Gathurst (closure, what closure?)

Our only lock of the day – the aptly named, Deep Lock

With rain forecast all day on Saturday we decided to crack on towards Wigan on Friday with the intention of going up the 21 lock Wigan flight on Sunday.  Once we are back at Wigan and turn left up the flight we will be back on new canals for us and heading over the Pennines.  We have been through the Pennines before on our previous boat but on the Huddersfield Narrow canal.  That time we had to turn around and come back before hitting Huddersfield as we were too long.  It did mean we were able to go through the fantastically exciting Standedge tunnel twice in one week.  It is by far the most interesting canal tunnel in the country and, at over 3 miles long, it is also the longest, highest and deepest canal in the UK.

Our only problem with getting back to Wigan was that we had had an email saying the swing bridge outside Burscough was out of action.  There is a winding hole about ½ mile before the bridge, so we decided to head for there and stop for lunch, then walk down and see what the situation was.

It was quite a dismal day but at least it was dry.  It was also a lot cooler than of late, so we donned fleeces and jeans for the journey.  In complete contrast, by the time we moored up in the evening we were back to shorts and tee-shirts.

On the way we passed the Rufford branch again; this leads up to the tidal River Ribble that narrowboats can book passage across to the other side of the estuary to gain access onto the Lancaster canal.  Thinking about this reminded us that our friends Les, John and Sue were on their narrowboats on the Lancaster canal this time two years ago.  They were caught the wrong side of a breach for many weeks and in the end, CRT arranged to crane their boats out into a watered section.

Signpost at the junction with the Rufford branch

We moored for lunch as planned and, as no email had arrived with an update on the bridge closure we were getting ready to walk down to the bridge when a boat came past in the opposite direction.  It transpired that the bridge had been fixed first thing, but no email had been sent out!  When we finally got the email saying it was open we noticed it wasn’t sent until 16:28 ☹

We were soon back at Burscough and stopped outside Jack & Gin to take on water.  The sun was beginning to peek through the clouds and warm things up and by the time we left tourists/people were sitting outside the bars and wandering around looking at the moored boats.

Taking on water outside Jack & Gin

 As the weather was getting more pleasant we decided to push on through Parbold and Appley Bridge and moor alongside the Douglas flood plain below Gathurst as we had on the way down.

Cruising between Parbold and Appley Bridge

Our mooring for Friday night with Buddy immediately fast asleep on the cycle track as soon as we moored 😉

So, we travelled 15 miles through one lock on Friday the first time we have travelled that sort of distance in a day since last May when we were heading up the River Severn to Worcester from the River Avon at Evesham.

If we end up going up the Wigan flight on Sunday, we may well be in Gargrave for the following weekend as there will only be 55 miles to go with 32 locks.  At our pace of four hours cruising a day that should only take seven days 😊

Before I sign off, my mum came out of hospital yesterday and according to my sister, who has gone up to see her, she is perkier than ever which is good news.

And finally, here are the boats stuck in Salthouse Dock waiting for news on when the Melling breach will be repaired.  The latest news is that it will take at least six weeks to repair and initial thoughts are that it is not as bad as the current Middlewich breach.  According to our friends, who are still there, many people have gone home as they were only on holiday for a week or so and had to get back to work or other commitments. 

Dave & Barbara are on Four Bells; Chris & Aileen’s boat is at right angles to them