Looks like the trip to the Lancaster Canal is off!!

Our summer cruise began on Saturday 18 July 2015, when we set off down the Wigan locks to begin our trip to the Lancaster canal... After the first lock, Helen noticed a lady slumped at the side of her bike unconscious and having difficulty breathing... she called 999, the ambulance arrived quite quickly thankfully and it turned out that she was in anaphylactic shock due to a wasp sting.  She started to come round and we left her in the ambulance crews' expert hands.  Martin, Shirley, Charlotte and little Alex joined us later that morning to help our descent.  Later in the day we set off to Crooke.

Gathurst Bridge

Sunday 19 July Moored before Gathurst bridge and walked up the hill (approx. 15 mins) to Shevington,  there is a Co-op, chemist and fish and chip shop etc which are quite handy.  Then went on to moor just above Appley Lock and on the Monday we cruised on to Parbold.

We have now found out that unfortunately due to a collapsed culvert on the Rufford Branch, we will no longer be able to go on the Lancaster Canal.

Saturday 26 July After a week back at work, Martin and Andrea kindly brought us back to Parbold as we are now turning round and have now decided to go on the Llangollen Canal.   We stocked up at the Co-op on the return journey and Martin and Chris cooked Andrea and I a lovely feast including some sushi !! Had a lovely evening and then despite the rain and forecast we set off back towards Wigan...

Work at No1 Lock Leigh Branch L & L

Unfortunately some more bad news !!! No1 lock on the Leigh branch is now out of order until at least the weekend due to a broken ground paddle. So yet again we are having to rethink our journey.. We are now stuck in Wigan with a lot of other boats in the same predicament.. They have ordered a mobile dam which is due to arrive later in the week before they can drain the pound to repair the paddle.   









 

'Little and Large'



Tuesday 28  July Due to all the stoppages, we have now decided to go back up the Wigan Flight and head towards the Dales for the summer.  Moved just above lock 57 to moor up in preparation for the ascent tomorrow morning.  Late in the evening two cruisers came up the lock and we noticed the water level started to drop and our ropes tightened up.  It quickly became obvious they had left the gates open and all the paddles up!!!. So obviously we sorted this out....

 

Wednesday 29 July   Up early and off we go up the Wigan Flight... As we were on our own, we had a couple of tea breaks on the way and made it up in approximately 6 hours.

Nugget was really well behaved and sat in her favourite spot all the way on the stern!

Once at the top cruised on further to Adlington to moor up for the evening.  Nugget had a good run round in the park which is just next to the moorings.