After our time in Preston we had to sail down to the end of the canal to wind before head back past the Basin and onwards towards Garstang/
These are the original John Rennie Bridges from when the canal was built. Some have railings and some not. I assume they were not original items.
Not far out of Preston is the Westinghouse Nuclear Springfield plant started out as a munitions factory that was converted for the nuclear programme in 1946. By 1950 it was producing 20 tonnes of Uranium metal a week and by mid decade was making fuel for the experimental reactors and then later for the first commercial nuclear power station at Calder Hall. It then produced the fuel rods for all the MAGNOX reactors and still toady can produce fuel for just about every sort of reactor. The plant is the most advanced in the world and the fuel made here provides 12% of the nations electricity. It is quite thought provoking when you pass a sign that tells you to go inside, close the windows and doors and turn off all heaters and burners, and listen to local radio if you should hear an air raid siren. (Except once every quarter when it is tested).
The canal passes through some shallow cuttings but generally winds through the countryside eventually heading north.
The mile posts are different and I'm not sure if the post are original as the metal plates certainly don't appear so.
The transport routes are compressed into the narrow coastal plain by the inland terrain but they don't stay too close for too long, and peace reigns.
On the approach to Garstang the sun came out and we passed the remains of Greenhalgh Castle. It was built in 1490 by the 1st Earl of Derby. By the time of the Civil War it befell the 7th Earl to defend it for the Royalist. It was the second to last to fall to Cromwell's men in Lancashire in 1645. It was ordered to be brought down so it could not be used again, and so it is today.
There are several aqueducts crossing rivers that pass from the hills to the coast. The largest is the Wyre Aqueduct in Garstang.
Once we had moored up we went for a little explore of the town, and to look for a pint.
We found the Royal Oak on the Market Place. Parts of the building are from the 1600's but it was in its hey day during the stage coach era when 8 coaches heading north and 4 heading south a day stopped at the place. It had 11 bedrooms and 3 servants rooms around this time. Internally it still has several rooms and has an old fashioned feel about it. The food looked good though. It is about 20 minutes from the visitor moorings in the centre of town.
I have talked about Robinson's Brewery before and it is based in Stockport and is still a family run business.
I tried the standard Robinson's Bitter at 4.2% and it cost £3-20. It was originally brewed in 1896 and is still the same recipe. It was brewed by Frederic for his dad at the Unicorn Pub, from which it was named after. As can be seen the emblem for Robinson's is the Unicorn also named after the original pub on the site which the present brewery was built upon. It is quite a surprising beer as at first you get a fairly fruity taste form the hops and then this followed by a nice malty finish. It has a good brown colour and was served with a nice head too. What's not to like?
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