Wigan to Foulridge

On Monday we continued north and pulled over for the day between Adlington and Chorley.  We'd seen some signs for Frederick's Ice Cream Parlour but it wasn't until after tea, while perusing the internet, that Kev noticed it was open.   After a short walk we all had a very nice ice cream.  The next day we sailed passed Chorley and stopped in area known as Botany Bay where the Canal Mill has been converted into a retail outlet with an interesting variety of shops.  Of course the sweet shop with its excellent pick & mix caught my eye and I made a modest selection.  Geoff also picked his selection but not so modest, he filled the bag and it cost over £11!

The Canal Mill which houses the Botany Bay Retail Outlet

After taking the photo above I turned round to snap Kev & Geoff 

On Wednesday the 7 Johnson Hill Locks took us up 65 feet and out into the countryside.  Unfortunately we had to travel further than intended because the canal sides were very shallow and we couldn't get in to moor.  

A horse watches us sail under its bridge

We finally stopped near Riley Green but made up for it the next day with a short run into Cherry Tree; a pleasant town just outside Blackburn.  Friday was a sunny day but the buildings lining the canal into Blackburn still looked bleak.  We picked up a builders sack on our prop and then some rags and plastic.  A friendly lady lock-keeper came over with some advise as we ascended the Blackburn Locks, although there are moorings at the top of the locks it is not advisable to stop overnight.  So after a big shop at Asda we sailed out of town. 

A grand old building on our way out of Blackburn

We found a quiet spot to stop which was near Rishton and had a lovely view through a bridge. 

Our view through bridge 106

The Leeds Liverpool continued to take us through run down mill towns as it twisted and turned around the contours.  

This scene of a derelict mill and litter floating on the canal was sadly typical of our journey through industrial Lancashire

On Monday a layer of thin ice covered the canal and we arrived at Rose Grove services to find the water tap had frozen up.  Geoff quickly produced his blow torch and thawed it out so we were able to fill up.   From Rose Grove we sailed through Gannow Tunnel and into the Weavers Triangle where the canal forms an almost full triangle as it flows around Burnley.  The historic buildings are still standing at the side of the canal but sadly most of them are derelict.   The Inn on the Wharf is one exception and it shows off the attractive colour of the cleaned stone. 

The Inn on the Wharf

We moored up on Burnley Embankment which towers 60 feet above the town.  A steep flight of steps led down to the town and a large Tesco, very useful.  On Tuesday we looked down on the roofs of terraced houses as we sailed out of Burnley.  We continued through built up areas and overtook CRT staff towing one of their workboats which had a fouled prop, they were going to Barrowford Locks where the stricken craft would be stranded in a drained down lock to access the prop.  As they told us they wouldn't start the work until 10am the next day we moored up at the bottom of the locks.  

At 8am the CRT staff came knocking on the boat, could we set off straight away so they could start working on the boat.  We quickly organised ourselves and set off but Chris & I had to have our first drink of the day standing at the side of the first lock.  

The original bridge at Barrowford Locks is dwarfed by the modern flyovers either side

The Barrowford Locks form the boundary between industrial Lancashire and open countryside, the transformation is surprising.  A mile further on we came to the Foulridge Tunnel and had only a few minutes to wait for the traffic lights to turn green so we could proceed.   

Foulridge Tunnel, the headboard indicates the lowest level of the tunnel roof 

After emerging from the tunnel we sailed a short distance and moored up in the sunshine. 

Our journey from Wigan to Foulridge