Sunday 23 June 2013

Its been a few days since my last post and we are now moored up towards the end of the Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.  Tomorrow we are due to cross the River Ribble estuary and onto the Lancaster Canal.  Fingers crossed that it happens as we walked up to Tarleton Lock today and were told by disappointed boaters that today's crossing had been cancelled due to the gusting winds.

It has been a busy few days getting here slipping off the Bridgewater Canal and onto the Leeds and Liverpool on Wednesday morning.  The locks up this way are big and awkward.  Although only the same physical size as the double locks on the Grand Union Canal,, they seem a lot bigger.  The gate beams are huge and the winding gear is mounted on top, which makes it high and difficult to reach for a shortarse like me!  Also you cant walk across the gates which means you have to trek all around the whole lock to get to the other side.

We wondered if Fred Dibnah had been up this chimney!
More industrial architecture

Leaving the Bridgewater and heading onto the Leeds and Liverpool Canal

It's not all industry around here though!

On Wednesday we went past the famous Wigan Peer, eventually mooring overnight at Crooke, a very picturesque location.  Before continuing on Thursday to turn onto the Rufford Branch.  We had hoped to use the facilities here, but they were locked up and not in use.  Filled up with water but no Elsan facility or rubbish disposal.  We then tackled the first four locks and moored up below lock four.  As we were a bit ahead of time we stayed there until late Saturday morning.  Friday was a beautiful sunny day, in spite of the rather dire weather forecast so we enjoyed sitting out in our new chairs.  Sadly the weather has deteriorated since then and we are now enjoying what sound like gale force winds with heavy showers mixed in.

The famous Wigan Peer!

Waiting to use the locks

An ancient sail-less windmill at Parbold

This is possibly the most unusual sight so far!!

The junction onto the Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Moored up at the services which were locked

A lazy day in the sun on Friday
Today we were going to move up to the moorings where you are supposed to wait for the crossing.  However it will be a bit congested as the boats that should have crossed today are still there and we have counted another five go past this morning.  I think we may wait and go along tomorrow morning as we don't have to be there until 10:27, two hours before we are let out of the lock at high tide.

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