Manchester left behind we moved along the Bridgewater canal towards sunny Wigan....it really was sunny. Strange how the first spell of warm weather In the U.K seems draining - very different from genuinely hot countries it must be something to do with the humidity.
Crossing the Manchester ship canal we had moved through the birthplace of U.K canals in Worsley which even boasts a lighthouse ........in the back of a garden !!
We moored for 24 hours near Plank Lane swing bridge which boasts a water point so we could use our small washing machine and then re-fill the water tank. Finding the water point was a challenge - it is new type being only about 18 inches tall and unsigned a looking for all the world like some sort of electrical cable access point.
A close inspection on hands and knees with a magnifying glass found an etched maker's plate on brushed aluminum in small type with the word 'standpipes' - 'elementary my dear Dr Watson.'
My 'watermate' key fitting the padlock underneath had the puzzle solved completely....
Our speedy dash to Wigan a day later was delayed when the dreaded 'serious things around the prop' vibration started a few miles into the day. Weed hatch opened, pond gloves on and I found a very large heavy plastic 'Baker's Dog Food' bag wrapped around the propeller together with other assorted plastic bags and a bit of old rope just to make things difficult.
Oh well, I have seen worse. Hands washed, cup of tea and we were on our way.
Large double locks going into Wigan and beyond are a bit of a challenge with anti-vandal locks to open and lock afterwards. A chain arrangement to open and close the gates on one lock and a large metal rod on the gates beam of another that dug into the ground after opening or closing the gates........strange , but it seems to work.
As we were passing the Canal and River Trust office in Wigan I decided to purchase a CRT 'pump-out' card for use in their far and few pump out machines.
"How many would you like ?" was the fair question
"How much are they ?" my normal question on purchasing anything.....
"£16.75p" was the reply
.........a meaningful silence from myself followed by...........
" Oh, wow.....just the one then.....at that price, I will try my luck with marinas, etc"
I replied in my best Victor Meldrew style.
Even the most expensive marina/fuel point I have visited has never charged that much.............and THEY do the job for you ( mostly).
Passing through the Wigan locks we received a 'phone call from our son Andrew that he was coming to Wigan for the afternoon together with our grand-daughter to see us for a couple of hours. Andrew is a wheelchair user and canal towpaths are not ideal for a rendezvous so we suggested meeting at 'The Orwell' bar - part of the famous 'Wigan Pier'.
I think if I ran a business on Wigan 'pier' as I would ensure moorings for passing boat customers........surely all 'piers' have moorings if only to catch passing trade.
Mooring or not Wigan Pier's 'Orwell' bar looked liked the 'Mary Celeste' with no lights and no sign of any customers or staff. Closed doors and an empty car park seemed to suggest that they were closed for lunch.............perhaps Tuesday is a slow day in Wigan.
With no option but to look for another 'watering hole' we worked through the next two locks and a further couple of miles to meet Andrew at the pleasantly situated canal-side 'Crooke Hall Inn' .
Moorings at the 'Crooke Hall Inn' are private moorings, but local boaters on nearby boats suggested we moor as the regular moorers were 'out' for the summer. This proved to be perfect as Andrew could bring his wheelchair across the beer-garden and right next to the boat where we had a round of excellent pub-meals and several rounds of drinks. So all was well that ended well...........
Leaving Crooke the following day we moved on towards Parbold in glorious sunshine.
It was three years previous we had come this way when we completed our 'coast to coast' cruise
(see previous post of that name) going from Salthouse dock in Liverpool to Boston in Lincolnshire.
I distinctly remember having great difficulty finding a refuse disposal point in this locality.In fact the last Canal River Trust bins had been a long way back in Anderton
( none in Manchester) and we were having the same problem this time.
We had noticed a 'refuse point' marked in Nicholson's Guide at Bridge 35 just past Parbold on that occasion but were unable to find it. Asking a local boater he smiled knowingly in reply..........
" Oh yes, it IS there.......they hide it so it is not used too often !!!!!
Well I am here to tell you he was perfectly correct.......if you are looking for the Canal and River Trust refuse point near bridge 35 on the Leeds and Liverpool - the secret is OUT.... it is laying empty behind the trees.
This is not the only example of 'hidden' refuse points we have discovered and can only come to the conclusion that it is Canal and River Trust policy to reduce the occasions when they pay to have the bins emptied.......if nobody knows they are there nobody can use them.
Come on Canal and River Trust give us a sign......and save boaters cruising the system loaded to the gunnels with rotting refuse.
Moving through a succession on swing bridges we passed the Rufford arm and continued on towards Scarisbrick marina where we topped up with fuel and are presently moored surrounded by pleasant farm land in glorious weather waiting a few days before our date with a morning tide to cross the River Ribble and join the Lancaster canal.
Moor to follow in the next post..............
 |
| Crossing the Manchester Ship canal to Worsley - Barton swing bridge. |
Crossing the Manchester ship canal we had moved through the birthplace of U.K canals in Worsley which even boasts a lighthouse ........in the back of a garden !!
 |
| 'Light-house' Worsley |
We moored for 24 hours near Plank Lane swing bridge which boasts a water point so we could use our small washing machine and then re-fill the water tank. Finding the water point was a challenge - it is new type being only about 18 inches tall and unsigned a looking for all the world like some sort of electrical cable access point.
A close inspection on hands and knees with a magnifying glass found an etched maker's plate on brushed aluminum in small type with the word 'standpipes' - 'elementary my dear Dr Watson.'
My 'watermate' key fitting the padlock underneath had the puzzle solved completely....
Our speedy dash to Wigan a day later was delayed when the dreaded 'serious things around the prop' vibration started a few miles into the day. Weed hatch opened, pond gloves on and I found a very large heavy plastic 'Baker's Dog Food' bag wrapped around the propeller together with other assorted plastic bags and a bit of old rope just to make things difficult.
 |
| Clearing plastic bags from around the propeller. |
Oh well, I have seen worse. Hands washed, cup of tea and we were on our way.
Large double locks going into Wigan and beyond are a bit of a challenge with anti-vandal locks to open and lock afterwards. A chain arrangement to open and close the gates on one lock and a large metal rod on the gates beam of another that dug into the ground after opening or closing the gates........strange , but it seems to work.
As we were passing the Canal and River Trust office in Wigan I decided to purchase a CRT 'pump-out' card for use in their far and few pump out machines.
"How many would you like ?" was the fair question
"How much are they ?" my normal question on purchasing anything.....
"£16.75p" was the reply
.........a meaningful silence from myself followed by...........
" Oh, wow.....just the one then.....at that price, I will try my luck with marinas, etc"
I replied in my best Victor Meldrew style.
Even the most expensive marina/fuel point I have visited has never charged that much.............and THEY do the job for you ( mostly).
Passing through the Wigan locks we received a 'phone call from our son Andrew that he was coming to Wigan for the afternoon together with our grand-daughter to see us for a couple of hours. Andrew is a wheelchair user and canal towpaths are not ideal for a rendezvous so we suggested meeting at 'The Orwell' bar - part of the famous 'Wigan Pier'.
I think if I ran a business on Wigan 'pier' as I would ensure moorings for passing boat customers........surely all 'piers' have moorings if only to catch passing trade.
Mooring or not Wigan Pier's 'Orwell' bar looked liked the 'Mary Celeste' with no lights and no sign of any customers or staff. Closed doors and an empty car park seemed to suggest that they were closed for lunch.............perhaps Tuesday is a slow day in Wigan.
With no option but to look for another 'watering hole' we worked through the next two locks and a further couple of miles to meet Andrew at the pleasantly situated canal-side 'Crooke Hall Inn' .
Moorings at the 'Crooke Hall Inn' are private moorings, but local boaters on nearby boats suggested we moor as the regular moorers were 'out' for the summer. This proved to be perfect as Andrew could bring his wheelchair across the beer-garden and right next to the boat where we had a round of excellent pub-meals and several rounds of drinks. So all was well that ended well...........
 |
| Family visit at the excellent 'Crooke Hall Inn' |
Leaving Crooke the following day we moved on towards Parbold in glorious sunshine.
It was three years previous we had come this way when we completed our 'coast to coast' cruise
(see previous post of that name) going from Salthouse dock in Liverpool to Boston in Lincolnshire.
I distinctly remember having great difficulty finding a refuse disposal point in this locality.In fact the last Canal River Trust bins had been a long way back in Anderton
( none in Manchester) and we were having the same problem this time.
We had noticed a 'refuse point' marked in Nicholson's Guide at Bridge 35 just past Parbold on that occasion but were unable to find it. Asking a local boater he smiled knowingly in reply..........
" Oh yes, it IS there.......they hide it so it is not used too often !!!!!
Well I am here to tell you he was perfectly correct.......if you are looking for the Canal and River Trust refuse point near bridge 35 on the Leeds and Liverpool - the secret is OUT.... it is laying empty behind the trees.
This is not the only example of 'hidden' refuse points we have discovered and can only come to the conclusion that it is Canal and River Trust policy to reduce the occasions when they pay to have the bins emptied.......if nobody knows they are there nobody can use them.
Come on Canal and River Trust give us a sign......and save boaters cruising the system loaded to the gunnels with rotting refuse.
 |
| 'Secret' Canal and River Trust refuse disposal point hidden behind the trees. |
Moving through a succession on swing bridges we passed the Rufford arm and continued on towards Scarisbrick marina where we topped up with fuel and are presently moored surrounded by pleasant farm land in glorious weather waiting a few days before our date with a morning tide to cross the River Ribble and join the Lancaster canal.
Moor to follow in the next post..............
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