Making progress means working through locks again, so out came the tools of my trade as we worked our way into and out of Wigan. The past 3 or 4 months have been a nightmare for anyone trying to cruise through this junction. With restrictions due to water levels and the Wigan flight being closed for several weeks for both a sinkhole and a blown cill. But the end was in sight and passages were up and running again. But after months without water, we got caught in a monsoon and had to halt our progress. We pulled in at the first available mooring outside Wigan Athletic FC. A bit of a mistake, lots of families out walking, one who thought it was acceptable to encourage their kids to climb on to the roof of our boat for a photo opportunity. I wish they’d fallen in when I stuck my head out to yell at them, and why is it that we only think of witty and wise comments after the event, like for instance, “how would you like it if we climbed on the roof of your car, and potentially scratch the paint or break the windscreen wipers” ah well perhaps there won’t be a next time.
we didn’t waste any time the next day moving on through Wigan, past the pier
and onto the flashes, we moored up at Scotsmans Flash
it was close enough for me catch a train to spend the day with my family celebrating Aunties birthday
And with Mum and Mike having driven down from the Lakes, I took the opportunity to go back with then for a few days amongst the mountains
We even found a pretty waterfall, not on quite the grand scale of the ones I saw in Iceland but never or less, it made me smile.
Almost as much as seeing this reserved parking space
And as always lots of laughter around
And I was soon back on the flashes ready to continue our journey
