Wigan Monday 23 April 2018

We when we moored up yesterday it was still and the sun was shining, but by the time we went to bed it was squally showers.
A late start today as we had friends who live near us come to visit, but when we set off at mid day the weather was reasonable, a little sun, cool but dry.

It wasn't long before we were passing under Vicars Hall Bridge, this is the one that stopped us getting to Liverpool last year.I just had to photograph this Spaniel sitting on the table, I am not sure if he was watching anything through the side gate but I didn't see any other sign of life.

Immediately we left the Bridgewater canal and joined the Leeds and Liverpool canal I pulled over so that Diana could do a bit of shopping, both Aldi and Tesco are quite close by. As we continued along the L&L looking over to the right I could see a very tall radio transmitting aerial surrounded by several shorter ones.

We actually did some locks today, just two Poolstock ones.These had some features that I had not come across before, firstly the safety ladders are not recessed into the side walls but surface mounted with thick wooden guards, and the bottom gates have a chain winch to close them.

The pond between the two locks is quite short and the upper lock lacked these features, we were a bit lazy and only used the near side paddles to fill the locks, as with no foot boards its quite a trek round and over the foot bridge to do both sides.

Above the lock there are quite a few mooring rings, but we decided to carry on to the junction and just as we did the rain started. There was plenty of mooring space at the junction, but it stinks, so we backed up towards the Wigan Flight locks and used the moorings there, there were only two boats there, the second being Heidi on the Pirate Boat, who kindly came out and took our ropes, most useful as the wind was tunnelling down onto our bows. Not only does she sell pirate items for kids but also makes badges.

Today's Journey 11½ miles, 2 locks in 5 hours.