Nothing if not Eventful ….

It’s a well known thing that you can be waiting, waiting, waiting for a bus and then ………… three come along together!  Well, events have been like that over the last 24 hours:-

• Yesterday afternoon I sort-of fell in.  Well, 1/2 of 1/2 of me fell in at any rate.  Usually pretty sure-footed, my foot slipped between the bank and the gunnel and down I tumbled.  Not fully IN you understand because my bum was not able to follow the rest of me down the available space but ……… I hurt myself all the same.  I am now sporting some magnificent bruises – some to my thigh and others to my ego!!  Yes, there was an audience!

 

• Lunchtime today – we arrived at the lovely little town of Northwich – bustling with shops and shoppers.  John has been having withdrawal symptoms for a Big Mac and ……. there was a MacDonalds!  So, he was a happy bunny.  I know, noses tend to get turned up when MacDonalds is mentioned but he likes them, OK?  And my treat?  WELL!  “Blow me down”, “knock me over with a feather” – I was presented with a beautiful bunch of flowers because it’s our 39th wedding anniversary tomorrow.  I’ve not had any for numbers 1-38 so???????  Now, Derek, I know you will be as gob-smacked as me but these have not been foraged from the hedgerows – they really have been bought and paid for and they are simply gorgeous.    I even had to get my one-and-only good vase out of hibernation!

 

• After lunch we headed on upstream.  Hunt’s Lock – no problem.  I’ll have to put my flower pots under close guard on the way back tomorrow, however, as the Lock Keeper has threatened to nab them!!

           

Getting into Vale Royal Locks was a bit of a Magical Mystery Tour – not this way, not that way, not that lock, this lock ……  Age-related memory problems have clearly kicked in already because neither of us could remember anything about this lock.  In actual fact, neither of us have remembered much at all about the entire river!!

Just upstream from the locks is the mooring spot we were heading for.  As we approached, one boat was already there and two others were just coming from further upstream and started to pull in.  John pulled over closer to the right bank and …………… there we stayed!!  It’s a common occurrence for us to get stuck on the canals but not on a river!!  Closely observed by the audience, (!) we struggled and struggled but to no avail.  Then, help came in the form of Adrian & Carol, the crew of one of the boats which had just tied up.  They very kindly pulled us off backwards!  Thank you so much, Adrian and Carol – we would probably still be there had you not come to the rescue!  It turned out that they were travelling with the boat behind – both being members of The Wolverhampton Boat Club.  And, we know the crew of the other boat – Elaine and Geoff – we met them at the last Les Allen Gathering we went to at Tardebigge.  What a small world!

• All it needs now to round off these events is for me to see that otter that Rob Pickard reckoned he saw five years ago from this very spot!  Trust me -he doesn’t ever touch a drop!!  Darkness can clearly play strange tricks on the eye sight!  I’ll still watch carefully though!                                                                               xxoo

Cattle Country

I didn’t used to be scared of cows – that is until we had some ‘buttock clenching moments’ whilst out and about with Maggie and Maisie.  Now, I’m simply a yellow belly!

We have been exploring the lower region of The Weaver Valley.  It’s very rural  and very lovely and full of crops and …….. cows!

Where does the footpath to the woods go?

Yes, there he was right by the entrance to the stile!

Along with all the members of his family ………    

“Let’s go on to the next marked footpath then …….”

AND ………..

 

 

there they all were!

Where does the footpath go?  Right through the middle of them all!  

Lola found the trough – fortunately it was empty!  So often these are full of scanky water!

 

 

So, another detour then!  We went down the side of the adjoining field, clambered over a bit of a fence (where others before us had obviously gone too!), skirted along the top edge of the field (avoiding eye contact at all times!) and scrambled to the gate where only a couple of youngsters had gathered.  Phew!  Discard long stick which had been foraged ……. just in case!

We ended up doing a lovely five mile walk with only one other field of cattle to negotiate.

Here we are moored up for the night at the bottom of Dutton Locks:-

We had some heavy rain over night but now the sun is out again and there’s lots of blue sky. 

Whilst being downstream from Anderton we’ve seen a steady trickle of boats but most don’t seem to linger for long – we’ve seen some go down to the end of navigation and back again on the same day.  As with most rivers mooring spots are limited.  It’s a shame because the countryside is beautiful and, certainly as far as Sutton Swing Bridge, seems to be the haunt of herons.  What it needs are a couple of strategically placed floating pontoons like there are on The Witham!  Dream On!!

A Case of Neglect?

What’s happened?

It used to be all about me!

Humans are just SO fickle!  I have, therefore, hijacked the computer to put things right!

Now that I’m 6 months old I’m such a good girl!  Well, that is if you don’t count the fact that I still pull like fury on the lead and still go absolutely bonkers when I meet other people and other dogs!!  Apart from that ………… I’m definitely close to being perfect!!

Life continues to present me with new experiences and challenges:-

I love playing ‘the rope game’!  I do like to try and help.  Dad has very kindly just bought all new ropes too!

I adored my first trip to a lovely sandy beach:-

           

And, I don’t  know where this is leading but I did quite enjoy it:-

Anyway, as you can see I’m having a lovely time being ‘a boat dog’.

Lots of love,    Lola xxoo

Re-Union with The River Weaver

We are on The River Weaver!  We have been here once before but that was five years ago.  To my amazement, all our details were still on record!

The River Weaver is 50 miles in length rising in the Peckforton Hills through the heart of Cheshire to join the Mersey Estuary.  It was made navigable in the 18th century to allow salt to be carried along it from various points downstream to Runcorn.  The Anderton Boat Lift links the river with The Trent & Mersey Canal.  The Lift was constructed back in 1875!  In 1983 it was found to be badly corroded and closed down.  After a long and tireless campaign to raise funds and support for its restoration, it was finally re-opened in 2002.  It has been nicknamed ‘The Cathedral of the Canals’ and has become an enormously popular tourist attraction.  Boaters with a valid licence can travel on it free of charge.

So, today, down on The Anderton Lift we went, this time with our friends on n/b Kesandra.  We are now moored up just before the official visitor moorings leading up to Saltersford Lock and it’s lovely.  We have already had two sightings of a kingfisher – probably the same one going there and back but who cares!

Wait for us!  Here we come!

Going down.

Coming up!

Leaving the Lift and what an amazing structure it is.

Heading downstream and how cool is that steering!!!!!!!!

xxoo

The Curse of the Demon Electric …..

Here we go again but let’s look on the bright side!  It was on our last day in Liverpool that our electrical shoreline went ‘Kaput’!  Every time we plugged it in, it tripped out.  If this had happened on our 1st day in Liverpool ……… well, let’s not even think about that one coz it didn’t!  Another thing needing to get fixed, however.  We spent last weekend moored near the haunting remains of the shaft headgear of the Astley Green Colliery.  At one time there were dozens of collieries in this area – this one was the last to close in 1970.  It is now a small mining museum.



Dave, the manager of Bridgewater Marina, had a look at our electrics on the Monday morning and put us in touch with a liveaboard electrician who arranged to meet up with us outside The Trafford Centre!  Result!!  OMG!  What a place!  So posh!  So huge!  So easy to spend your money!!  Sandra and I had a good helping on Monday afternoon and then went back for seconds on Tuesday!  Not wanting to be too over-whelmed by temptation, John and Ken didn’t even get as far as the entrance!
As promised, Roger the electrician arrived and it didn’t take him long to assess the situation.  As is usual ……… a new part is needed.  However, the necessary replacement part was soon sitting on a back shelf in Midland Chandlers at Preston Brook awaiting collection by us.  We have now done that and the plan is for Roger to meet us when we are down on The Weaver to get things back in order.
Yesterday we spent all day having a good wander around the nature reserve at Moore.  What a lovely little reserve.  Not so little actually – there are 12 hides in total all over-looking different types of habitat.  Throughout the year a programme of free events is organised – birds, bats, insects, fungi, trees, wild flowers and grasses – nothing is forsaken.  What a lovely resource to have on your doorstep. 


In order to reach the reserve we had to cross The Manchester Ship Canal at Moore Swing Bridge.  When we went to see this on the journey up we decided that, as there is now so little freight movement on the canal, it would be highly unlikely to see the bridge in operation.  WELL!  At 10am on our way to the reserve a large ship from Ireland had to pass through.

AND ……..

On our way back at 3pm’ish a very large ship from The Isle of Man was heading south.

How amazing was that!

                            
Today, this is the view from our galley window:-


It’s where the breach happened last year.


“Ellen” and “Kesandra” are snuggling up to each other!








On a personal note – no 75 is no longer in the Blake family.  It was sold today.  Almost 60 years of personal memories and another 14 of inherited memories will, for me, always be there.  I’m sad and emotional today because, I suppose, not only is it the end of an era but yet another tie with my mum, dad and brother has been broken.  It just has to be. 

Out & About in West Lancashire

Sunset over The Douglas valley.

           

Somewhere up there …………. is this – Ashurst’s Beacon.  On what has probably been the hottest day of the year so far, we decided to walk up there!  Yes, the views are panoramic.  If there hadn’t been a heat haze they would have been even better!  Apparently, at times, you can see Blackpool Tower, the Welsh hills, the Lake District, good views of the Pennines +++++++ (can’t remember what else was on the pointer).

If you can’t afford Boat Builders’ prices – improvise and build your own!  After thought -I wonder if it had a licence?

You just never know what’s going to come along next.  This was by far the best ‘traffic’ I let across the bridge before opening it.

Some years ago I praised Leicestershire County Council for the management of their public footpaths.  We have now done three substantial walks in Lancashire and, sorry, but I have to say that whoever is supposed to be maintaining them in this part of Lancashire is not doing a good job at all.  For the most part, we have found the paths themselves to be heavily overgrown, too many stiles in a state of poor repair and signs either badly placed or missing altogether.

Booby Prize! 

On the way back from The Beacon we were very pleased to find a pub!  These guys were refreshing the hanging baskets with ………… PLASTIC FLOWERS!  This seems to be a growing trend amongst pubs.  Noooooooooooo!  It’s ghastly!  This pub was charging £19.49 for an 8oz sirloin steak so surely they can afford to bedeck the pub in summer with real flowers rather than plastic ones?!  Actually, I think they were silk so they probably cost more than real flowers but, of course, they’re low maintenance in as much as you don’t have to water them.  STILL GHASTLY!  John says, in his infinite wisdom, that he doesn’t go to a pub to look at the flowers; he goes for a decent pint!  OK, OK but plastic flowers?  Tacky and horrible!  Come on publicans, get a grip!

Wigan Pier is not a pier!  Not like Southport Pier at all!  It was actually a coal staithe – a landing stage for coal waggons.  In its heyday, 50,000 tons of coal a year was loaded from wagons onto barges, much of it being exported to Ireland via the docks at Liverpool.  Today it has all been renovated and decorated outside with hanging baskets containing ………………..  PLASTIC FLOWERS!!

What superb architecture and skilled masonry work on the tower of this church by Poolstock Locks on the outskirts of Wigan.

AND:-

       “For most part, it’s a grand life on’t boats.  It's thee slow pace and fresh air that does it fa’ me.”

(Genuine quote from a bargee – circa 1880.)

Some things don’t change and, yes, they’ve had lots of comments about that white rose!!

xxoo!

Canopies

Every boat should have one?

Whether it be rather large ………………………

or somewhat  smaller ……………………………..

 

or very creatively home-made …………………………….

 

they do keep the skipper warm and dry!

We had a trip into Ormskirk yesterday – an interesting, traditional market town.  The street market was in full-flow.  There are still lots of individual shops too.  Just wish I, like the ‘old fella’, had a bus pass!!

xxoo