Ribble Return

Saturday, 27 June 2009 17:54

Once again we had a lovely crossing – there was an east wind but the sun shone for us! We had our willing crew Rob and Janet with us and it was great to have their company too. We were one of the last pair of boats down the 3 staircase locks.

Fi on bows having “un-moored” (photo by Rob)

We had to reverse in as there is not enough room to turn in the basin at the bottom.

John reversing into the top lock (photo by Rob)

The BW guys lock all the boats through the staircase and today they had two of the girls from the Wigan office with them as observers. Carolyn and Ruth book boats onto the Link so it was a good idea to give them an idea how it works! It was also a lovely day to be out of the office!

The lock gates are huge

Empty bottom lock 3

As we were last, the guys from BW followed us down and locked us through.

Lock 4 waiting for us

The Savick Brook was lined with vegetation and seemed more narrow as a result. Our friends Rob and Janet locked us through locks 7 &  8 as the BW guys went to prepare the sea lock.

When we arrived at the pontoons before the Sea Lock we joined the other 4 boats already moored to wait for the tide to be high enough for us to exit the lock. It was lunch time as there was about an hours wait.

As we were now moored on the outside, breasted up to two other boats, we left first when the hooter sounded summoning us to the sea lock!

Epiphany leaving the sea lock

At the entrance to the River Ribble this awaited us

We could see the current running fast but Epiphany behaved impeccably and turned into it easily. It was a little choppy and when Nb Cherry Ho decided to use his 55 horses (as opposed to our 45) it became a little more choppy!

Nb Cheery Ho ahead

Epiphany still had some more "in the tank" at this point - but racing isn't in our repertoire!

We turned around the Astland (or Asland) lamp first as Cheery Ho dropped back again and now we were on the River Douglas.

Nb Reg was behind us - still on the Ribble

The Douglas was much calmer and we cruised along very nicely. John phoned ahead to warn Tarleton lock of our approach.

I spotted this boat with a message at Shepards moorings

Tarleton lock was open and ready for us

The staff locked us through, opened the swing bridge and the crossing was over – we were back on the Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Exiting Tarleton Lock

The first to moor at Tarleton, we were joined by all the other boats, except Cherry Ho who went on. We said a grateful goodbye to Rob and Janet and really hope to see them again soon.

We had a bit of a rest. Then we were picked up and went out for a meal with our friends Richard and Gail. A brilliant evening and a fitting end to our adventures on the Lancaster Canal.

I am really going to miss Lancashire when we eventually go!

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