Blackburn to Manchester
Where would we be without friends?
We left Riley Green early on Tues morning getting to the top of Johnsons Hillock locks at the appointed time ready to pick up Val & Mike on Perfect Day, we had arranged to go down these locks and the Wigan flight together, working locks with someone you know makes it so much easier and quicker Noreen and Val worked as a well oiled machine and Johnson’s 6 locks was soon behind us we then had a pleasant cruise down to the Wigan flight arriving at 2.00hrs, we then had to decide whether to do the locks then or wait until morning being the more adventurous types we all decided to go for it, it could take anything from 4 hours to 6 hours so at the worst it would only be 20.00hrs when we reached the bottom.
The flight was it usual self; broken paddles, stiff gates, bad leaks, the Wigan flight has the lot but it did not deter the dynamic duo Val and Noreen worked like Trojans even though every lock needed filling and then emptying, we managed to get through the locks in four hours, something of a record, Mike and I then decided to treat the girls to dinner though this meant another two locks on the Leigh branch and another hours cruise. We dinned at the Dover lock pub on huge Steak and red wine pie after which we were completely knackered.
Weds we only did a few miles up to Leigh centre; here we spent the day cleaning the boat shopping and sleeping. We had been invited out to Sue and Andy’s for dinner Mike and Val said they would stand guard on the boat whilst we were gone. The dinner was great good food good wine great company and able to relax knowing that the boat was in safe hands. We were entertained with Sue’s aircraft stories; I have not laughed so much in a long time, Sue you must have some more therapy?? We were delivered back to our boat about 22.45 in time for Val to come out and tell us we had another 15mins and then we would have been grounded. Its great to have such good friends
We are now in Castlefields in the centre of Manchester for a few days R&R
Where would we be without friends?
We left Riley Green early on Tues morning getting to the top of Johnsons Hillock locks at the appointed time ready to pick up Val & Mike on Perfect Day, we had arranged to go down these locks and the Wigan flight together, working locks with someone you know makes it so much easier and quicker Noreen and Val worked as a well oiled machine and Johnson’s 6 locks was soon behind us we then had a pleasant cruise down to the Wigan flight arriving at 2.00hrs, we then had to decide whether to do the locks then or wait until morning being the more adventurous types we all decided to go for it, it could take anything from 4 hours to 6 hours so at the worst it would only be 20.00hrs when we reached the bottom.
The flight was it usual self; broken paddles, stiff gates, bad leaks, the Wigan flight has the lot but it did not deter the dynamic duo Val and Noreen worked like Trojans even though every lock needed filling and then emptying, we managed to get through the locks in four hours, something of a record, Mike and I then decided to treat the girls to dinner though this meant another two locks on the Leigh branch and another hours cruise. We dinned at the Dover lock pub on huge Steak and red wine pie after which we were completely knackered.
Weds we only did a few miles up to Leigh centre; here we spent the day cleaning the boat shopping and sleeping. We had been invited out to Sue and Andy’s for dinner Mike and Val said they would stand guard on the boat whilst we were gone. The dinner was great good food good wine great company and able to relax knowing that the boat was in safe hands. We were entertained with Sue’s aircraft stories; I have not laughed so much in a long time, Sue you must have some more therapy?? We were delivered back to our boat about 22.45 in time for Val to come out and tell us we had another 15mins and then we would have been grounded. Its great to have such good friends
We are now in Castlefields in the centre of Manchester for a few days R&R
Mike & Val
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