I had popped home to do one of my history walks and got back to the boat about 0030 Friday. Why do they keep closing motorways over night? We were booked to go back across the Ribble Link on Friday and the start time was 0930 and we were moored at the services visitor moorings which are about 30 mins away we set off about 0830. We were last of the six due to cross to arrive so were on the outside of the pack. That meant that we would be in the first lock.
You need to reverse into the lock due to the tight turn at the bottom of the triple staircase locks. We were sharing with 'Squirrel Away'.
The others had to wait in the basin until the staircase lock was prepared for them after we left. C&RT worked us down and then we were on our own.
Looking down the triple from the top lock. The sun was lovely today, much different to the rain and drizzle with grey skies of when we came up. I may repeat some photos of coming up, but they will be much better as there is a bit of sun!
Helen helped out at the bottom lock and couldn't remember what to do, for about 5 seconds anyway. The weathyer was so nice she decided, along with the crew of the other boat, to walk on to the next lock.
This is the turn that means you have to come stern first down the lock. It would be pretty difficult to get a longer boat turned in to the channel on the left.
It was quite pleasant cruising along between the locks follwing 'Squirrel Away'.
The Millennium Ribble Link have their own style bridge and lock numbers.
The channel becomes quite narrow and winding which takes concentration to ensure you get the bow in the right place for the turn so you don't put the bow, or the stern on the mud.
After the last 'proper' lock, No.8, the channel is also tidal. We were held before the lock for about 30 minutes before getting into the lock to ensure there was enough water for us to leave. Even so there was plenty of flood showing, although the flood didn't seem to make too much current in the channel. If the discharge from the storm drain was running as you passed there is no where to go so you would just have to have a good speed on I should think.
It really does look like you have taken a wrong turning and ended up a drainage ditch!
In a good light it is more recognisable than when we came up. Helen swears it looks like an owl when looking from right behind it!
The stone bridge is where we had to wait on the way in for the tide to drop sufficiently for us to fit under. This time we had to wait on the pontoon through the bridge for sufficient water to come in to operate the rotating sea lock, the last lock. Two boats on the pontoon could tie up at a squeeze and so we were three abreast whilst we waited. In the end only five of the six boats arrived at the pontoon, and we never found out what happened to the other boat. Maybe it was booked for the next days crossing. We had about an hour and a half's wait so a couple of jobs were done, and lunch taken.
All at sea next time.
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