Interesting Weather….

Overnight the wind got up and the rain came down. We woke to heavy showers rattling on the windows, so rolled over and went back to sleep, eventually rising around 8:30.

Meg and I managed a short walk, slotting in between the showers, then we just sat debating whether to set off or not. Every time we thought there was a bit of improvement another shower blew over. By the time lunchtime came around there was a hint of blue sky here and there, so we decided to chance it.

Better weather after lunch

We had a bit of trouble at Fearns Swing Bridge. The strong wind pinned the boat to the bank, so Mags couldn’t get off the bridge landing. I had to close the bridge again, take the bow line across with me and haul her off the bank after I’d opened the bridge again.

It was almost as bad when I got back on. It’s very exposed there.

Stuck on the landing at Fearns Bridge

We made at stop at the services at Sparks Bridge, then had one more swing bridge to negotiate before starting on the locks. This one was OK, sheltered by a stand of trees.

At Spark Bridge, I wonder if they have a “white sheep” in this family?

Rufford Lock was empty, so we were up and through quickly, then we had one more swing bridge before the next pair of locks. These are fairly sheltered, so we didn’t have too much trouble getting “unstuck”.

We pulled in just below Lock 4, near to the spot we used on the way down. There’s a row of trees on the offside deflecting most of the wind. Lock 5, German’s Lock (I wonder what the origin of the name is), took some time to fill, a combination of only 1 top ground paddle working and substantial leaks from the bottom gates.

In Lock 5

Leaky gates

Moored up. Play ball, Dad?

The weather looks set to be wet and windy for the next couple of days, so we’ll decide what we’re doing as we go. We’re in no rush. We’ve got full and empty tanks, and don’t need to be down near Northwich for another couple of weeks. We want to be there to hire a car for the weekend of the Great North Run.

I couldn’t get my camera apart, it looks like a special screwdriver is needed to remove some of the case screws. It was a slim chance I’d be able to fix it anyway. Last time it needed repair I sent it away to Fuji for a new LCD screen. They were very quick, but including postage it cost around £80. A websearch this morning threw up a Samsung on offer at Argos, retail £199, offer £99. Better spec than the old Fuji as well. So one of those is on the way. Meantime I’ve charged an old Nokia N73 phone, and will use this as a camera till I can get my hands on the new one.

Locks 3, miles 4  

I’m running The Great North Run to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Not a fun crossing….

Well, my hope for good weather for our Ribble Link crossing yesterday was forlorn. It was raining when we got up, raining when we set off, raining all the way down Savick Brook and across the estuary and still raining when we tied up in Tarleton.

Even the cows, not the jolliest of animals anyway, looked thoroughly tee'd off.

My camera gave up part way, so the last few photos were from my phone. But the poor quality is due to the weather, not the equipment.

Duckweed right across the channel nearing Preston.

We’re the last to arrive at the top basin.

The 32’ Viking centre cockpit cruiser had a problem when he arrived the previous evening. His prop was damaged by an underwater obstacle as he entered the basin. Luckily he was able to change it in a shallow corner.

We were first in the staircase locks, sharing with NB Moonstone.

Reversing into the staircase top lock.

Looking down the staircase.

After clearing the staircase we made steady progress down Savick Brook, the locks were set ready for us, and we left them refilling for the next pair of boats.

Seyella and Moonstone in Lock 8.

Below the locks, the tidal section of the brook doesn't look any wider on the way down.

We had an hour’s wait at the pontoon just upstream of the sea gate to allow the tide to flood enough to cover the cill, then we were away.

Sure Thing, the 32’ cruiser, arrived while we were waiting, with the news that the replacement prop was now damaged, having picked up something in the upper basin. They were reluctant to push high revs with an out-of-balance prop, concerned with compounding the problem and causing gearbox damage. So, rather than punch the tide down the Ribble to the Douglas, they’d decided to head back to Preston, an easier trip going with the incoming tide.

Out on the Ribble, the poor conditions kept visibility down to less than ½ a mile, fishing vessels heading into Preston looming up out of the murk.

Fishermen coming home.

 There were a couple of motor yachts about too, one going in each direction.

MY Coral Wind Heading out.

The hour from the sea gate to the Asland Lamp and the turn into the Douglas seemed to take forever, it’s right about time being relative.

 Strung out across the Tideway, NBs The Gnome of Rishton too, Moonstone and Kathleen Margaret. NB Alexis is a dot of the far right.

NB The Gnome of Rishton Too rounding the Lamp

By this time the tide had reached it’s peak, so we made good time to Tarleton Lock. We had to wait for about 10 minutes for the previous pair of boats to go up, before it was our turn then we tied up on the visitor moorings at around 16:30.

Actually a shorter day than the crossing in the other direction, but it seemed much longer. All the crews on this trip had had enough and stopped over here in Tarleton for the night.

This morning was dry and sunny, and has stayed that way all day. Sod’s Law, I guess. We had a good natter this morning with the other crews; Mike and Ann on NB The Gnome…., Ray and Jane on NB Kathleen Margaret and John and his wife (sorry, no name) on NB Alexis. We learned that the cruiser, diverted to Preston was now mobile again and would be arriving at Tarleton for a 17:00 locking through.

We were all wanting to move on today though, Tarleton moorings are right alongside an industrial estate. OK on a Sunday, but pretty busy through the week. NB Moonstone had left at 09:00, we moved on at around noon and the other 3 followed ½ an hour later. They all passed us where we’d moored for the rest of the day near Bridge 10. We’d decided to have an R&R day, but they were pressing on to points south.

Sure Thing came past around 6 this evening, repaired and with smiling faces aboard. They’d heading back home to Nantwich.

I’ve had a fiddle with my camera, it appears the LCD backlight has died. It takes pics OK, but you can’t see what you’re pointing it at! Out with screwdrivers, methinks.

The forecast for the rest of the week isn’t promising, but we’ve got to head down, back to the Trent and Mersey. C’est la vie.

Locks 9, miles 14 

I’m running The Great North Run to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Proper Weather!

Well, the first day of September today and it’s been a cracker! Blue skies, warm sunshine, let’s hope that this is what we’ve to look forward to this month.

No cruising today; the cross-bed support sections still had to be varnished and today was a good day for it. And there was some paintwork to touch up.

Around lunchtime there was the unmistakeable chug-chug of a vintage engine coming around the corner, NB Huffler had arrived, closely followed by Jola No6 and Charlotte.

I was expecting them, they said they’d be stopping here tonight, ready for an early start for their Ribble crossing tomorrow.

The “Braunston Boats” and Seyella sandwiched.

There are 3 generations of rough collies and 3 cats in the convoy, and Meg had a good time getting to know the dogs and avoiding the cats.

There’s a large industrial complex across the fields from us, not visible from the boat and not noisy. But this sign up on Bridge 25 had me intrigued.

On the OS maps is merely identified as “Works”, which covers anything from sewage works to steelworks.

A websearch turned up the information that it’s Westinghouse Springfields Fuels Ltd.

From their website:-

Springfields, near Preston, has provided nuclear fuel fabrication services since the mid-1940's - in fact it was the first plant in the world to produce fuel for a commercial power station. The site has witnessed many changes over the years and today it is run and operated by Springfields Fuels Limited, under the management of Westinghouse Electric UK Limited.

Oo-er

That explains the sign…..

Tomorrow looks like a dry morning, damp afternoon then drying up again for the evening. Still warm though.

Locks 0, miles 0

I’m running The Great North Run to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

A better day.

 Last evening’s sunset promised a better day, and it didn’t let us down.

Spectacular Sunset

We weren’t going so far today, so didn’t get off until gone 11:00. In fact I overslept; I’m normally up at 06:30 for my run, today it was 07:10 before I opened my eyes. I blame Meg, she had me up at 1 o’clock this morning, wanting a pee.

Out in the Lancashire countryside.

We were down to less than a quarter of a tank of diesel, planned I might add, and also needed a replacement gas bottle. We filled up and got the gas at the handy Moons Bridge Marina.

Leaving Moons Bridge.

Apart from the extra manoeuvrability provided by the bigger prop, another benefit is improved fuel consumption. Not a huge amount, but at the price of diesel now any saving is worthwhile.

Just chillin’, making milk.

We’ve been coming across a group of three boats on a regular basis. They’re travelling together, all from Braunston. NBs Huffler, Charlotte and Jola No6 are due back across the Ribble the day before us, so they’re killing time.

The “Braunston Boats”, moored near Woodplumpton.

There’s one of the few cuttings on this canal just south of Six Mile Bridge.

Six Mile Bridge

The cutting is only shallow and stretches for about half a mile.

In the cutting.

The Hand and Dagger is canalside at Salwick Bridge   

Emerging into open countryside again, we pulled in on some handy piling just past Salwick Hall.

Salwick Hall just visible through the trees beyond the mooring.

Not sure what we’re going to do over the next couple of days. I’ve some bits and pieces still to do following the bedroom refit; if the weather stays kind there’s some varnishing to do and touching up on the gunwales. Or should we finish off the canal with a trip into Preston and back?

Locks 0, miles 7

I’m running The Great North Run to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Busy at Bilsborrow

Two days without visitors, we’re feeling bereft! We had a quiet day yesterday, catching up with a few things that get put off when we have guests. Today we pulled back to make use of the services, then set off south, intending to moor at Bilsborrow.

Coming out of Garstang, Ultima and Thule looking good.

The day started reasonably promising, quite bright after overnight rain. But it wasn’t to last; grey clouds rolled in and we’ve had a generally damp trip.

Looking back to the Bowland Fells, Dunkenshaw Fell just in the cloud base.

We arrived in Bilsborrow soon after 1 o’clock, but all the moorings (apart from a really shallow bit) were full.

Bilsborrow moorings.

It seems to be a very popular spot, there was very little room when we stopped here on the way north.

So we had to forego the much anticipated fish and chips, and pushed on into the countryside. We found a pleasant spot only about ½ a mile further, and unusually were able to get both ends in! Well, almost. The rudder blade is stuck in the mud.

Moored just out of Bilsborrow.

Busy towpath with good fish and chips for tea versus quiet towpath and cook your own. I know what I prefer…

The canal has been a bit quieter today with the Bank Holiday weekend over. Still a few boats about, though. We had a passing chat with a couple of boats we’ll be sharing the crossing with next Saturday. It looks like there’ll be 4 narrowboats going over the Ribble.

The hawthorn bushes are well laden up here. Are we going to have a winter like last year?

Lots of berries. Harsh winter?

This afternoon I've changed the engine oil and filter, checked the gearbox oil level, topped up the batteries and filled the stern tube greaser. Just need to fill up with diesel tomorrow and we're all set for the weekend.

Locks 0, miles 5.

I’m running The Great North Run to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.