So Appley Deep Lock would be our last together as we wanted to stop early and let Tilly have an afternoon hunting for friends.

Appley Deep Lock is 12ft deep and as one of the ground paddles is out of operation it takes sometime to fill. A boat appeared behind us, so there was a chance that Blackbird would have a locking partner to do Wigan with, but sadly they were going to stop before Crooke for the day. Once the boats  had reached the top, paddles wound back down and the gates closed, we waved our goodbyes to each other. Blackbird took the lead and set off to cruise until they stopped wanting to make the most of the sunny day that was now burning through the mist.

Of course we’d all forgotten about the next swing bridge! Here we overtook them and wound our way back to the meadow we’d stopped at back at the end of July. Our final farewells were said as we moored up for the day.

It’s been a lovely six weeks with Bridget, Storm and Max. Exploring the Lancaster with them has been a very nice way to spend the summer, good company, similar interests, appetites for chilled medication and beer. We definitely now have an end of holiday feeling that has been creeping up on us for the last couple of weeks. Just one mention on their blog last year when they walked down the Glasson Branch and saw the big locks and we ended up offering to share them. We now head our separate ways, which will cross again. We may even get to see them before Christmas if we end up going up to the Llangollen for the end of the year.

The doors were opened and I was given five hours! A stipulation was to show my face every hour. I did for the first four, but they didn’t seem too bothered so I went off for another four hours to play with my friends.

There were jobs to do, stow things away like the anchor, redistribute mooring equipment that seems to all end up at the bow. The sunny afternoon nearly got me in the mood to give the port side and roof a wash, but this soon disappeared and I ended up just washing all the windows.

A flash of blue darted past us and then doubled back. A kingfisher had come to have a nosy at us, uncharacteristically he sat on a branch in full view for about ten minutes. Enough time to get the camera and some photos! As the evening darkened the meadow below filled with convection fog and the canal started to steam again. The stove was lit and we settled down to watch TV, yes there was an occasional train that passed, but it didn’t spoil our countryside mooring.

1 lock, 5.87 miles, 4 pints milk, 0 medication, 2 swing bridges, 0 held up, 2 Goodbyes, 1 Hello, 6 weeks holiday, 3 again, 8 hours, 7 friends, 2 rather tasty friends, 12 clean windows, 1 tidy cratch, 1 stripped chicken, 5 more inches of bag, 1 nosy bird.

Lock 8 to Glovers Swing Bridge, Leeds Liverpool Canal

Alarm was set early and we were up having a cuppa awaiting the arrival of the Lockies and Roger by 7.10am. Roger arrived first and gradually other heads appeared from inside the waiting boats. Next to arrive was Chris and his mate who just went straight to the lock and started to fill it, did this mean we were on our way? The gates opened and Blackbird joined NB Elan to be the first to go down into the brook.

This next section is very narrow and there is only a certain window when it can be navigated due to the tides. It needs to be deep enough for you to float, therefore move, yet shallow enough to be able to get under a pipe bridge and road bridge. Once through you then wait on a pontoon for the brook to continue to rise enabling you to exit out onto the River Ribble.

We were the third boat down. Oleanna had difficulty at times with the depth, rising up on some sections. We were glad she wasn’t longer or wider as we think we’d have become stuck. Slowly we made it through and joined Blackbird and Elan on the pontoon breasting up with them followed by NB Bosley. The channel was full. The next two boats came down followed by the first widebeam, each successive boat announcing it’s arrival with a wave of water. Only one more to join us, Mr Widebeam. After sometime we could see Chris walking to peer over the bridge to see where the boat was. No sign. Still no sign a while later. The level was rising all the time, would he get through the low bridge? It turned out that he had got stuck and broken down! Hope he managed to get to a pontoon and out of the way for the boats heading up today!

Time for a brew and breakfast whilst we waited for the tide. Discussions were had as to who should go first, some wanted to take the crossing more gradually, so we opted to lead the flotilla out onto the river, followed by Blackbird. At around 9.45am a surge of water met us, soon followed by Chris waving from high up on the bank, we were free to go.

Down the brook to where it meets the Ribble, you could see the flow of the incoming tide ahead of us. Roger suggested that we head out into the flow before we turned, cutting the corner could mean going aground. Soon we were up to 2,100 revs and checking the engine temperature at intervals as we punched the incoming tide at 3mph. Watching the others turn out behind, we’d certainly taken the widest course heading out towards the sea.

The river gradually widened, a yacht came towards us from somewhere out at sea. Despite the atmospheric grey cloud covering the sky it was a calm day.

Up ahead Canadian Geese were flying in to land. There were so many they created a murmuration  around us. Some landing, others taking off, others just swirling around. Wow!!! What an amazing sight and to be right in the middle of it all. One of those moments that photos don’t do justice, but will stay with you for life. Video here. (It is 15MB!)

With the camera on zoom I could see ahead to the Astland Lamp where we were to turn onto the River Douglas, here a boat (Gnat) was turning upstream towards us. The crew as they sped past us waved and beeped their horn a couple of times. Were they being cheery or were they about to turn to port? Cheery it must have been as they showed little intent on turning until they had been past the whole flotilla which had now stretched out behind us.

Another yacht was following us all, gradually working it’s way past. Now we could see a narrowboat coming down the Douglas, who was going to reach the Astland Lamp first, us, the narrowboat or the yacht? We gave two short blasts of our horn so the yacht knew our intensions and turned a while before NB Caramia made it there, the yacht carried on out to sea.

Two more narrowboats passed us heading to the Ribble, it was slack water and we were now making 6.5mph at 1,900 revs positively zooming along. That was until Gnat sped past leaving us to cope with his wash. As we reached the marina with it’s long pontoon Mick called ahead to Tarleton Lock and spoke to Harry. A boat was just coming up and then they would make the lock ready for us and Blackbird.

Sure enough the gates were open and three chaps stood awaiting our arrival. At last we’d made it back to the Main Land, what a great crossing it had been.

At Town End Swing Bridge we said goodbye to Roger who headed off to catch a bus back to Preston. It’s been lovely spending some time with him and nice that he’s been able to do the crossing with us. Here Blackbird leapfrogged us and carried on through all the reeds to Fern’s Swing Bridge where we swapped positions. They wanted to stop for water at the services as we carried on to St Mary’s to top up with diesel and buy a couple of bags of coal. By the time we’d finished they were setting the first of the locks to rise us back up to the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Bridget and I worked the paddles and walked between the locks. Farmers were bringing in the last of the summers crops and large straw bails were sitting in the fields. We tried to moor the boats between locks 2 and 3, but the depth wasn’t sufficient so we carried on to the top. The last lock being the hardest to operate followed by the very stiff swing bridge, it took both of us almost getting hernias to shift the bloomin’ thing!

A short distance and through the first swing bridge before we could moor. Showers and a change of clothes were needed before we all headed to The Ship for a couple of pints and a very nice meal. This was to be our last evening together and we were glad of a good pub to spend it in, although we were all really rather pooped after a long day and a lot of fresh air.

10 locks, 16.32 miles, 6 swing bridges, 1 only held up, 1 right, 2 lefts, 62 litres diesel at 62p, 2 bags excell, 6 narrowboats 1 widebeam heading south, 3 narrowboats heading north, 1 widebeam stuck, 3 trips each way for Roger, 1 near escape, 8 pints, 1 gammon, 2 pies, 1 mushroom stroganoff, 4 puddings all with chilled medication, 4 full tired boaters, 2 boats back on the Main Land, 9 days late.

Ribble Link Staircase 1 to Lock 8 Winding Hole

A morning to read all our papers in bed followed by a cooked breakfast, well the farm shop bacon needed finishing off, next door Bridget and Storm were also tucking into sausages etc.

As the morning progressed two more narrowboats arrived and the owners of the two boats that have been here for a week returned and made their boats ready again.

At around midday a volunteer lockie arrived and chatted us through what would happen. Steve was on his way, but might be a while and the volunteer was waiting to see if he could start to lock us down the staircase. Word came through that he could so we untied our ropes and hopped on board as the paddles were wound up. At last eight days late we were starting to make our exit from Preston and the Lancaster Canal. Down we went. the number of giant spiders that inhabit the staircase was really quite scary. I was glad we’d not let Tilly out here as she would have tried to catch quite a few of them, but then she wouldn’t have needed much food.

The sun was out and we all had smiles as the boats reversed out into the second chamber and started our decent to the third.

Mick reversed Oleanna out first. The level of water was so much lower, where it had been bubbling last weekend it was now revealing the underlying rocks. As we backed out the stern grounded, levels were very low! It took some fighting but Mick managed to get our bow round and tucked under the bridges. We were now facing the right way, towards the main land.

We were now on our own, each lock had been unlocked and set for us, even the top gates were open awaiting our arrival. Bridget and myself had to reacquaint ourselves with our windlasses. These haven’t been needed for the last five and a bit weeks. As we’d been asked to refill the locks for the next pair of boats Bridget and I decided to walk between them. This meant the boys could drive straight out and not bother about stopping to pick us up and we’d easily catch them up.

The top of our chimney was still on so at the first lock it was removed. The port side gunnel ran along the lock wall, knocking one of the press studs off the cratch cover. Luckily no rips in the canvas, but we took time to tuck the bottom of it up to avoid any more damage. We used to do this with Lillian’s cratch cover after it got ripped badly on the Aylesbury arm.

In the above photo there is something missing. On the very tight bends where there are plenty of over hanging branches Mick’s new baseball cap (bought at Garstang market) was whipped off his head. Luckily it didn’t find it’s way onto Blackbirds prop. It was either the cap or the internet antenna that was going to get got, so he chose well.

After Lock 7 we had a choice of pontoon to moor on.  Space by them is limited so Mick decided to moor up at the furthest one. Blackbird pulled in and breasted up. It took quite a while before the next two boats came into view and we invited one of them to pull up along side. As more boats came down each of the three pontoons filled up.

We will sit here over night. Early in the morning we will be let down Lock 8 when we will be able to get under Blackpool Road A583. Then we will all sit breasted up on the next pontoon and wait for the tide to come in and fill Savick Brook. Once the level is such that we can get through the sea lock we will be on our way heading out on the River Ribble towards the sea and then up the River Douglas towards the main land. The forecast is good, so nothing should stop us now, fingers crossed.

7 locks, 3 in a staircase done backwards, 2.04 miles, 2 lockies, 2 volunteers, 4527 giant spiders, 6 narrowboats, 2 widebeams, –1 £4 baseball cap, 1 grounding, 1 forest added to Oleanna, 38 windlass free days, 3 pontoons, 3 abreast, 1 ginger cake, 12 sausage rolls, 1 roast chicken dinner tonight, 1 woofer with special dispensation.

Bridge 56 to Ribble Link Staircase 1

Blackbird was first to push off this morning. With both boats wanting to fill with water at Bilsborrow we didn’t hurry to get going. Today would be our longest cruise since we left Tarleton on the 9th August.

The sun was out so a load of washing was put on before we reached the water point. As it came into view we could see Blackbird disappearing under the bridge at Owd Nells, a well timed arrival. With the hose connected up Mick walked round to the main street for our Saturday newspaper, sadly our normal one was out of stock so for the third week we’d have to cope with a substitute.

Once we were full and the yellow water tank empty we pushed off, just as NB Compass Rose arrived (we think they may be joining us on the link). The canal was busy, plenty of cruisers out making the most of a sunny weekend. It was now obvious that we would arrive at Moon’s Bridge Marina to coincide with their lunch break again. So after we’d let two more cruisers pull out from the marina we pulled into the service mooring to have our own lunch and wait. However the chap on duty was around and not bothered about his butties so a new gas bottle was purchased and hooked up. Unfortunately they didn’t do coal, but at least if we run out we can put the central heating on, aromas permitting!

With no obvious place in mind to be able to pull over for lunch, we decided to have it on the go as we ticked off the miles back to the top of the link. Passing the pub we’d been to on our first night we spotted another boat due to join us and then in the nuclear zone we passed NB Bosley. How many boats would they lock down tomorrow? Including the lock landing there are three pontoons in the pound before Lock 8, so breasting up you could hold six there, maybe we’ll be three abreast.

As we turned into the basin at the top of the locks it seemed as if we’d never been away. It was just how we’d left it on Tuesday. Blackbird was already moored up in the top chamber, so we winded and joined them again. Whirligig erected and our washing hung out to make the most of the sun and slight breeze. Mick popped out with the hope of finding our Saturday paper and returned with it in hand after his long journey by foot to the Co-op.

Now we wait for lunchtime tomorrow.

0 locks, 1 sat in, 13.78 miles, 1 full water tank, 1 load clean towels, 1 empty yellow tank, 1 new gas bottle, 0 coal, 1 Lancaster, 2 newspapers to get through, 1 right, 1 wind, 1 boring mooring, 1 pair wrist warmers complete, 1 giant bag on it’s way, 1 large portion of Romanesco cheese with added benefits.

Bilsborrow to Garstang to Turner’s Bridge 56

With an extra day before we cross we needed some shopping, more than the shop in Bilsborrow would do for us. So we decided to cruise further north to Garstang where we could do a big shop, the wine cellar was very empty! This also gave us a way of filling the day. Whilst Blackbird pushed over to top up with water we went ahead. As we meandered up the canal the hope was to find somewhere where we could moor for the night and have a barbecue, somewhere nice for Tilly as she is likely to be cooped up for a couple of days.

We tried a couple of places where armco showed itself, but just gently pulling in we soon ran aground. However just short of Bridge 56 there was a straight stretch where our stern would get very close to the side, close enough. We made note and carried on to Garstang.

There was plenty of space on the seven day moorings, but they are quite a distance from the shops. All the spaces before the bridge were full so we pulled in a short distance further on, close enough. With a bike to be our pack horse and plenty of bags we headed straight for Sainsburys. Not a full restock of the cellar, but certainly enough to keep us going. We did buy food too! Once everything was stowed we pootled on to the winding hole by the services, dropped off our recycling and returned the way we’d come.

Would this be our final farewell to Garstang?

Passing Blackbird, making the most of some sunshine with the whirligig out, we told them where we hoped to be moored for them to join us later.

Our last wild mooring and quite a successful one too. We were into the side! Without much of a list! A first for us on the Lancaster. I was straight out, the friendly cover had great potential.

With the evenings getting a bit chillier now we’ve been putting the central heating on for short bursts if we haven’t got round to lighting the stove. However we’ve started to notice an aroma once the radiators have started to get warm. Investigation was needed. Mick removed the three screws from the cover to the yellow water tank pump. This gave us access to the pipes that run up to the pump and gunnel that we use to empty our tank which is situated under the floor. We could also see how close the central heating pipes were to the underfloor tank. A couple of screws were tightened up on the pump, just in case. Then a layer of carry mat insulation was cut and positioned between the pipes and the tank. Some strategic positioning of some blue roll was added before the cover was replaced. When we next empty the tank we’ll have a look to see if the blue roll has caught any leak from the pump.

Later in the afternoon Blackbird joined us having dodged the showers that came and went. A patch of blue sky was approaching so a barbecue was on the cards. The noise from the M6 and trains only distracted us a couple of times as we tucked into our food and supped our wine. A bright rainbow (photos didn’t do it justice) popped up ahead of the boats as the sun was starting to set. A lovely evening which ended up being a little bit chilly to sit out any longer once it was dark. So we retired indoors and got the stove going.

0 locks, 6.54 miles, 1 wind, 4 boxes of wine, 1 chicken, 1 bike fully laden, 3 showers, 3 screws, 1 pong, 4 hours, 6 veg kebabs, 2 burgers, 4 sausages, 2 turkey steaks, 4 corn on the cob, 4 bananas.