Burnley and beyond

Wednesday, 29 July 2009 08:04

Burnley Part 2

The views from Burnley embankment belie the stories of desolation and trouble that we so often hear about this part of the canal world. OK, I stayed on the boat whilst John went to Tesco, but there were plenty of walkers and the young people hanging around the aqueduct were no problem. It may be different at night though.

Burnley towards Pendle Hill

The bus station and chimneys we passed in the distance

 Burnely aqueduct

The residential streets are typical of the area

As we moved out of the centre we passed Byerden Holme Park which runs alongside the canal for a bit.

This view of Old Hall Bridge, by the park, is lovely

There is a marina just before Oliver Ings Bridge (135). There is a brief respite from the suburbs around here, but they soon encroached again as we approached Nelson.

I was struck by this “crown” above the tree line!

I suppose anything can be beautiful if you look at it with the “right eyes”, even a disused weavers' mill, warehouse or a gasometer!

This just amused me – commerce making use of a redundant industrial chimney

After Bridge 141A, a warehouse has been sensitively restored

The moorings outside Morrisons (between 141A and B) could do with a bit of TLC!

It was around here we counted a gaggle of thirty (yes 30) geese. These two decided to investigate us! The others continued sleeping or preening on the bank off side.

Curious Geese

We encountered our first dedicated boaters' recycling spot – good moorings and all the necessary recycling containers.

Later we thought about winding to take our old oil back as we missed this

They obviously encourage overnight mooring! But we did not return

We finally moored for the night just before Swinden Aqueduct, a quiet mooring despite the walkers and the odd bicycle. John was a Good Samaritan to one cyclist and loaned him the appropriate spanner to mend his gears!

A couple of boats passed us during the evening and we were glad that we had decided to moor before the flight of Barrowford Locks as they closed at 6pm. By morning, when they opened at 10 am, there would be quite a queue!

Leeds and Liverpool Canal, New Barn Bridge 190 to Swinden Aqueduct, Barrowford - 6 hours 41 minutes, 17.24 miles, 0 locks