A day largely without interruptions from locks or swing bridges. However, we faced the Barrowford flight of seven locks, the first of the downhill section of the Leeds and Liverpool, as soon as we set off. As a result, seeing another boat pass our mooring, we quickly took the decision that this was a good time to cast off and join efforts through the flight.
This tactic proved worthwhile as the two men on the other boat were quite familiar with the need to work in an overlapping mode, setting one lock whilst the previous one is finishing emptying. We also benefitted from a lock keeper preparing the top five for us.
From here it was a pleasant cruise through mostly open countryside, although in many places the scenic view belies the fact the the motorway (which follows the canal route for several miles) was never far away and its noise was even more present! Gannow tunnel. outside Burnley, seemed quite modest by comparsion with others we have navigated!
The huge Burnley embankment still has views of terraced houses, once just back-to-backs with very basic facilities for the families of mill workers living on very poor wages. No doubt a closer inspection would show that most have now been much improved. A large Tesco store appeared at the end of the embankment and we paused here for milk and a few other items. On returning to the boat, Andrew proposed that we had lunch from Christine's latest soup (which she had prepared earlier) with the French bread just acquired from the supermarket - before setting off once more.
This tactic proved worthwhile as the two men on the other boat were quite familiar with the need to work in an overlapping mode, setting one lock whilst the previous one is finishing emptying. We also benefitted from a lock keeper preparing the top five for us.
From here it was a pleasant cruise through mostly open countryside, although in many places the scenic view belies the fact the the motorway (which follows the canal route for several miles) was never far away and its noise was even more present! Gannow tunnel. outside Burnley, seemed quite modest by comparsion with others we have navigated!
The huge Burnley embankment still has views of terraced houses, once just back-to-backs with very basic facilities for the families of mill workers living on very poor wages. No doubt a closer inspection would show that most have now been much improved. A large Tesco store appeared at the end of the embankment and we paused here for milk and a few other items. On returning to the boat, Andrew proposed that we had lunch from Christine's latest soup (which she had prepared earlier) with the French bread just acquired from the supermarket - before setting off once more.
Apart from a few swing bridges (with an entirely different locking mechanism that combined the captive bolt lock which we had first encountered at the locks earlier in the day, with a windlass top raise a post a few inches from its recess - just to release the bridge!) it was straight cruising until we looked for a place to moor in Blackburn. Whilst we say 'straight', the canal actually follows a very winding contour route along this stretch and we were sometimes surprised to see landmarks passed ealrier in an entirely different direction. The anticipated Visitor Centre at Eanam Wharf (much lauded in Nicholsons) has clearly gone bust so we were reduced to a rather more modest mooring - at least we found somewhere with housing on either bank.
The towns/cities on this side of the Pennines have made much less progress in the development of the waterside and much of it is still either low grade industrial or derelict. Perhaps the local councils should take a trip to Leeds or Nottingham to see what is possible!
The towns/cities on this side of the Pennines have made much less progress in the development of the waterside and much of it is still either low grade industrial or derelict. Perhaps the local councils should take a trip to Leeds or Nottingham to see what is possible!
