Tuesday 15th May 2012

Tuesday 15th May 2012

Today the weather was meant to be a bit rainy and chilly, so long johns and fleecy waterproof trousers were the order of the day. We pootled along towards Scarisbrick ringing ahead to see if we could have a pump out, but no-one would be there so we'd have to find somewhere further on. All the visitors over the weekend had moved the gauge on the tank so we weren't confident on getting back to Elton Moss without the use of bushes!

The first swing bridge had been swung by a hotel boat so we passed through saying Thank you. The next we did holding up 3 cars, it now started to rain. Were we going to get a major down pour at Burscough Bridge? No the sun came out as we pulled up. The smell from the bakery hit my nostrils and we all started to drewl. But first things first, rubbish and water. Chores done Kath and I ventured round the corner, a few loafs on the shelves and cakes on the counter, but a sign on the door "Closed due to staff illness" WHAT!!! We could smell the wonderous smells but not sample their lovely pies. Disappointed two trips were then made to the Co-op for bread and their pies ( nice but nowhere near as good). An ice-cream each banished the sulks, so we headed on in the sunshine.

Straight on past the Rufford branch, one day we'll do the Ribble Link. It was now alternating between being wet and sunny, We swung a bridge and at another a chap was looking at the screen and not doing anything. I jumped off to see if I could help. It was one with manual barriers and I think he didn't realise he had to do them himself. The sun looked like it was shining straight onto the screen which does make it very hard to read. So I closed the towpath side barrier for him and we went through onto the locks.

At Appley Locks we had to empty it, 12ft of water. Kath had difficulty with the handcuff key, but we got up the lock in the end. We had almost constant rain with a little bit of hail thrown in for good measure as we came to each lock in turn. Most of them were against us . The kettle was put on for a cuppa and a slice of chocolate bananna cake, but someone had moved a lock closer than we had remembered, so tea was put on hold. On through Wigan past the waiting lady, who from the cut looks like a man, and the little chap stood peering over the bridge. When we reached the bottom lock a chap in a white shabby tupperware wanted to lock up with us, so we waited for him. Up the next one to the service station where we all used the facilities and had our long awaited for cup of tea and cake. We turned the corner to now head down Poolstock Locks. The tupperware was waiting for us there, so we locked down with him.

In the Bottom Lock Mick had the tale of how Tupperware man had fallen out with a mate he'd been travelling with and didn't want to catch him up as his mate really didn't get locks. The tuperware had a really noisy outboard motor and we could tell that Mick was hoping that he was making the right noises to the chap. We carried on hoping to get to near Dover Bridge for the night before stopping, the sun came out and it turned into a lovely evening, slightly burning Micks ears.

On arriving at Dover Kath wanted a go on Micks Brompton bike as the tow path was in good condition. I thought I would check what paint we had to try touching up the gunwales. Pulling out items from the rear locker I came across an almost dried puddle of Bitumen. So I started to pull everything out of the locker to find the offending tin. When I eventually reached it I picked it up and it had no bottom to it, but still plenty of Bitumen which increased the puddle by three! The locker was emptied a whole roll of kitchen roll used to mop up as much as I could reach. Laytex gloves found when it was too late and my right hand had turned dark brown. In the rear locker there is a wide pipe that the cables from the controls go through, Bitumen was gradually dribbling down to below. I managed to stop the flow of black gooey stuff down into the engine bay. By this time it was getting quite late so Kath started to prepare our tea as Mick and I cleaned off tins of paint and trottle cables. The engine bay was inspected and the bitumen had been dribbling onto the exhaust. So Mick did his best to clear as much up as possible, the locker lid was left off so that hopefully the puddle that still remained would eventually dry up. Then we set about cleaning ourselves up.

I finished cooking our chicken tagliatelli avoiding touching any food. It was really quite late by the time we got to bed.

Smart gauge at start of day 49, at end of day 100, 8 locks, 5 swing bridges, 18 miles, 4 cars held up, 1 bike held up, 1 bike ride, 1 noisy tupperware, 1 bottomless tin of bitumen, 1 very black hand, 0 herons.