Tag: Sheep

What Wonderful Weather

We cruised through the last lock into Penkridge in glorious sunshine.

Otherton Lock

Although that grey cloud ahead of us should have given us a clue, we had barely finished mooring when the heavens opened. Torrential rain and hailstones.

Filance 5 day VM

It didn’t last, and we woke the next morning to a perfect autumnal scene

We’d moored in Penkridge because the train station is easy to get to, and I was treating myself to day at the the Staffordshire Wool Gathering so needed to get to Stafford. As I’d anticipated it was an awesome experience, over a 100 artisan crafters selling everything a yarn addict could dream of, (with the exception of more time and storage space)

The glorious Staffordshire wool gathering

I was very restrained and reminded myself that I live on a narrowboat with limited storage that is already overflowing with more wool than a flock of sheep. But it was a good day out. And Eric had cooked tea for me on my return.
Whilst we had some time on our hands and a good mooring, I took advantage of the trains and took a trip up to the Lakes to see family, and the village sheep.

I was hoping to play in the beech woods, but the weather didn’t provide me with the opportunity. Although I did get to visit one of my favourite childhood picnic spots

Tilberthwaite Ghyll

Back on board Firecrest, Eric had moved the boat further along, away from a rather large leaning tree just in case storms Austen and Boelo  brought it down. I travelled back on the Friday and much to my surprise, the train was only delayed by 30 minutes.

Princefield Bridge

Austen and Boelo did pay us a visit, but wind is difficult to photograph. Luckily for us, not with as much force as elsewhere, I think the hedges either side of us offered a degree of shelter. The big tree behind us is now leaning at an even more perilous angle, but is only more inconvenient to the tow path trawlers now.

Almost there

Getting through Wigan was proving to be a game of chance, will there or won’t there be water in the locks, or inbetween the locks for that matter. So we formed a queue at Scotsmans Flash with several others to await the go-ahead.

Wish they’d clean up after themselves

At the time the Wigan Flight was just about still open, with daily updates and horror stories about boaters  reaching the top few locks only to have to reverse all the way back down. As I write this, I fear the maintenance of the system is just so overwhelming that the powers that be will just give up and close sections like the Wigan flight permanently. But it’s not a black and white issue and I’m glad I’m not the one making the big decisions. And to get back to our journey, we made it through at the second attempt. Past the iconic Wigan Pier

I have to say, I’ve seen bigger and better, but this one always makes me smile

We do like the section between Wigan and Burscough, there’s some nice peaceful moorings.

somewhere east of Appley Bridge

And if I’m lucky I’ll see my favourite trade boat – the wool boat

The Wool Boat

For most of the way there’s also the railway within walking distance of the canal, so I took the opportunity to hop on a train and head up to the Lakes to see Mum,, actually it’s where my dentist is, but don’t tell him about the icecream


Whilst I was there, the Westmorland County Fest show was on, I was expecting to see sheep

But we got giant Madagascar tortoises as well, who live on a farm in westmorland

love at first sight

From Burscough through to the Stanley Flight is a bit more tedious, the canal ploughs through the cottage garden of the North, but instead of bridges, the fields are  crossed by swing bridges. It’s not too bad working through these with a crew, but I feel for the single handed boaters, negotiating overgrown landings and inconsiderate boaters who tie up on the bollards is hard work.

But we made it through to Litherland, staging post for the Liverpool link