What a mad couple of weeks

Well Blackburn and Burnley passed without incident on successive days. Never even had to clear the prop until after Nelson. We then passed through Foulridge tunnel and continued onto the Anchor Inn and moored up.

Blackburn and Burnley. Although a little grim and grey, the old mills and chimneys give a glimpse of this once prosperous area.

Following the greyness of Blackburn and Burnley as we emerged from the mile long tunnel, things couldn't be more different and it is one of the most beautiful stretches we have covered so far. The section before the locks at Bank Newton is simply stunning, with the canal running in a series of hairpin bends.

Unfortunately by the time we realised that you could get to moor up in places we were at the top of Bank Newton and dropped down to Gargrave. We moored up for a few days in Gargrave and met up again with Frank and Barbara on Jolie who are weekending it back to Linton. We walked into Skipton from Gargrave to suss out the moorings there and look at a property we had seen on Rightmove. Skipton was chocker blocked with boats as the Grand Depart of the Tour de France was due on the Saturday and the house was not what we were looking for. Ah well our look must change soon!

We arranged a few more viewings for Thursday/Friday and set of to Skipton the following day and were extremely lucky to find a mooring in the centre, just opposite the TdF Hub.

We saw this chap guarding a mooring just outside Skipton and this lovely little garden

The springs branch in Skipton and the spectator Hub of the TdF

Even Luckier we saw a house on Friday that we both loved and had our offer accepted.

Saturday we went early to the high street to watch the tour come through. It was a great atmosphere and the people of Skipton had done the place proud with decorations, yellow bikes and bunting. We made the aliens wear, yellow, green and polka dot jerseys and hand stiched (never again) our own red and green bunting. Of the cyclists themselves we saw very little but the were really flying and everyone was shouting and cheering, an experience we will not forget in a long time. Later as we watched the big screen at the Hub we were amazed by the fantastic views of Yorkshire being beamed around the world and the massive Yorkshire welcome that was given to all the riders.

Could things get any better. Well on Saturday we spotted a boat for sale on Apollo duck and arranged to view on Monday. We hired a car and took ourselves and the dogs to Newark and were smitten by her. Our offer was accepted and we are now the proud owners of JoNi a 60 foot steel cruiser.

So a house and a boat in a long weekend!

We had bumped into (not literally) Barry and Jen on NB Dovetail in Liverpool and they were in Skipton at the same time, so we knocked about with them and travelled with them over the next three days to Leeds. The locks on the five rise were tight for a 60 foot and 58 foot narrowboat. Tralfamadore got hung up in the third at the front end and was tipping and in real danger of sinking. I gave it a big handful of reverse which pulled me off and the lockies and Brian were extremely quick at dropping the paddles to avert what could have been a sinking incident. According to the lock keeper there is a slight lip on the ground paddle that must have caught under the gunnel at the front and it does happen occasionally in that lock. He then informed us there had been another sinking in the Bank Newton Flight the previous day.

In Leeds we moored at Granary Wharf and it was a great mooring just behing Leeds Central Station. If you are ever in Leeds the Muntaz Indian restaurant at Clarance dock is absolutely superb and well worth a visit.

On Friday we set off with Eddie and Shiela the owners of Joni and cruised from Leeds to Woodlesford where we stopped and had a meal whilst we discussed the handover of JoNi, this coming Friday. We can't wait. We are very, very excited that we have found the boat for our European adventure.

We are now in Selby and have been spending Time with Ken and Lyn and their washing machine. It was really lovely to see them there at the basin when we arrived. Tomorrow Grainne will meet up with her Great Great Nephew Tommy for the first time as Janet and Burt, Amber and Tommy are visiting us.

Heading Uphill 350 feet and climbing

I must say I was sad to leave Liverpool, could have certainly done with another weekend there and checked out some of the old haunts, however, we did know when we booked the moorings it would not be the best of places for Eric and Wilma. Eric didn't do too badly as he laid at the end of the pontoon and wagged at everyone passing, so got quite a bit of attention. He is now also known as the escapologist as Ken on one of the other boats was looking after him, whilst we went out. On our return, we discovered that Eric had jumped onto Kens bed (NB Ant) and nudged the window open and then taken himself off for a walk!

The Escapologist himself

Leaving the docks

 

That day we travelled in a convoy of narrowboats back up the link and finally moored outside the Saracens head. It had been a long day so we went out for tea and to watch the football on TV. Needless to say the food was great but the football well, I'll stick to rugby.

 

We had made arrangements to view a dutch barge down in Rufford on Friday so we travelled down the branch arm to Fettlers Wharf Marina to view the barge. The boat has not yet gone onto the market so we had no idea what to expect, but unfortunately, all boats are a compromise on best use of space and although the barge certainly trumped the narrowboat on that front it was not the boat for us, the wheelhouse size or lack of being a big issue. We had booked into the marina overnight and so had a walk out to the local, but no dogs allowed so one quick pint and back again. Plenty more barges out there and we're in no hurry.

 

The Rufford Arm - Part of the conservation area

 

 

We travelled back up the branch arm (which eventually leads to the Ribble link) and back onto the main canal and continued to retrace our steps towards Wigan and the flight. We had promised ourselves we would stop in Parbold, so we were pleased to see moorings available and we moored up for the night. We booked a table for two at the windmill pub that evening, then had a call from Paul and Jackie to say they were an hour away and were coming to see us. Needless to say a table for 4 was booked and we celebrated with Paul, his new change of career in Saudi.

 

Parbold is a lovely palce to stop and the ice creams at the café are superb (liquorice and blackcurrant)

 

 

Monday saw a gentle cruise to Crooke. The weather was sunny and warm and this is a lovely run through the trees of the Douglas Valley. We did encounter a fishing match and one disgruntled fisherman who must have nodded off and failed to shift his pole in time before it got caught on my bow fender. In broadest Lancastrian he shouted " 'av you got no 'orn, you just downt ker, 'av you got no 'orn". I did question how he had failed to notice a 60 foot narrowboat approaching, something all his fellow competitors had successfully managed to do, but there was no placating him. He was still chuntering when Grainne and Eric walked passed. I have no problem with people fishing on the canal as long as they do not damage the boat with their tackle and I'm pleased to report no damage was done.

 

Further on we met a group of musicians bow hauling a very unusual vessel along, a bit like a shed on a skip, with a piano at the front. It did look like hot work as the sun was really belting down by then. We eventually pulled over at Crooke with Ken on NB Ant and had a BBQ. Ken had volunteered to help lock us up the flight at Wigan so we gratefully accepted

 

We also saw Ambush arriving back from Burscough. I must correct my earlier posting she is a Liverpool Long boat not short boat.

 

We shared the first few locks to Wigan with NB Evolution. They were not doing the flight however on Monday so we said goodbye at the CRT office and ventured on. After the first lock two boats had waited for us, a small wilderness boat (fiberglass) and a Sea Otter Aluminium boat. As both are more fragile than steel, they were keen that we had our ropes off at every lock and progress was pretty slow. They stopped part way up and we continued, but we have to say its been the hardest flight yet, and the weather was so hot. The Wigan flight is not loved and it showed. We deserved our pint at the Kirkless Hall pub at the top of the flight. Having been advised not to stay at the top of the flight we continued on about 20 minutes or so and found a great mooring out in the countryside.

 

A happy lock wheeler

 

 

 

How can it be so grey when the sun is shining

 

 

 

Next day we had a run up to the top of the short Johnsons flight, where I had a great curry in the Top Lock pub, washed down with some cracking Timmy Taylors Le Champion. Might try some more tonight. Its not all glamour though today has been Launderette day and that is quite mind numbing. Next up we will travel through Blackburn then Burnley. Both places have a reputation for not only crap in the canal but hooliganism towards boaters. We have heard from people who have had bricks thrown and air rifles shot at them, to others who have had no problems at all. So we will take it as we find it, but will not moor in the town centres.

357 miles 270 locks

Liverpool

We stayed at Scarisbrick Marina until Tuesday, when we set off to travel toward the link and a mooring at Holmes Swing bridge. There were several of us in a sort of rag tag convoy as we all departed at different times. The weather turned really wet and thundery, so we sheltered under the motorway for a while. That night we went to the Bootle Inn at Melling for a meal with Frank and Barbara, our soon to be neighbours in Liverpool.

Moorings at the bridge for the convoy

The next morning we had an early start to meet up with C&RT at the next swing bridge. They operate the swing bridges and locks on the Liverpool Link. The bridges in particular are on busy roads and they minimise the disruption as far as they can. So narrowboats first we set off. The prop occasionally fouling with the rubbish in the canal, but not requiring a weed hatch adventure, until we arrived at the top of the four lock flight that drops us down to the docks.

Dropping down to the docks in Liverpool

 

I think the fishermen were pleased to see us all leaving their patch

 



 

 

I think I should have paid more attention to the skippers guide for the last section of the link to our moorings as we had no real idea where we were going, but we made it through the two remaining locks, the tunnels and the new cuts that make up the link. We had had a good run and to actually take our boat through these historic docks and be able to moor in the centre of Liverpool was fantastic. Heading in behind us were Frank and Barbara on the dutch barge Jolie, which moored alongside. Soon we were all there and the boats were decorated with bunting and lights. For us that's 303 miles and 217 locks, we have travelled further than any other barge to be here.

The weed you can see in the picture was all over the salthouse dock. CRT spent three days trying to clear it armed with pitch forks. It was a slow and laborious process and you could see their hearts weren't in it.

On Friday we had several talks one of them from Terry and Monica Darlington, of narrowdog to Carcassonne fame. After the talk we all went down to see their whippets Jim and Jess (the 3 legged one). They were looking for a place to get a bite to eat and we recommended the Tate art gallery café. Jim and Jess had not been allowed in the hotel, but someone told them they would be fine taking them through the hotel lobby to the dockside, in any case who would know. Felt quite guilty when we saw the two pensioners being escorted from the premises.

Terry and Monica and their dogs just before they were ejected from the Holiday Inn.

Having the barge rally at the same time as the waterfront festival was a great idea and meant there were lots of things going on. From tall ships, raft races, aerobatic displays, speed boat racing, wake boards, bands and a whole lot more. The weather was really kind and the event seemed to be a great success from our fantastic vantage point right in the middle of it all. Dave and Lesley visited on Saturday Night and we had a BBQ with them and Frank and Barbara. It was really nice to see them and we know we will be meeting up again before not too long.

On Monday morning Frank and Barbara on Jolie, who have been good neighbours, left for the link. We hope to meet up again as we head east during the summer. Nigel and Cathy also left on New Dawn along with Goblin. Ocean Wave has gone back to the marina. We are here until Thursday.

A few picks of Liverpool and the festival

 

 

 

 

 Our mooring at night

 

 In the day

 

 

 

 

I need to try this

 

 

Why they are tall ships

 

 

Look who's driving

 





 

 

Fun and games all round

 

 

 

 

Powerboat racing (need to have a go at that as well)

 

 

 

Great aerobatic display

 

 

 

Eric chilled

 









Nearly in Liverpool

Well we stopped in Lymm for a couple of days and its a really lovely place. Good pubs, good beer and a chance to do a bit of washing with the new washing machine. Well its a small twin tub device and judging by the instructions was probably made east of the uk with the instructions translated into  Inglesh using google. But we managed it and I'm sure dobby itch isn't life threatening.

Lymm

After Lymm we wanted to be into and around Manchester without troubling any moorings there. We made good progress despite some awful weather and eventually moored at Plank Lane near the Wigan Flashes. With the grim weather and Manchesters industrial back drop it did seem a little bleak.

 
From Plank Lane our intention was to be through Wigan again without troubling the moorings there, however, someone had managed to drain the pound at Wigan Pier and the locks were, well locked. Wigan has a bit of a reputation, so we were not  best pleased. I walked into town to see what all the fuss was about and yes the pound was drained. The lockies assured me we wouldn't be left moored in zombie land and were true to their word, they had us moored up in the centre of Wigan by 6pm outside the CRT office (safe moorings if you ever need them). That night we walked into Wigan town centre and it has really suffered in the recession.

A typical Wigan Bicycle  (as removed from the drained pound, There were loads in there that didn't get pulled out)

An unusual smell accompanies your entry to Wigan, then you realise why. It truly is a depressing place and that's not because its in Lancashire.

No this is 2014 and this is not Karachi, welcome to Wigan.

As we left Wigan we passed through some really nice places and will stop at a couple on our way back from Liverpool. Friday night then we arrived at Scarisbrick and are moored in the marina for 4 nights. We have met Cathy who is organising the rally and the plans are taking shape. Liverpool will be buzzing I'm sure We have had a marathon washing session at the launderette literally 3 1/2 hours. The café is great and the food really good. Although not licenced they let us take a bottle of wine for Sunday lunch which is the best meal we've had in 4 weeks, Grainne had potatoes 3 ways (mash, new and roast). The owners father is selling a dutch barge which we'll view after Liverpool, maybe its the one..

We are currently on the big clean up for the rally. Due to set off on Tuesday then drop down the link Wednesday.

I think this is a Liverpool short boat and the next pic was a lovely wooden boat we didn't hit.

So the stats so far 283 miles 211 locks. After Liverpool we are definitely slowing down.

A right contraption followed by tunnel vision

Service again as we near Manchester. We have had a busy few days since we left Audlem. The pub there has a bar in the shape of a narrowboat.

What we failed to mention last time was that on the way to Audlem we visited Wilmas relatives at one of the locks. Wilma will have none of it but it looks like you, was lazy like you and was either sleeping or eating.

From Audlem we travelled to what we thought would be the middle of nowhere, some great moorings overlooking the river weaver and flashes. Unfortunately the Nantwhich boat club had had the same idea, so we ended up in the middle of someone else's party. Never mind, we got invited along and had a great time, now when was it we got to bed?

Our garden view that evening

On Sunday we travelled to Northwich, but we didn't stay on the canal, oh no, we used this wonderful British contraption which drops or raises you 50 feet to and from the river weaver. A true feet of Engineering, considering when it was constructed (1875). Its almost too big to photograph and give a sense of scale

Grainne had been bitten by some weird insect and her arm was swelling and starting to blister. So we went off to find a doc. Fortunately there was one open in Northwich and they fixed her up with some antibiotics. On the way back to the boat we passed a Bangladeshi restaurant which had a buffet night on Sundays, with byo, so we ended up eating there. Had a great meal.

Monday then it was back to the giant contraption and back to the canal. Three tunnels later and we are now on the Bridgewater canal at Lymm. Eric didn't manage the third tunnel and walked Grainne over instead.

Tunnel Vision

This part of our journey does not have many locks which is not very good for Eric, or even Wilma. They like locks and meeting people there and they, well Eric is such a good boy.

And Wilma has her moments

So the tally so far 242 miles and 203 locks

I'm sure the solar will work if it ever brightens up

Well three nights in Market Drayton and I lost count of the number of times we walked there and back. We were there for market day on Wednesday and at least a few places were open, but on Thursday it was like a ghost town again. We have had our solar panels fitted, by Tim from on board solar. http://www.onboardsolar.co.uk/index.php I'm sure they will work when we get some sun!

Spot the difference

So today we left and had a steady run to Audlem. I am trying to update the blog in the Shroppiefly but there seems to be some sort of data limit on the free wifi and I have no service, so will have to try again another time on the run in to Liverpool.

 

Thats not weed in the weed hatch.

Well on Saturday we decided that valour was the better part of discretion and headed off to Birmingham and the famous Gas Street Basin. It rained for most of the journey then stopped once we'd arrived, which is typical.

Weather for not even fit for ducks

1st visit down the weed hatch of the trip. Thick plastic packaging and no weeds. I got lost in Birmingham only to discover I was only 200 yards from where I'd set off. Gas Street is well worth a visit, but was noisy at 3am Sunday, but just high spirits and no ropes untied, so gas street survived.

Gas Street

Our next destination was Wolverhampton. The canal to Wolverhampton from around Dudley and on was filthy. But still we saw some miserable fishermen and I know that's a stereotype but look

Not all like that?

From the canal, the route into Wolverhampton is quite a depressing site, with decaying industry all around. Three trips down the weed hatch doesn't help with such delights as under wear, plastic, tinsel and god alone knows what. That night we moored at the top of the flight and went to a local pub the Great Western. What a lovely local, the beer was good and then later they brought out a sharing plate of food for each table, including ham, cheese, black pudding, pork pie and various pickles and bread. We were with Dave who has a web site which tells you all about canal side pubs a subject in which he is a bit of an expert. You can find his website here http://www.canalandriversidepubs.co.uk/

To avoid the "nutters" on the 21 lock Wolverhampton flight we were away early (07{50) and managed Wolverhampton to Gnosall on the Shropshire Union by 18:00. Another weed hatch visit, but something useful found a newish fender.

For anyone thinking of doing parts of the BCN, I would recommend the following attire as modelled by a passing male model we spoke to.

When searching for an arm length rubber glove, however, please be very careful with the links you select!! For this type of work, ones without diamantes or studs are best.

So today we have moved to  Market Drayton. As a town it appears to have been badly hit by recession. We took Eric and Wilma to the vets on the way

The Shroppie is certainly a lovely canal with a deep cuttings snd tall bridges and long deep straights