Friday 19 June 2009

Friday 19 June 2009




From Riley Green to Fosters Swing Bridge, Clayton Le Moors




We are now nearer to Leeds than Liverpool having passed the midway point along the canal, but we have still more locks to ascend tomorrow. This picture shows the memorial (?)to mark the 50:50 point.

Our passage today through Blackburn and beyond meant our having to steer through mile after mile of floating plastic, submerged sofas, chairs, fire extinguishers, wheely bins, you name it we went round it or over it! and graffiti on everything - so no surprise, anti vandal keys for the locks again. We did not feel comfortable about leaving the boat for shopping, not that we could get close in to the side due to underwater debris!
More of the same again tomorrow as we proceed through Burnley, towards the summit level and Foulridge Tunnel.
Fortunately we have found a rural mooring this evening overlooking the bleak Lancashire moors, BUT a family of swans are driving us mad by pushily knocking at the windows for food.


Our second picture was taken moments before we had a really frightening episode - the rudder became trapped under the lock gate paddle whilst we were filling the lock. Emergency action to swiftly shut the paddles and then lower the water level to release the rudder - phew! No apparent damage other than to our blood pressure!








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