Who said it is a lock free canal?

Some may have thought that the hardest part of the passage from the Tarleton sea lock to the Lancaster canal would have been the passage down the River Douglas and up the Ribble, or even maybe from the mouth of Savick Brook to the first lock, but each has their own 'interest'. In fact I think that the Brook/canal is tidal to lock 7, but I think that is only at top spring tides, and maybe even with a bit of a tidal surge thrown in too.

We were met at the first proper lock, 8, by no less than three lock keepers, and as there were only two of us going up they would work us through all the way. When there are several lock fulls of boats they have to leave you after the first one to attend to the staircase

If you look closely you can see the stones that mark the spill way into the Savick Brook that can be seen flowing past the mud bank

It is a good job that traffic is one way as there is no room for any more than one. I assume that as the Lancaster is a wide canal they would take wide beams, but I'm not sure.

This is Lock 7, and as you can see the rain has abated somewhat, but not completely. When you come out of this lock you are advised to look behind you as there is the tee for one of the holes of the Ashton and Lea Golf Club. I was pleased to hear that you didn't have to wait for them to tee off, but the warning is just to warn you that some of the balls may end up coming your way!

Now we are on a part of the navigation that does not get inundated so the banks can be hardened a bit more, and it starts to look more like a canal.

I think we are now at Lock ^, or just leaving it. I am enjoying the trip, I really am, despite what my face maybe saying in this picture.

It is obvious that C&RT have been busy over the winter as there has been a lot of cutting back of the trees and bushes on both sides of the canal. We had heard from several people to watch out as we would get caught out by branches etc, but it was all nice and clear.

As you pass under the Preston to Blackpool railway the towpath has been cantilevered on the side of the bridge abutments. I have seen this on a riverside walk in Sheffield and somewhere else that I can't remember where?

After the railway bridge is the Tom Benson Way and the tow path foot bridge. The 'Alessandra' is heading into the lock which is a tight left turn. It is too tight for long boats so the practise is to turn to st'bd and then reverse into the lock.

This is the extended basin which you head into before reversing into the lock. The Savick Brook continues off right ahead, so now the navigation becomes a true canal.

On the deeper locks and the staircase there are vertical risers for you to put your ropes round to keep you alongside. However the ropes do get covered in mud and so does Helen and her coat, and my paintwork! (Or rather the boats!!).

Here we are backing into the last of the staircase. The sculpture above the lock is called the 'Canal Builders' and was opened in 2014. It is by Denis O'Conner and cost around £30,000. It replaces a wooden statue of a naked man with his hands clutched in front of him studying the lock. He was a bit like an Anthony Gormley figure. He was christened the Ribble Piddler, but was actually titled 'Gauging the Ribble'. 

Our companions were heading north as they had to be in Glasson Basin by 1700 on Saturday, and we were going south so we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. She is just leaving the holding basin at the top of the staircase and out on to the Lancaster Canal proper.