A wet day on the Leeds and Liverpool

Friday, 17 July 2009 16:52

Parbold to Wigan on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. We get the hang of locks again!

We decided to leave Parbold fairly early, as it looked as if most of the day was going to be wet. We dressed appropriately, but actually started off in the dry!

Gillibrand Bridge (40) has a white line painted on it

This white line can be very useful, as it marks the centre of the channel, so lining up the boat to go through the centre of the bridge should be a cinch! We have noticed a number of bridges with this feature and for those who forget there is a towpath under bridges it is a useful reminder!

Our first locks were Appley Locks; locks is plural as there are two disused locks off to the side

The one in use is Appley Deep Lock - it is 12 foot deep and aptly named. John was locking, so as it was full I let him off and hung back whilst he emptied it. A little further on, Appley is canalside and has some shops and a station. There appear to be good moorings here too.

At Finch Mill Swing Bridge I was impressed

What with, I hear you ask. In the photo you can see a "landing" on the off side and there is one on the other side too. I know a number of boaters - particularly single handers - who grumble like mad at swing bridges, as many are difficult to open due to the controls etc being on the off side. Where there are no landings it can be complicated for them to open and close the bridges, involving mooring up both sides.

The L & L seem to have got this sussed, here at Appley at least! What a simple solution and it makes any boaters life easier - I picked John up on the off side. The next two SBs are left open and are sadly rotting away. Time for some BW volunteers methinks.

At Dean Locks we met a boat coming down - he emptied the lock for us and John got off in the lock. The rain was well and truly with us by now!

Dean Locks are plural, as again there is a disused lock on the left here

We passed through Gathurst and Crooke and the moored boats there. Crooke is really the beginning of Wigan and its locks. With the Wigan Flight of 23 locks ahead of us I will continue this later!