Since the last blog instalment we have been busy.  On Wednesday we moved a few miles along the canal and moored up near a place called Galgate.  Found a good mooring where we could actually get right into the side and good wide towpath for the dogs to run around on.  As it was still lovely and warm we sat outside in the evening and met an interesting bloke called Chris.  He wandered along the towpath with a big pack on a trolley and wearing a kilt.  He is apparently an ex social worker with some mental health issues and is walking the coast of Britain to raise money and awareness for MH charities, Mind and Penumbra.  He is doing this without money and relying on others to feed and shelter him.  After he left us he spent the night a few yards further down the canal as a guest on a narrow boat.  He told us that he used to live in Corby, which is very close to where we lived before moving onto the boat.  For anyone who is interested in his journey he has a facebook page 'walk a mile in my shoes'.

On Thursday after walking the dogs we caught the bus into Lancaster and spent the day there.  Had an interesting tour around the castle, including the part that was HMP Lancaster until its closure in 2011.  Very instructive, I think the inside of the prison may have dispelled some peoples ideas about prison being a holiday camp.  It was pretty grim!  I forgot my camera so no photo's sadly.  The castle remains a working Court and we were also able to look around as no Courts were sitting.

Friday morning after calling into the facilities at Galgate we cruised down the six locks to Glasson Basin, intending to stop for the weekend.  However it was so lovely there that we stayed an extra day and only left this morning.  Had a good trip down the locks with another boat also heading for the basin.  Big locks with some strange and heavy paddle gear so sharing locks made the work load a little lighter.

Coming round the junction to the top lock

An example of the paddle gear, very hard to open!

Jeanie Deans and 'Avent Got One' waiting to enter the lock

Coming into Glasson Basin

Glasson Basin is a surprising place!  Full of yachts and bigger boats.  There is a lock out of the Basin into Glasson Dock and from there into the Lune estuary.  The lock is opened at high tide to allow boats in and out.

Locking a boat up into the basin

Two to go down

Glasson is only a small place but it is busy.  For some reason it is a place to come for motorcycles, and on Saturday morning at least 29 Honda Gold Wing's turned up presumably on a club run.  Brilliant sight with several trikes and a sidecar among them.


Also a smoke house in Glasson where we bought excellent kippers, smoked cheese and Morecombe Bay potted shrimps.  A real feast!  We had a very relaxing few days in Glasson Basin and found some good walks for the dogs.  They got to swim in the estuary and get muddy.  Spent most of the time outside as the weather is behaving itself for once.  A bit too hot really, but I refuse to complain after the rubbish summer we had last year.

Mooring in Glasson Basin

Who needs the Med!

 Moored up near Galgate this evening where Truly managed to roll in something disgusting and stink the boat out.  Managed to clean her up, but think she will have to have a swim tomorrow.

So pretty but so smelly!!

The naughty boy!

Tomorrow we are heading to Garstang where we will stay for a few days to restock the food cupboards and hopefully to have a day out at Blackpool.  Graham is getting quite into bus travel!