Breaking new ground.

Helen is back from her Gary Barlow fix, and it is time to move. The weather isn't quite as nice as it has been, and is quite breezy.

Whilst she has been away they have surfaced the tow path. It is very popular with walkers, with dogs, or without. I think the money has been found by grants as it means more users access the canals. I must say that, as yet, it hasn't been come a super highway for cyclists.

We have passed Ainscough's Mill to the east of Burscough several time but I have never noticed this shield on the engine house chimney. I wonder if it is the company trade mark?

We stopped for water at the tap by the Burscough Bridge Junction at about 0930. By the time we had finished we could see that there were several Volunteers mustering at the lock bothy. You can also see there is another tap by the side of the bridge here if coming up or down the Rufford Ar,

There were two first time volunteers on duty. They had done their book work etc following a look round, but this was the first day actually winding and pushing. It is a good flight to work on as there is just about every type of paddle gear to practice. There was another two lower down the flight too. Helen hardly lifted a finger. She was to make up for it later!

The land is very low and on a gusty day like today I foresaw problems at the more exposed locks and swing bridges. Helen took the helm as we headed north. As we passed Fettlers Wharf and I called ahead and then turned in to get topped up with fuel. being a pessimist I also bought a couple of bags of coal. 68p a litre for the fuel.

We were blowing along when we saw a boat coming the other way. Brian and Diana on 'Harnser' had said that they were around. I hadn't realised that they were going down the Rufford Arm, just for a look see, but here they were. Unfortunately there was no chance of hovering midstream for a greeting due to the wind, but great to see you and next time there will be a cup of tea in it for you.

As we passed Rufford Old Hall we saw a nice kingfisher who was fairly obliging to sit and wait for us to come up to it a little.

As we passed the Hall there is a bit of shelter from the trees that are just coming into leaf.

We stopped at the services by the Rufford Arms Hotel to dump the rubbish. Then, a little way further there is an old lock where the canal dropped down into the old course of the river, but is now incorporated into the canal.

 As you can see from the photo above, the nature of the canal is definitely more of the nature of a river, with the bends and the reeds.

I couldn't make out what these guys were doing but it seems they are profiling the canal bed every 100 metres. The guy on the bank measures 100 mts and then the boat zooms over to the offside and sticks his pole in the water to read the depth, calling it out to the other chap, who then pulls him slowly back to the tow path as he checks the depth out as he comes across. Not very hi tech but works.  When we passed they were calling out 1.9 mts in the middle

As a hint to the quantity of past trade this was a fair sized warehouse by the canal. The river was also used for trade before the canal was built.

Harry from the Lock House at Tarleton called after we had moored up at the visitor spot and told us that there were two boats due over tomorrow. He wasn't too sure about the forecast so was unsure if we would be going or not. It is due to rain just about all day so I said that if we can't that is fine so long as there is room for us on Saturday, and there is. We will get a knock at 0815'ish to confirm one way or another.

We keep our anchor and gear under the pullman, and every time I try to put it back it seems hard to get it to fit right, so I took a photo. All is now ready in case we do go in the morning. 0915 from the lock.

We went into town for a look around and found two pubs that we checked out, bought some eggs and ended up with a fish and chip supper, haddock that is.