Daily notes on our
trip up North
Tuesday 8th
March (Our wedding Anniversary 47th )
10. 30 this morning we left our moorings in Ruford under a
metal grey sky the cloud formation looked very foreboding. My forecast proved
better than the BBCs they said we would have slight patchy rain we Had freezing
drizzle, as Peter Kay says “its that light rain that soaks you through” but
with a song in our heart and a spring in our step we ventured forward.
Completing the seven lock of the Rufford canal into Burscough
with a crew of 4 is a simple enough and we completed it with no incidents or
mishaps passing just one other boat who were on there way to Tarlton from
Scarisbrick for a little cruise so here at least it looks as if the cruising
season may have started??
We have moored overnight in Parbold, as tomorrow looks to be
an awful days with gale force winds and heavy rain so we may sit it out. I am
still awaiting news of the Wigan flight as they are fitting new gates the
completion date is the 11th which is Friday so there is no rush as
that only two days away.
Its was good to be out on the cut today the Ducks are mating
and nest building there is plenty of Pussy Willow about some say that is a sign
of snow to come others say it’s the harbinger of spring and a good summer only
time will tell and lets face you take what comes, no sense in worrying about
things you have no control over.
Prepare for it yes but then accept it. That’s boating and
the richer for it.
Wednesday 9th
At 07.30 Removing the button from the bedroom window only
confirmed what the pitter-patter on the roof was telling me IT was raining,
though after making the brew and getting dressed the weather was not as bad as
the previous day and it felt a little warmer. Before setting off we had to do a
little shopping number 1 on the list was some cream for my back (long storey)
As we were only doing two locks two swing bridges and a few miles stopping over
night at Crooke we were in no rush to get going. The cruise to Crooke was
uneventful and didn’t pass one other
moving boat. The sun really tried to day and it made that murkey grey colour
that is impossible to reproduce in a painting or at least it is for me. From
Parbold to Crooke involves travelling along the Douglas Valley spring summer
and autumn it must be one of the prettiest canals in the country today we saw
deer, pied wood pecker and the usual array of canal side wild life, but in the
gloomy grey light with the sun trying to break through it had a very eerie
effect with the over hanging trees reaching down their branches as if to engulf
and capture the boat. Though today was easy it was also bloody cold I9 am still
thawing out.
I have had a reply from CRT and it looks as though the wigan
flight and Blackburn are open so we will pick
our crew up on Friday morning at Sparrow
fart,
For all those who travel this far north and are us to
popping in to the CRT office then don’t as it has moved CRT are keeping it
quiet so we cannot find them??? They are now across the canal. We their move we
have lost the secure mooring that was outside the office. As nothing has been
published or announced I shall be using it tomorrow see what happens I will let
you. As a secure mooring in the middle of Wigan
is vital and something we cannot afford to loose..
AND did you know that
pumpout cards are now £16.25 I for one will not be buying anymore I will
continue going into Marinas I always thought that they were expensive but 16.25 is a rip off I imagine it
will really upset the Continuous Cruisers
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