Warper's Moss, Burscough

Today's Canals - Leeds and Liverpool, Rufford Arm

One of the hottest days this year but with little wind and high level cloud it soon became very stuffy and 'close'. We planned to o far enough today so that we could get close to Tarleton perhaps by lunch time tomorrow, leaving time to sort out ready for the Ribble crossing on Wednesday.

We set off as usual from our overnight mooring and continued back along the L & L towards Burscough.

At Heatons Bridge there are a few long term moorings and just a couple of spaces as 2 Day Visitor Moorings although we think that one of them was occupied by the same boat as when we went into Liverpool. What caught our eye was the double decker pill box, not something we recall seeing elsewhere. Anyone any ideas?

There are two swing bridges just before Burscough - this is the first. Both are fully mechanised. At the second what appeared to be a single hander was hovering on the other side of the bridge and set off as we came through. We suspected that she had been waiting until someone came along as swing bridges are quite tedious on your own, even though most of the controls are now on the towpath side.

We had to queue for the water point as a wide beam was already there. Eventually we were able to pull up - luckily another boat that stopped just before we arrived only wanted the disposal facility. One we were filled and emptied we moved forward to a mooring space in order to go to the nearby Tesco for shopping. We want to stick as much as we can in case supplies are not at hand on the Lancaster#. Back at the boat we flopped and had lunch until we forced ourselves to face the heat and move on a little further.

We turned at the junction onto the Rufford Arm. There were boats in each of the first three locks including one wide beam that 'kindly' left both gates open at the lock they had just left. Alas, this lock has no way across from one side to the other - so Mike hitched a lift from nb Alchemy to ferry him across the lock.

Alas he forgot to take a camera from the boat until Lock 4. We were able to take pictures both up and down earlier in the trip and we will have a further opportunity in a few weeks time when we return from the Lancaster.

We moored between Locks 4 and 5 glad to seek some respite - but then the sun largely disappeared and the temperature gradually moderated. Tomorrow is set to be overcast but back to sunshine for the Ribble Link.

6.8 Miles - 4 Locks