Up the locks to Burscough (again)

Wednesday 20th July 2022

After a quick wander up the towpath, Graham returned saying that there was a single boat about to go into the lock and that they were willing to share – so we were off. Brilliant!

 

The weather was a lot more conducive to boating but we could have done without the strong cross wind that accompanied it, especially as a couple of pounds were short of water. Apparently kids had been swimming in the top locks yesterday so perhaps they hadn’t left the water levels as we’d wished to have found them.

Nb ‘Dreckly’ crew were very good company and we worked together well, so side wind and low water levels were of little consequence. The pound above Runnel Brow lock was completely empty so we sat tight in the lock while Graham went up and let water down through the top two locks.

 

Finally out of the top lock and we turned left back into Burscough with the intention of shopping ready for the next few days. Graham received a call from CaRT telling us that our passage through Poolstock locks (Wigan) had been cancelled due to lack of water again. Graham arranged with Customer Services that we could remain longer than 14 days on our current mooring to the West of the bridge so that we could return home for his Mum and Dad’s interment on 1st August.

We walked up the Hop Vine hoping to commiserate with a meal out but there was no room at the inn. Not fancying fish and chips, we set off back towards Jannock and noticed Eden on our right as we approached the bridge.  Here we had one of the tastiest meals ever, chosen from their ‘small plate’ menu midweek offer. Recommended!

G&B

We need shade

Tuesday 19th July 2022

Last night was so hot that we slept with the doors open ( and just for a laugh, mother nature conjured up a 1 minute rain shower to come in the hatch – ha flippin ha!

After breakfast we crossed the cut to the services, emptied the rubbish and both showered before returning to our bankside mooring just as two boats that had successfully crossed from the Lancy arrived. 

 

We decided that we would move down to Rufford as there are nice shady trees there. We un-pinned and set off just as the other two boats decided to go so we were first at the swing bridge and graham had to let them all through. We could see boats on the Rufford visitor moorings so we stopped by the old disused Rufford hall lift bridge where the tree cover seemed best.

 

We , and our bovine neighbours, then sat out the heat in the shade of the trees. As the day started cooling off, Graham walked back up the services to fetch the car ready for our trip out tonight. As he returned to Jannock he spotted a suitable gap at Rufford visitor moorings that was nice and shady so we moved down there. Apparently these 1 day moorings are now 14 day moorings to cater for the cancelled Ribble link bookings so that boats have somewhere to wait. They are still signed as 1 day.

 

In the evening we went to the Crooke Hall Inn where our banjolele band neighbours, Maggie's Misfits,  are practicing tonight. They kept us entertained with a good repertoire of songs which we are sure their composers would never have imagined them being played by such a group. An excellent evening.

We took a video of one song https://youtu.be/bQtYr_7mVbQ

G&B

Blackpool and Fleetwood

Monday 18th July 2022

On this, another hot hot day, we drove up to Blackpool and parked in another of Graham’s cousins suggested free parking spaces right next to the seafront – excellent! Although not located on the Lancaster canal, whilst here we had to visit due to Brenda’s love of the seaside.

 

The tide was out when we arrived so a walk on the beach was had before we caught the tram to Fleetwood. Graham has not done this since he was a pre-teen holiday maker staying with the relatives there. We got off at Fleetwood ferry (not working today) and hunted for a shady spot to sit and eat our packed lunch. We settled on some damp sand under the RNLI pier with a good view over the incoming tide swallowing up the sand banks across the bay.

 

After a short, but very hot, walk around the area and the ‘prom’ we hopped back onto the tram for the 55 minute journey back to the car. our original plan had been to spot things worth visiting from the tram and then getting off to investigate them on the return journey, but the weather was so hot we didn’t bother.

 

Back at the glitter ball and the tide was now in with no beach at all. A cooling breeze lured us down the slipway where we found two young men sitting and paddling – enjoying the cooling waves. They explained that they had nothing like Blackpool at home in Nepal. They are doing degrees at UCLAN Preston but cannot return home during the summer break. They are staying in Blackpool as the accommodation is cheaper than in Preston. Both were proud of their country and said how their studies would help Nepal become more prosperous and have better standards of living.

We got back in the car and escaped the heat with an air-conditioned drive down through Lytham St Annes, a different kettle of fish. Although the tide was in there was still loads of sandy beach available over the dunes. We decided it was far too hot to go and explore.

On return to a superheated Jannock (37C inside) we found the first Southbound boats that had completed the Ribble Link passing having locked onto the Rufford Arm at Tarleton. Brenda has now realised why so few passages are going to be available in the next few weeks. Covid may have been one problem but the height and suitability of the tides is the most important factor.

G&B

Lancaster

Sunday 17th July 2022

Today’s trip was to the city of Lancaster. Graham’s cousin told us of a good free parking place canal side so we found a space there and walked along the canal into the city centre. We passed a modern conversion of the old packet boat repair building, now flats and almost opposite a community park area that used to be a boat repair yard, where Graham spotted this knitted birds nest.

 

Not fancying any of the city centre fast food choices, we went to The Sir Richard Owen for lunch, which was excellent as well as being nice and cool. Then we walked up the hill to Lancaster Castle. It’s well worth a visit. 

 

A stone mason was working but still found time for a chat. His humour was as evident as his skill. Brenda laughed when she worked out that the ancient text on one of his display pieces was actually his ‘what 3 words’ location, \\\unions.cheer.sculpture, amazing coincidence that it should contain the word sculpture.

 

We went out to the back of the castle and stood on the top of a grassy hill looking down on the River Lune. Then back down the steep hill, through a jumble of streets and buildings of various ages to the city centre again. It was ‘Dino’ weekend in Lancaster and in two locations within the shopping area they had arenas where children could meet live dinosaurs – some of the kids were petrified when the Tyrannosaurus Rex tried to nibble them. By now, the weather was becoming unbearably hot so we really felt sorry for the performers in the pantomime horse style costumes.

 

A wander around the museum was not only interesting but also cooling. Then we returned to the luxury of our air-conditioned car for the run down the A6 to Jannock.

The cabin was very hot – so hot that our cabin clock had ceased working but started again as we cooled the cabin down. at that point it was indicating 36C which only dropped down to 26C at 10pm in the evening. That is 79f in old money.

G&B

Glasson Dock and a biker meet.

Saturday 16th July 2022

Well, here we are again! We have an itinerary planned so we are pretending that we are on a berthed cruise ship with the days excursions planned – so, on with our plan to visit as many of the locations on our original route as possible by car.

 

 

We set off for Glasson Dock, more grandly known as The Port of Lancaster. We parked up and realised this was a bikers ride-out destination courtesy of the tea van located there. Insignia on a couple of bikes indicated that blood bikers were there, they were quickly identified and much chatting ensued before they left.

 

We then had a wander around and found the Port of Lancaster Smoke House. The smell was wonderful but we didn’t have a cool bag and so could not buy anything as the car would be in the sun and too hot later. We returned to the tea van for a cuppa and a bun whilst sitting in the shade. 

 

Then we noticed that the lock was being prepared. Two yachts and a catamaran were going to sea. It took so long to get them into the lock that the local bus gave up waiting for the road bridge to re-open and went off back up the way it had come from – presumably taking the long route round.

 

Next, off to Galgate where we got caught up in the middle of a ‘boat-trip’ coach party and some pirates who had moored their hire cruiser and were going to the pub. From here we walked up to the junction that goes down to Glasson and Graham helped a boat work through the top lock.

 

We then travelled to Bilsborrow via Garstang. At Bilsborrow is Barton Grange complex which includes a garden centre, an activity centre ( that includes a cinema, curling rink and bowling) and a marina.The Tentatrice crew recommended this location for a stop off. They weren’t wrong! The custard slice in the café was the best we’d ever tasted. It is a beautiful place with impressive arty décor and superb plants. As for the urinals in the gents toilet, they come a close second to the Philharmonic dining rooms in Liverpool.

 

Then onto the Horns Inn at Churchtown where we were to meet Graham’s cousins and their partners. This was one of the highlights of the whole trip. We had a wonderful evening talking about family across the generations, with so many memories shared. 

 

That is a memory that we’ll treasure. We recommend the Horns for food as well. After a long day, we finally got back to Jannock in the dark, just after 11 pm.

G&B

We made it to Tewitfield

Thursday 14th July 2022

We awoke to grey thundery skies and Winter Hill (the local TV mast normally visible from here) was disappearing fast so we scheduled a few jobs. Graham untied Jannock and moved across the canal to the services block where we refilled with water and made use of the excellent shower facilities They were clean, WARM, & didn’t smell damp or musty and better than most we have tried although they are showing their age.

 

We set off just before 11am and drove to Carnforth – objective to visit the railway station, a recommendation from the Tentatrice crew. The station buildings were rescued on the back of the tea-room scenes in David Lean’s 1940s film Brief Encounters which was filmed there. Lunch time came and we went into the refreshment rooms, a re-creation of those in the film. We chose mushroom soup for lunch from the specials menu and it was excellent.

 

Once we had finished at the station, we had a brief walk around Carnforth town centre before moving on to Tewitfield – the limit of navigation of the Lancaster canal. Here we visited the services before walking up a couple of the locks that make part of the dis-used flight of eight. These disused locks are right alongside the M6 motorway so are in a very noisy environment. There is a heroic group trying to re-instate the flight even though the original route of the canal has been blocked by the M6 motorway in two locations just further North. We cannot imagine a charity or volunteer group raising enough money to remedy that, let alone restore the 8 locks.

 

We then moved on to Hest Bank to watch the tide going out in the sea/estuary and observe the Cumbrian coast beyond. Then back to Jannock via Morecambe front (saying hello to Eric’s statue as we passed) and then following the A6 via Lancaster and Preston where we got lost in the centre trying to avoid the log-jammed ring road and associated roadworks.

 

Once back, we received the CaRT email detailing the restrictions being applied to Wigan Poolstock locks to preserve the water supplies. These restrictions are stopping us from returning back south since our Ribble Link passage was cancelled. Graham managed to book us a package through on July 28th, that is two weeks from today, which was the earliest passage available unless we could get there tomorrow or Sunday – which doesn’t fit our car visit plans.

We then spent the evening planning what we are going to do to fill in our days trapped here at Sparks Bridge. Watch this space!

G&B

Doing the Ribble link …..

Tuesday 13th July 2022

… by car and foot!

Today we swapped narrowboat Jannock for a country cottage called “Pas de l’eau”. It’s quite homely and comfortable if a little small. We will endeavour to visit the places that were on our original itinerary and wish list, with perhaps a few further afield. The time spent not moving the boat should allow us to visit the lake district while we are this far north.

We started off by ‘doing’ the Ribble Link. We used shanks’ pony and our car which allowed us to cover most of it. We began by visiting Tarleton and the lock down onto the River Douglas. We got there at 10 minutes past 10 which would have been about the time we should have been passing through. The weather was sunny and whilst there we met a CaRT engineer doing an ‘asset survey’. He knew nothing about the navigation side but was expecting to see boats using the lock. We explained about the cancellations and he said that their team had been hit hard by a resurgence of Covid.

 

After a short walk along the banks of the Douglas we then got into the car and drove to Savick bridge on the A583 at Lea Gate. We parked in the pub car park and went to find the Rotating Sealock just the the left of the new building being built on the other side of the road. The lock gate was down and the signal lamp was Red.

 

Then back to the Lea Gate public house for a light lunch – however, being a ‘Ungry Orse’ establishment the lunchtime meal deals were very good value so we had a main meal there instead. Fish and chips for Graham and Scampi for Brenda – proper holiday food. 

We then drove to find Haslam park and the top of the Savick Brook navigation. The weed here in the basin and on the main canal was horrid - glad we are not trying to plough through it. We walked down the staircase of three locks where we would have needed to reverse up and then walked down the path passing under a railway and visiting all the other locks.

 

 

Along the path we met a fisherman, lots of cyclists and found wild raspberries – delicious. We then returned back up the brook to the car and paid a visit to Cadley services to use the facilities.

 

Then we returned to Jannock, quite early but Graham is doing blood bike control tonight so we needed to run the generator to top up the batteries.

G&B

Our crossing is cancelled

Tuesday 12th July 2022

We were still on for Plan A – but Plan B was ready, when we set off from the Rufford moorings at 10am. Down to Sparks Bridge sani-station where we dumped our rubbish and refilled Jannock’s water tank. During this, Graham made ready our anchor and necessary ropes and chain. We then continued on towards Tarleton when we received the call. All of Wednesdays crossings were now cancelled due to illness.

 

Allison at CaRT could offer us alternative bookings at the end of August but that is no good for us so Graham cancelled our return trip as well. So Plan B it is!

 

Currently the Wigan locks are closed, we cannot cross to the Lancy and so we are stuck here as Jannock is not suited to cross the Mersey to escape onto the Shroppie. We continued on towards Tarleton and winded at the first possible opportunity and returned to Sparks Bridge where we will stay while exploring Lancashire and the Lakes by car. We have water, pump-out and showers just across the cut from our secure piling mooring. Finding ‘student digs’ all those years ago has certainly paid off.

 

We consulted Google maps and found a bus to take us back to Burscough where Brenda restocked the larder whilst Graham fetched the car from the carpark up by the canal – that’ll do nicely.

 

Shopping done, we sat out on the foredeck and listened to a group of musicians, that had gathered over on the permanent mooring practicing – they were good. As they left we praised their music and were given a couple of up-coming venues that we might like to attend.

 

Any-one want a telly?

G&B