The Ups and Downs of life on the canals

Tuesday, 19 May 2009 11:08

What an exciting day we had yesterday, full of ups and downs. It all started off quite normally as we left Parbold. Crossing two aqueducts - small ones that we hardly noticed  - we came to Spencer's swing bridge. Not a problem - the boat in front of us had it open! There were some lovely old Boatman's cottages after it.

Spencer's Swing Bridge

Another aqueduct, two bridges and yet another swing bridge. This one was easy as it was electric and there was absolutely no traffic to hold up!

Very soon we were at the junction with the Rufford Branch.

The excitement was mounting!

The bridge over the junction was built in 1816 and we were a little confused as Nicholson says that Bridge 1 has to be opened with a Watermate Key and windlass - they actually mean the swing bridge just before lock 1 ... and it doesn't need a windlass! Lock 1 is immediate and we pulled in to the basin there, to wait for the lock to fill.

There are facilities here but they are shut as it costs £20,000/year to pump out the septic tank. The tap seemed very slow, so all in all we decided not to use it!

Waiting for the lock

The basin and non functioning facilities

The second of the Lanthorn Locks is very close. By now John was getting the hang of the very different lock gear and remembering how to use the handcuff key. The L & L and the Huddersfield use the handcuff key on the locks to prevent vandalism. It is a good number of years since we last used one and the fear of dropping it in the canal is very real! We have two, in case!

So we were experiencing the "downs" - going down locks, different lock gear on each lock, and fiddling with the handcuff key! There was more to come, but meanwhile we had a text from Heather from "Takey Tezey" moored on the Rufford Branch - the joint of lamb was in the oven and we were invited for tea when we arrived! Our spirits lifted, from her blog she sounded as if she had a great sense of humour.

Feeling "up" we approached Runnel Brow Bridge and Runnel Brow Lock

The lock emptied and I pushed the throttle but went nowhere! John shouted "full throttle". I complied, but no joy - "full reverse", "I'm stuck" I yelled, "I'm listing, shut the paddles and open the top ones". The boat had taken on an alarming starboard list. Floating again I could see that the pound below looked very low.

Time to ring BW - the nice girl at NW BW said, we will get someone out to you. To cut a two and half hour story short, the BW man had to let loads of water through before we could move. Some one had left a paddle open the night before and drained the pound; he knew about the problem and had left a paddle slightly open. He had thought that no one would be moving as it was raining - he knows better now as another boat was coming up and had to wait too!

Epiphany patiently waiting in Runnel Brow Lock

It is the first time we have been aground in a lock, and being on the helm I was a little worked up, but calmed down once John was able to get back on the boat!

We then heard from a very kind man that he would meet us at the next swing bridge with a couple of boxes we were expecting. We were on the "up" again!

The next  lock was uneventful - thankfully. I decided to try my hand at German's lock (5) as by this time it was really windy and John is better at controlling the boat in a wind! I eventually got the hang of the handcuff and the paddle gear, a handle that you wind clockwise to raise the paddle.
 
Walking to the next lock, Chicken Lock, it took me a while to work out how to open the paddles. This one was a lever, more like a large wooden tiller, that has to be lifted up. It didn't help that I got the giggles half way through lifting it and had to stop. We eventually got through, grateful that it was the last lock of the day.

Approaching Marsh Meadow Swing Bridge (6) there was our very kind friend Richard. He kindly opened the bridge and we moored afterwards to take delivery of our "presents" - yippee! After a natter and tentative arrangements for the next few days we carried on.

Heather had told us of good moorings before the next lock and we moored up just as a huge wide boat came up the lock, on its way to Crooke.

"The Maggie D"

We wandered down to meet up with Heather and Dave on Takey Tezey. We had a really good time and a lovely meal with them both. Once again, strangers who blog always seem to have something in common, particularly if they are boaters! They are a great couple and had lots of tips for us about the River Douglas and the Ribble Link. Thanks Guys!

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