Out and about.

It started raining as we woke up so we didn't hurry getting out of bed. By the time breakfast was cleared away the rain had stopped, but as it was time for 'The Archers' there was an hour of listening. As soon as it was finished we were off.

The sun was out when we left to walk to Burscough for a paper etc.

The last time we passed this way was in June 2013 and they were just starting work on Aiscough's Mill on the outskirts of Burscough. It was a beautiful building and worth preserving.

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture from the same place but you can see they have made a great job of it, even preserving the canopy irons.

I am pleased to say that they have also preserved the chimney and the engine. The steam engine has gone but it has made a very nice home.

The Old Packet Boat was built at the same time as the canal and was the packet boat staging post. It was called The Bridge at first and it was only towards the end of the packet boat era that it changed to this name. Mind you it has had a few name changes before it has returned to the Old Packet Boat.

We got the paper from Tesco's up by Burscough Bridge Station and then walked back via Burscough Junction station which runs from Liverpool to Preston way. This took my eye as we were wandering back to the swing bridge by the junction.

This is the cause of our problem the gate post has broken at the collar/A frame area so the gate is bent from the vertical. The timber looks rotten. The C&RT notice said that the are making a sleeve for the heel post.

The notice says that the sleeve will take a week to fabricate and then they will have to fit it. However the word on the street is that it could be Thursday or Friday. I hope so so we can get the boat safely stowed for the winter

We decided to go for a pint at the Ship, or the 'Blood Tub as it appears to be better known in these parts. It seems it was so called because a). rival boaters or navvies had punch ups out side the pub regularly but the landlord wouldn't let them in a bloody so they had to wash the blood and gore off in an old tub. b). local farmers would exchange blood for beer as the landlady was a an expert black pudding maker. Take your pick. The beer was very good indeed, but we didn't eat there. The beer was well kept and not too pricey with a good range of real ales too.

The dry dock at the junction hasn't been used for a while but it is still dry.