The return Crossing

On our last unscheduled night in the Ribble Link Basin  we went on the short walk through Haslam Park to the Four Lane Ends Pub for a meal.

Four Lanes End Pub

We had the early bird meals and Nugget was impressed too as they had a 'Doggy Corner' with treats and toys... very welcoming and nice food.




We were over the moon on Tuesday as the waterways team said that all the boats (now totalling 14) could go on the link.

Rotating sea lock - Savick Brook

As there were so many boats go get through, they started letting us down the locks and Savick Brook at 9am to wait at the rotating sea lock for our departure at approximately 2.30pm, with high tide being at 3.24pm.



 It was a beautiful sunny calm day and after the long wait, we all set out into the Ribble Estuary.  It was an amazing crossing, we didn't feel rushed and we could enjoy it.





We all finally arrived after approximately 2.5 hours at the lock at Tarleton.  The last 20 minutes was the only time we felt some pull against us as the tide went out .










In the evening we went for a lovely meal to a small Italian restaurant in Tarleton called Don Alberto.  We can certainly recommend this, lovely food at reasonable prices.

All in all we had an excellent trip this summer.  Thanks to Brian and Anne on Andante for sharing some of the locks, a pleasure to meet you and as always thank you to Martin and Andrea for helping us with the Wigan flight - very much appreciated.





 

Waiting in the Ribble Link Basin

Our crossing was due to take place on Sunday 21 August back to Tarleton.  Unfortunately due to high winds the crossing was postponed until today.

Waiting in the Ribble Link Basin

  It is now Monday and the crossing has once again been postponed due to the terrific downpours we had most of the night and this morning.  The torrential rain has flooded Savick Brook and the water is so high the boats are unable to pass under the bridges on the way to the Ribble Estuary.

Due to this, there is now a backlog of boats waiting....  

Lancaster to Bilsborrow

Over the last few days, we have cruised through Lancaster, Garstang and Bilsborrow, enjoying meals out, some lovely walks and even a BBQ due to the weather improving significantly.

Glasson Docks

Lancaster has excellent sanitary facilities and a shopping centre with everything you need.  We enjoyed a couple of meals including a full English breakfast at 'The Cornish Bakery' in the town centre - excellent food at reasonable prices.

Whilst moored near bridge 90, we had a walk into Galgate (small Spa shop in the village) and met up with Anne and Brian on Andante, enjoying a catch up and a pint at 'The Plough'.   Rather than navigate the Glasson Branch with six locks, we went on a pleasant circular walk through the surrounding countryside, joining the Lancashire Coastal Way and Glasson Docks.  After a yummy bacon butty and cuppa at the 'bikers' café at the docks we headed back along the Glasson Canal branch.

 

Bridge 85  lies between two farms, so when the Canal company constructed the canal, they had to build a double bridge with a dividing wall down the centre.


The 'Double Bridge'

We had a pleasant day in Garstang, enjoying some reasonable priced snacks from 'Singletons' on the High Street. Thursday is market day here; it is a lovely town with a wide variety of shops and pubs etc.  Whilst moored in Bilsborrow, we went on a short circular walk which took us over the River Brock and also the busy M6 and A6. We enjoyed a 'steak on a stone' meal at the White Bull which is just overlooking the canal next to the Waterways facilities and can certainly recommend this as very tasty.

Unfortunately the weather has changed significantly from sun and blue skies, to wet and windy and we are wondering if the crossing on the Ribble Link on Sunday will be postponed as high winds are forecast....      

Hest Bank/Slyne

We  have just spent a lovely few days with Martin and Andrea in the Bolton-le-Sands/Hest Bank/Slyne area. They have been staying at The Lodge at Slyne  , approximately 20 minutes walk  from Bridge 116.

Nugget - The Lune Aquaduct

At the Slyne Lodge we enjoyed one of their special evening meal deals which were excellent value.  The Lodge has recently had extensive refurbishment and has a lovely dining and bar area with first class food.








A circular walk incorporating the Lune Aquaduct, a field of inquisitive cows..... and also a view of the new Heysham bypass under construction was enjoyed by all.

The Lune Aquaduct

The Lune Aquaduct is an amazing structure designed by John Rennie and built in 1797.   


Helen and Keith joined us all yesterday and although the weather was not too good , we managed a walk on the front at Morcambe Bay followed by an early bird meal  at The Royal Hotel  .  Dogs allowed in the bar area until 5pm

Eric and Helen - Morecambe sea front

Whilst at Hest Bank, Nugget had some good walks and a very long run on the never ending beach at Hest Bank chasing seagulls.



The Lancaster Canal

Over the last few days we have navigated the full length of the Lancaster Canal.  Mooring has been difficult in places due to silted banks, however on a whole it is a beautiful canal with excellent sanitary stations/boat facilities on the way.  We will then take a slower cruise returning to  Preston taking in the delights on the way for our return passage over the Ribble Link.

On Wednesday we stopped at the visitor moorings (a bit disappointing as only one mooring ring) at Barton Grange Garden Centre and  shopping complex.

Lancaster

The farm shop is very good with some wonderful fresh produce and an extensive delicatessen range.
Bridge 23 to Catterall - bridge 53 - total cruising time 4.75 hours

Thursday we moored up in Garstang, a lovely town with plenty of shops, pubs and restaurants etc.  Got some provisions from Sainsburys which is a short walk from the moorings. After having difficulty finding a mooring, we eventually moored up just after Bridge 80, very shallow, had to use the gang plank. 
Bridge 53 to Bridge 80 - total cruising time 3.5 hours

Friday, we passed the entry to the Glasson branch, plenty of good moorings around this area  and in the afternoon went over the Lune Aquaduct. After 5 years of construction, the Aquaduct was opened in 1797. It stands on wooden piles driven twenty feet into the river bed and stands 51 feet above the river.                                                                           

Heysham bypass under construction

We also cruised under the newly constructed bridge for the Heysham to M6 bypass, currently under construction. We moored in the afternoon at Hest Bank on some new moorings between Bridges 116 and 117.  Had a  walk on the 'front'.  Nugget had a great time trying to catch the waves!!!
Bridge 80 to Hest Bank - total cruising time 4.5 hours

Saturday 6 August - Beautiful calm sunny day.  Left Hest Bank and took a lovely leisurely cruise through to Carnforth and eventually Tewitfield where the navigable Lancaster Canal ends.  There are some amazing properties on the way with excellent views of both the canal and sea.

Tewitfield

On Mooring up at the Tewitfield terminus, we  walked up some of the disused locks on the 'Northern Reach'.  We moored for the night in the Capernwray Arm, visitor moorings, a lovely little spot  on the offside originally the entrance to a quarry - idyllic.   
Hest Bank to Tewitfield - 3.75 hours

The Ribble Link

2 August 2016 

The day has finally arrived!


Tarleton - awaiting our instructions

Coventina's Isuzu 42bhp Japanese Engine versus the mighty 9 metre high incoming Tide of the Ribble Estuary.

At 10.30am as the gates of Tarleton Lock opened to reveal the Douglas River one of the Lock Keepers shouted down "off you go, plenty of revs, everyone's made it so far this year".

Normally cruising at 1000rpm or so, we powered up to 1600rpm and shot out of the Lock. The Tide immediately started pushing us sideways towards the bank and we almost came to a stop. Revs up to 1900rpm rewarded us with some progress and after about a mile progress was getting better.


Ribble Estuary

 Eventually the 'mighty' Ribble Estuary came into view and the all important Asland Lamp. On the left bank was a stranded Narrowboat but as instructed we aimed to the left of the Lamp and then turned right up the Estuary. The Tide pushed us about a bit here but we soon settled down. Our Engine started to enjoy itself, temperature running just a few degrees above normal. 


The entry to Savick Brook was easily identified as we looked through our binoculars and spotted the Waterways Van and crew watching us through theirs! The turn against the now falling Tide was  easier than expected, entering Savick Brook at around 12.30pm.

Savick Brook requires careful navigation through all the twists and turns but eventually up the Locks to the final 3 staircase locks which you have to reverse into.

Stranded Narrowboat

The Waterways boys & girls, not to mention the volunteers, all looked after us really well, thankyou.


Mooring for the night was near Bridge 24 surrounded by numerous wildlife, while in the distance we could see British Nuclear Fuels Plant where Fuel Rods are manufactured.

Parbold to Tarleton

Ring O Bells Moorings

After approximately one hours cruising from Parbold, we moored up just beyond the Ring O Bells  public house, Bridge 34 and stayed Saturday evening.
On Sunday we went on the Rufford Branch.  Although in the guides, it states there is a sanitary station and toilets just before Lock 1,  these are now closed and new ones have been built at Burscough.  We came down the Rufford Branch locks with Nb Andante, Anne and Brian and had a lovely cruise through.  The weather was kind to us with the sun shining most of the day.



We moored up for the evening after Marsh Meadow Swing Bridge.  (approximately 2.5 hours from lock 1).

Rufford

  Just a short walk further on, at Rufford lock there are two marinas, one on either side.  Popped in St Marys café for an ice cream and a look around the marina. 

Along this stretch,  there are lots of bulrushes and wild flowers, a very pleasant canal.

Today, Monday we cruised through a meandering stretch with no tow path to Tarleton where we moored  on the visitors moorings along with the other five boats for the crossing on the Ribble Link tomorrow morning.


Tarleton has everything you need, a Spa, Co-op, butchers and greengrocers, pubs and an Italian restaurant.

top stretch of the Rufford Branch 

After speaking with our fellow boaters, we are all in anticipation of the crossing and awaiting our instructions from CRT in the morning.    
  

Wigan to Parbold

Sunday 24 July 2016

Its down the Wigan flight and onwards to the Ribble Link and the Lancaster Canal - yippee!!

Martin and Andrea  joined us for the descent and we had a good run through the locks. The Wigan flight seems much improved in recent years.  Mooring at the bottom of the locks it was off to the nearby 'India Lounge' for a tasty take away which we can thoroughly recommend.

Monday 25 July

After a hearty breakfast we set off towards Gathurst, mooring up at the visitor moorings at Gathurst bridge next to the 'Baby Elephant' indian restaurant.

M6 Viaduct over the canal

 A short walk over the bridge and up the hill brings you to several shops including a large Co-op, fish and chip shop  and post office etc.  After shuffling the cars around (thank you Martin), we had some lunch and then Martin and Andrea headed home after a very enjoyable weekend.

Tuesday 26 July


At Gathurst, the M6 viaduct passes over the Douglas Valley which in turn  passes over the railway and canal.

Three very distinct modes of transport!  - we know which we prefer.

In less than two hours we moored up in Parbold.  Here there is a useful train station and car park with all the facilities of a small village. 



Plans for 2016

Over the bank holiday we had a short cruise around the Adlington/Wigan area on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and completed some jobs in preparation for summer. 

There are some lovely walks in this area and Adlington is handy for supplies, groceries, pubs and takeaways etc .

The glorious weather, wildlife and beautiful scenery certainly made the trip worthwhile.  

This Summer we are once again attempting the Lancaster Canal (after the cancellation last year  due to a breach) .  Our passage is booked for August and we are really looking forward to it, even more so after reading Helen and Ian's blog on nb Leo who have just returned.