Wednesday 9th May 2012

Wednesday 9th May 2012

Whilst having breakfast this morning there was a chap pacing the towpath and marking the bank. He turned out to be marking up fishing pitches for a match, They had paid £1500 to fish just by Plank Lane Bridge for the day and were angry that there were boats there! So as soon as breakfast was finished we set off, past a strange Marina that has been built in amongst the wasteland with no facilities or much space for many boats. It turned out that Frank had been to a concert here about 40 years ago.

Steve and I sorted the bridge, sussing out the slightly ambiguous instructions on the screen and then we were off.
We pootled along spotting where there used to be locks but due to the subsidence in the area they had been moved to Wigan. Every now and again the tow path would be really high up compared to the canal, just hope it's all stopped sinking!

The morning had started quite bright but gradually the clouds caught up with us and the heavens opened.
At Poolstock locks we came across a boat coming down and it was time to teach Steve and remind Frank how locks work. Handy having extra crew on these broad locks as there is no way over the gates, so it saved a long walk round! NB Catriona, that we had met in the morning, were moored up below the locks having gone to the BW office to collect their paperwork to get into Liverpool on Sunday. We had received ours at home and then very carefully left it all on the kitchen work top in Scarborough! So when we got to the junction in Wigan we turned left and filled up with water whilst Mick went to get new paper work. Steve and Frank were still astounded at how long it takes to fill the tank. Steve used it as an excuse to maybe not have a shower!

By the time we'd filled up got paperwork, NB Catriona had caught up with us, so we locked down together to where they would stay the night. Down the bottom lock on our own where my little legs didn't like the look of getting back on the boat so I set off to walk to the next lock and leave the boys to them selves on the boat. At Pottery Changeline Bridge there is a Bronze statue of a little chap whos head only just peeks up over the bridge and then further on there is a lady who is obviously bored of waiting for the next coal boat to arrive at Wigan Pier. We eventually found Asda set back from the canal and went to stock up leaving Steve to fend off any pirates.

Frank insisted on buying 6 bottles of wine, but then again he could carry them and would probably drink most of it too!
The rain cleared up a little for our shopping trip but started again as soon as we set for the next lock.
We teamed up with NB Sunnyside up and emaculate boat to go down the next four locks, but then they called it a day and left us to do Deep Lock 12ft by ourselves. Steve stayed on board as this was his last lock of his trip.
The biscuits were raided with a cup of tea and we pootled on towards Parbold. A group of young people were up to no good under the bridge here so we carried on a little further before we moored for the night.
Tea was to be Chicken Curry tonight using up the sunday roast. But it seemed like the onions fancied staying in Scarborough with our Liverpool paperwork more than coming with us, so Frank valiantly ventured out in the rain in search of an onion. He returned with one that must have grown in Chernobyl! there was enough for four currys, it was the size of a melon!

It continued to rain as we ate our tea and chatted and made a start on Franks wine.
I'm sure the chaps were getting a bit too cosy this evening, pillow fights etc!

Smart Gauge at start of day 72, end of cruising day 100, 8 locks, 13.5 miles, 0 herons, 6 bottles of wine and very wet!