Today was the funeral of the former Queen Elizabeth II. Most shops were closed, it was a Bank Holiday and many workers were given the day off. Almost all TV channels were showing live the various services, ceremonies and processions. We could not go far as our booking for Poolstock Locks was moved to tomorrow.
As a result we opted to stay put until lunch time. We did have a good phone signal so were able to watch much of the live stream.
May Elizabeth, your servant, rest in peace!
By the time the procession from Westminster Abbey had reached Wellington Arch it was time for lunch. We set off soon after in warm sunshine - Crooke Hall Inn was just opposite our overnight mooring.
Two locks before Wigan which we shared with a boat that we have seen several times on the way back from the Lancaster.
As we neared Wigan Pier, the former warehouses are being converted into housing. We showed much the same picture on the way up in June but only this time did we spot the name "Waterside Gardens". As can be seen, the waterside - the former loading wharf - has no garden other than the cantilevered patio. Perhaps this is an example of 'developer's imagination' . . .
Opposite the wharf is what was once known as Wigan Pier. The only relic visible here is a small part of a former coal tippler where barges were once loaded. The name is said to be an old Music Hall joke, ironically recognising that life in an industrial Northern town in the early years of the twentieth century was very far from the dreams of a seaside holiday. It was picked up by George Orwell as The Road to Wigan Pier, his novel depicting the grim life which his investigations revealed.
We went up the first of the two locks before the junction and the turning onto th e Leigh Branch and Poolstock Locks. However, we then discovered that the top lock is also locked - a measure introduced more recently than when we made our booking and also not known to the CaRT person who re-arranged the booking and advised on where to moor. Actually, the moorings between these two locks is probably better than at Poolstock! We did go up to the lock as we needed to use the elsan - alas there is no water point in Wigan now - other than at the top of the main long flight (which is also closed!)
2.9 Miles - 3 Locks
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