Escape from Wigan and wandering the Weaver.

Retracing our steps from Liverpool was not without problems.  Navigation closure of the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Wigan had held up boats for several days.

Eventually a phone call from a canal and River Trust supervisor announced that the navigation was open but the Leigh junction pound at the bottom of the Wigan flight was low due to a pump failure. We decided to chance it in company with two other boats. 

Water level was in actual fact VERY low and Cap'n Denise struggled to maintain steerage as I walked along the towpath to operate the locks on the Leigh branch. We did not realize that the boat was difficult to steer because 'San Serriffe' had collected a large bale of razor wire around the skeg - yes, RAZOR wire!  

Eventually Denise struggled the boat into the lock and I opened the paddles to drop the water level. Out went our companion boat but San Serriffe would not budge an inch.

"Give it some more throttle you must have grounded on something" I shouted from the top of the lock.
" It will not move - no matter what !!"  Denise shouted back.

Puzzled I fretted on top of the lock and eventually caught sight of the wire strands coming
through the lock gates and holding 'San Serriffe' as fast as any rope. This was a deep lock and Denise could not move the boat under the lock ladder.

Oh well, this was a job for the Caped Crusader, as I climbed down into the lock and managed to leap onto the bow. with some difficulty
"It's a dirty, dangerous job, but somebody has to do it" .......I muttered in my best caped-crusader speak, trying to keep my nerve from collapsing completely.

Crew from our two companion boats gathered in support as I produced my Caped Crusader secret weapon pack for combating razor-wire from the front locker. All boats on the 'Leeds and Liverpool' should have one.

This kit includes :

1. A pair of pond gloves ( weapon grade chain-mail covering if possible  )
2. A pair of the finest cheap bolt-cutters that China can produce.

Cap'n Denise fished for the wire with the boat hook and our helpers held the boat steady and the wire taught with ropes from the top of the lock.  Caped-Crusader leaned down and like a scene from an old WW2 film cut the wire. It was not complicated and really did not need the quip....

" Under NO circumstances cut the BLUE wire"  .......as all the best bomb disposal wire-cutting dialogues seem to go. 

With the clutches of the razor-wire gone, we headed for the untroubled waters of the Leigh branch leaving the problems of Wigan far behind.  Oh, the freedom of it all........no wire, lots of water under the boat and the 'Dover-Lock' pub not many miles away - all is well that ends well, as they say.

Surviving the lesser challenges of the Bridgewater and returning back onto the Trent and Mersey canal we decided to have a few peaceful days on the River Weaver.  Anderton boat-lift passage booked, we immediately ran into the tail-end of Hurricane 'Bertha' bouncing torrents of rain on our heads and gusts of winds that made boat handling just a tad difficult.........'what? no razor-wire ?'  I hear you say.   

Boats leaving the Anderton boat-lift.

Sharing the Anderton boat lift 'Caisson' (tank) with another boat we were lowered to the river level whilst the opposing 'Caisson' brought the River trip boat upwards to the canal level with everybody waving as the they passed.

Going up ....... trip boat passes upwards as we descend.

Anderton boat lift.    River Weaver.

Anderton boat-lift has been doing this since 1871 until it was left semi-derelict in 1983. Restored and re-opened in 2003 it transports boats up and down on a daily-basis. Turning left towards Northwich you cannot help be impressed with this tranquil wide river - a perfect antidote for any stress you have in life.
               Many years back you might have had a bit of stress in a small boat as a large sea-going coaster came steaming towards you. Rest assured sadly that is a thing of the past and pleasure craft are the only traffic to worry about.

River Weaver.                                                             Copyright.

Northwich - River Weaver

Northwich eventually floats gently into view with its new waterfront developments and marina. Stopping before town swing-bridge we visited the Canal and River Trust services
situated awkwardly on top of a wharf originally designed for large barges and the average narrowboat needs a long hose to reach the tap at the top. After an overnight at the nearby 48 hour visitor moorings we continued on towards Hunt's lock and the beautiful Vale Royal stretch of the river.

Hunt's Lock.  River Weaver.

All the locks are manned and they now use the smaller locks rather the ship-sized ones that require a gigantic amount of water.  A quick call on the mobile helps the lock-keepers  time your arrival with other traffic and everything is usually ready for you.  These guys are both friendly and polite and willing to share their knowledge of the river ringing the next lock for you if you require to go through. A rope with a loop is lowered down from the top of the lock enabling the helmsman to attach the boat centre rope which is then lifted to the top bollard with the end passed back down so the boat is secure when the lock fills. 



I first saw the Vale Royal stretch from a Dutch-barge trip boat many years ago and was pleased to see it had lost none of its enchantment.......a beautiful stretch of wide river.

Vale Royal...........River Weaver.                             All images strictly author copyright.

Passing through Vale Royal locks we passed the salt-works which supported commercial river traffic for years. We were going to support the brewery trade by visiting the 'Red Lion' at Winsford which is the end of navigational responsibility for Canal and River Trust. It is possible to go further into a large lake known as a 'flash' but parts are very shallow so it is left to your own judgement. 


If get a chance...........'Wander the Weaver' you will not be disappointed.