Worried about Blackburn?

Saturday, 25 July 2009 17:31

I was! However our only problem was other boaters!

The last time we were here by boat was in the Spring of 2001 - at the height of the Foot and Mouth problems. We hired from Silsden, travelled up towards Leeds and then back down the canal to Botany Bay.

On the back of the boat we carried a washing up bowl full of disinfectant, supplied by the hire company. We had to wash our footwear every time we got on and off the boat. I also remember there being disinfectant washes on the towpath at strategic points.

We had a couple of experiences in Blackburn with the local youth - pulling our pins and throwing bottles. But that was back in 2001! What was it like in 2009?

We have been talking to other boaters in the last few days who said that they did not have much trouble cruising through Blackburn. Even so, I was a little nervous and I suppose it all built up in my mind!

We left our mooring at Riley Green fairly late as we had had a good evening with friends the night before at The Boat Yard pub and restaurant there.

This Boundary Marker indicated our passing from Chorley district into Blackburn

When we reached Feniscowle's Bridge (93B) we began to see the built up outskirts

Soon we began to see reminders of the "old" Blackburn with the mills and warehouses of its industrial past. There seemed to be less than I remembered and it is obvious that there have been some new developments on the old sites.

Whiteley Bridge (97) and Blackburn embankment herald the first of the 6 Blackburn locks

Blackburn embankment

The boat that had been ahead of us struck lucky as there was a boat waiting to  go through and they paired up. We waited patiently for them to "get their act together" in the lock as they breasted up, once they had ascended it. One of the boats was being very fussy about how they were tied and it took 3 goes to get it right.

Out patience was beginning to get a little thin! Eventually they moved out and one of the crew opened one of the bottom paddles for me - thanks!

They are pretty tough locks, heavy gates and some stiff paddle gear - and John took over the locking pretty soon! At lock 54 (third from top) there was another boat coming down above us. It was a wide boat and they appeared to give the top gates a good thump! They were very slow coming down and we sat in the lock below for ages.

Lock 54 and Hall Street Bridge (99A)

They thoughtfully (sarcasm is the lowest form of wit?) left the bottom paddles open for us and I had to shut them (yes it was my turn again to lock us this one) before I could do battle with the top ones! It was a battle but I managed it! I was back on Epiphany for the last two though!

Waiting for the top lock, this illustrates the old and new industries

Phew! We finally arrived at the top lock, but Blackburn was still ahead of us!

So we had no problems with "the locals" going up the locks. There were quite a number of walkers with dogs around though!

But how was the next bit of Blackburn going to be? ......