Woodplumpton

Today's Canal - Lancaster

We made a rather earlier start to our cruise today as we needed very much to get to Moon's Marina to fill up with diesel. Our tank is quite low and we do not want to make the Ribble Crossing like that in case any residue at the bottom of the tank is stirred and affect our engine.

Today was a sharp contrast with yesterday - bright blue skies all day. Temperatures are gradually falling as we move into autumn but today was very pleasant and refreshing.

The northern part of the Lancaster did not seem to be as badly affected with duckweed as the southern parts. During the morning we began to see more. This picture was meant for our library of canal features, un this case a winding hole. However, the swirl made with the beginnings of duckweed seemed an interesting to pattern.

A little later and the whole channel was covered. At this stage the layer was quite thin and did not impede us noticeably but later on we did find a significant drop in the rate of progress.

We make no apology for including another picture of the Fylde Water Board pipe bridge - it makes a splendid entrance into Garstang.

We called at the Service Facility just before the centre of town - we were a bit disappointed that the three bins were overflowing - not because they had not been emptied soon enough but because at least two of them were largely filled with some discarded wicker chairs! Whether they came from a boat or the adjacent houses is not known but either way it is not what the facility is for. Even if someone felt that they ought to be allowed to dispose of them at this facility then they might at least have stacked them alongside. When the bins come to be emptied some poor operative will almost certainly have yo pull them out as they will probably not go into the compactor.

We went to Sainsbury - the walk is about three or four times the crow flies distance from the canal as there is no direct access.

Leaving Garstang we crossed the Wyre Aqueduct.

. . . and then passed close to the ruins of Greenhalgh Castle,.

As we came through Catterall bridge we saw a quite large walking group, taking stock and pausing in their trek. Something on the opposite bank seemed to be attracting their attention but we could make out what!

The M6 motorway is not far from the canal for some distance but well hidden by trees. In between is the West Coast Main Line - this picture of a train rushing through was accidental - we were intent on taking a stock picture of the Highways Depot!

 

Just after passing Barton Grange - not just a marina but also a large gardens centre and entertainment complex - we spotted this large area with an amazing collection many different varieties of trees, laid out in an open plantation. Sorry to say but extensive Googling has not revealed what it is but our guess is that it is associated with the adjacent garden centre. We thought it merited two pictures!

We passed through Bilsborrow - including Guy's and Owd Nell's Tavern - this time without stopping.

This tender tied to a narrrowboat seems to be electrically powered as the canopy is made from two very large solar panels. We were too intent on missing it at the same time as getting a photo that we forgot to check what engine it had! Perhaps a liveaboard boater uses it for their daily commute.

We arrived at Moon's Marina well before their closing time and took on 93 litres of fuel - shows how low we were as this is towards the upper end of what we normally take. They were as friendly as before. The diesel pump is not in the marina but by the side of the canal. It is a bit cramped for narrowboats - most local boats seem to be shorter GRP cruisers - and so we had to pay particular attention to the boat during the refuelling. We had to have our bow sticking well out into the canal for the pump hose to reach our inlet.

As a result we forgot to take a picture of the wharf but it is just t4hrough this bridge tucked in on the right!

We continued on to our planned target of Woodplumpton. By now the surface weed was rather thicker, slowing us right down at times.

Late afternoon, after we had moored, we had a not entirely unexpected call from CaRT regarding our long booked passage through Poolstock Locks next Monday. Would we mind shifting this to the following day as most of their staff and volunteers had asked for time off on the Bank Holiday in order to pay their respects to the former Queen Elizabeth whose funeral is that day. It will mean that the following week will be a bit rushed but we agreed that we could just about manage. We are booked into Swanley Bridge Marina as we have a week at home for a long list of appointments, not least an MOT for our car.

12.0 Miles - 0 Locks