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