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