A Very Bad Habit! Crooke to Pennington Flash - 10th July 2019

Wednesday 10th July 2019
Crooke to Pennington Flash
8.5 miles, 6 locks, 1 lift bridge

What a difference a day makes - we woke to warm dry air - a big relief after yesterday.  Our Tilley hats were still damp, but dried out as we travelled along!

We set off ahead of Cleddau as Monty and I were walking to the first lock.  The latter was almost ready when Cleddau arrived.  There may only have been 6 locks to do today, but they were all big ones.  It was a relief today not to have boats immediately ahead of us, but it did mean we had to unlock all the anti vandal locks on the paddles.  Still the sun was on our backs and we were dry.

After an hour we reached the outskirts of Wigan with the football stadium coming into view in the distance.

Just over half and hour further on and things start to get decidedly run down and seedy.

A few minutes more and we approach Wigan Pier - the red sign gives details of improvements to the area, so hopefully it will be regenerated soon.

Work is definitely ongoing as when we came through on 13th May the scaffolding

10th July 2019

was not in place

13th May 2019

We had intended to stop for water after this our third lock of the day, but when we saw a boat emerge from the next lock, we decided to wait until later in the day - an open lock gate is not to be ignored!

The paddles have all been normal today - no horizontal handles or cloughs, but this gate mechanism is definitely different - you turn the handle to open and then close the gate.

We turned right soon after this lock to join the Leigh Branch of the Leeds/Liverpool Canal.  An oncoming boat warned us that the pound between the next two locks was very low, so stay in the middle was the advice given.

We arrived at the first lock to find that the water level was in the red!  We are used to red river levels when they are too high and the rivers are closed, but not red indicating not enough water.

We made it into the lock in safety - we are now going up for the first time since we left Tarleton.

Another gate mechanism with a difference at our last lock of the day.  You push the gates open in the usual manner, but wind the handle to pull it closed.

So six locks done and dusted and just about 5 miles of putting to reach our target for the day.  First past Scotman's Flash and a rather nice mooring

We arrived first at Plank Lane Lift Bridge to find the landing to off load crew to operate the bridge was occupied.  You naturally think that someone is waiting to go through and that they are over the bridge about to open it.  You would, in this case, be wrong!  This boat was chained to the white bollards (these denote places to only be used to operate locks, bridges etc) with his mats out.  Definitely settled in for the duration.  I would love to be around if a single hander wants to transit this way - they need to tie their boats up whilst they operate the gates.

I managed to get off and go and wield the button of power - this is a very busy road and a large bridge, but easy to operate.  Just put the BWB key into the lock, turn it clockwise and press the open button.  The rest just happens - first the barriers come down

then up goes the bridge

Tentatrice first

followed by Cleddau

Then hold the close button and it all happens in reverse and the build up of traffic can go on its way.

This is a much easier water point than the one in Wigan, albeit rather slow.

A very short distance along the canal and we find Cleddau and pull in behind her.  It is still nice enough to put up the whirlygigs.

The view is not quite as good as it was on the way north, but not bad from the side hatch.

With a bit of zoom you can see the Flash!

This is certainly a popular mooring spot.

So with jobs done, washing dry and put away, what better way to end a warm and DRY day than with a Pimms and where else could it happen in this wonderful spot, but on the 'seat'  where Chris and I sat and enjoy a Pimms on our last visit here.

A what a view to enjoy along with great company.

So what is this bad habit we need to break?  Ceertainly not the consumption of Pimms in great locations - that is a habit to be encouraged.  For three days on the trot lunch has not been consumed until after 3pm!!  Tomorrow is just a lot of miles and no locks, so we can eat on the run to resume more normal meal times.