Painted rocks and painted ladies

Yesterday we came up 14 locks and as it was cooler, it made things easier.   Walking between the two locks at Rode Heath, Helen spotted a 'Painted Lady' butterfly which kindly posed for her.  Painted lady butterflies migrate from North Africa or mainland Europe in spring and summer.  They cannot survive the British winter.  

Painted Lady - Rode Heath 28 July 2018
 

We moored at Rode Heath for the day and whilst exploring the village (which has a pub and convenience store) somebody (Alicia?) placed a painted rock on the stern which was a nice welcome to the village.   

Painted rock - Rode Heath

Dutton stop lock to wheelock flight

Over the last few days we have left the Bridgewater Canal and joined the Trent and Mersey at Dutton Stop Lock. This Lock is only 6" deep and was originally used to prevent different canal companies pinching water.   The two tunnels (Preston Brook and Saltersford)  were a welcome break from the scorching sun!  On board temperature has reached 33 degrees centigrade with beer supplies running very low! The blackberries are already ripe,  ready for picking - delicious on our morning cereal.


yummy blackberries

Another early morning start (6.30) to beat the heat. What a wonderful time of day! We were the first boat to ascend the 3 locks at Middlewich and unfortunately the middle pound was completely empty.  CRT fed some more water down and soon we were on our way again.  We moored up in Wheelock  Friday evening where there is a general store, pub and a large Pet Superstore! Nugget was in her element and managed to get a few treats.  


Early morning mist

This morning we started to ascend the Wheelock flight of locks, most of the locks are in pairs which make it easier if it busy.

Wheelock paired locks

 

  

Bridgewater Canal

Monday 23 July

The moorings in the centre of Leigh are next to Aldi - really handy to stock up on crisps and wine!  Leigh has a small shopping centre, very handy for provisions and essentials. Cruising through to Bridgewater Marina takes about 2hrs where you can purchase diesel, gas etc.  It was very hot both on-board (30'C) and off (27'C) !!!



Barton Swing Aqueduct

Tuesday 24 July
Making our way to Lymm, we passed through Worsley, past the Trafford Centre and over the Barton Swing Aqueduct which spans the Manchester Ship Canal.  We also went past the old Linotype and machinery Company factory built in 1897.  The company built 185 homes for their workers and provided football pitches and other recreational facilities.  Most of the buildings have  been demolished, however a new housing development is being built on the grounds and the original factory is being converted into flats.

Linotype development -  new and old 

The cruise to Lymm takes about 5.5 hrs from Bridgewater Marina. There are plenty of pubs, restaurants, cafes and a few shops here. The moorings in the centre are limited to 48 hours & usually get very busy at the weekends. We moored in Lymm for the night. Weather overcast & warm.
Five minutes from the moorings is a Turkish Restaurant featuring an 'early bird menu'  - yum, yum, might break into a new £20 note for a treat !??  😉   😂



Excellent restaurant and food
 

The meal at 'Flavours', the Turkish restaurant, was really good! 😋

Wigan 21

Saturday 21 July 2018




                                      Yippeee 'I'm going on my holidays'



Waiting to descend Wigan 21 locks yet again, we usually hope for another narrowboat to pair up with, but this year there is a record 8 already waiting.  This is because within a matter of a few days, the whole of the Eastern side of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal including the Wigan flight will be closing until at least the end of August.  The feeder reservoirs are already less than 50% full with little prospects of reasonable rainfall in the near future!



Wigan Top Lock

    We paired up with narrowboat 'Predator' and began our descent about 8.30am.  We made slow, steady progress for the first few locks enjoying the warm dry weather.  Then along came our friends Martin and Andrea providing some much needed and welcome help.  We reached the final lock at about 12.30pm without incident.   We headed on along the Leigh branch passing through the two locks at Poolstock before they are padlocked for the evening.     An hour later saw us moored up at Abram by the Dover Lock Inn which has now been closed for a number of years.  Out came the deck chairs and wine!   

Sunday 22 July

Just a short cruise today passing through Plank Lane Swing Bridge to pleasant moorings overlooking Pennington Flash Country Park.  Plank Lane Swing Bridge is key operated and cannot be opened during morning and evening rush hour. Another warm sunny day.

Pennington Flash

Bank Holiday 'fun in the sun'

We really enjoyed the May Bank Holiday and the weather certainly helped!

We went on a short cruise from Standish to just before Bridge 74 on the Leeds & Liverpool mooring not far from 'Fredericks' ice cream parlour.

It was so lovely to see lots of cute ducklings and newly hatched Canadian geese goslings.



Duxbury Park and Woods are just a short walk from bridge 74.  We enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the grounds and came across the a memorial erected by Susan Standish in 1870 in remembrance of her dog Bevis with the inscription:

All ye who wander through these peaceful glades,
Listening to the Yarrow’s rippling waves,
Pause and bestow a tributary tear.
The bones of faithful Bevis slumber here.”

 

On the return journey stayed overnight just outside Adlington  and enjoyed (as always) an indian  take way from 'Adlington Spice'

Autumn on the Leeds and Liverpool

Plank Lane to Top Lock Wigan - Leeds & Liverpool

We moored on the offside just before Plank Lane lift Bridge and completed a circular walk stopping for a pint in the 'Nevison' (a quirky cosy pub just 400 yards down the road from the lift bridge).

Cosy in the Nevison Pub 

The following day we waited until 9.45am  to go through Plank Lane lift bridge as you are unable to use it during rush hour due to the volume of traffic.  A newly built marina is next to the bridge and boats are already moored here with new houses under construction surrounding it. 

On route to Wigan we stopped off at Leigh for provisions (a handy Aldi is next to the canal with mooring rings).

We then moored at the bottom of the Wigan flight in anticipation of the ascent the following day.  Due to water shortages, CRT are only opening the locks from 8am to 9am and for exiting the locks from 2.00pm to 3pm.


Damaged lock gates

At 8am we set off, luckily we shared the locks with another boat, 'Moongazer' with a crew of three once we had tied the boats together.
  It went really smoothly and we all worked really well together.  Approximately half way up the flight CRT assisted us through one lock as the bottom gates were damaged  due to an over zealous boater the previous week.  We completed it in 4 hours!!! a new record and to celebrate, we all enjoyed a well earned pint or two at the Kirkless Hall pub.

......Another summer has come to an end, we have had an enjoyable trip on the Llangollen canal.   We extend our thanks to family and friends who have kindly ferried us about and who have also joined us for some wonderful times over the summer.