We had heard on the grapevine that there had been problems at the top lock on the Rufford Arm, and as we were heading down that way to over winter the boat at Fettlers Wharf Marina this was going to cause us problems. We were in communications with C&RT and the marina and with time it became obvious that the 'problem' was going to take a fair few days to rectify. We were therefore in a dilemma as to what to do as we had to be at home in the next week. We had to decide what to do with the boat as we don't like leaving her vacant on the tow path for any length of time. We decided to plough on and see what was what when we got to the junction.
Once we had arrived we moored up temporarily to see what was going on. It can be seen that something has hit the gate quite a thump and as the timber was already rotten it has broken the what I think is referred to as the heel post. They were predicting at least a week to fix it. As it turned out we left 'Holderness' on C&RT moorings just to the east of Burscough Junction with permanent moorers nearby who would watch over the boat for us.
It was a little less than a week to get the traffic moving but we couldn't get back to the boat until the weekend. It was touch and go for those using the Ribble Link as it was the last week of programmed passages between the Rufford Arm and the Lancaster Canal. Apparently on the Friday and Saturday it had been quite busy with people getting on the move at last. We chose Sunday and it was fairly quiet. After parking the car in the pub car park we got the boat flashed up and when there were no passing boats managed to reverse down the cut back to the junction. The area by the top lock is a coonservation area with the bridge and locks, plus a dry dock and workshop and various cnala workers cottages etc. It is a very busy place on a fine Sunday afternoon with the pub close by. A mini Fradley Junction.
Here you can see the fix that the engineers devised for the broken heel post. Rather than remove the whole gate and having to drain the lock etc etc they made a temporary fix by fixing the top of the heel post that located to the pivot at the top to the rest of the gate. This prevented the top of the gate leaning out of true from the vertical so still making a seal with the other gate and still pivoting in the bottom collar. I assume that a proper job will be made over the winter stoppages.
The lock keepers were a little bored so they helped us down the first three locks that were nice and close together and then we were off to venture out into the flat lands.
Before the next lock you pass under the Southport to Wigan railway that runs east/west. Burscough has two stations, one for this line and one for the north south route. I like the arched tunnels for the tow paths on this bridge.
At German's Lock (I wonder if this is called after what suspiciously looks like an old POW camp to the south of the canal close by) there is a clough wooden paddle like on the Yorkshire section of the Leeds/Liverpool. Helen had to put a bit of effort it to it and I think she prefers to use the windlass really.
At the next lock, Chicken Lock, is another variation on the paddle gear. This is again like the paddle gear on the Yorkshire side but has no wooden box around it and the windlass is fixed here.
Here we pass under the Liverpool to Preston railway line but the bridge isn't a nice as the other one.
After the last railway bridge the main road comes very close to the canal ruining the peace somewhat, and once again we come to a piece of canal architecture that is prevalent further to the east. I should have counted just how many moving bridges there are on the Leeds Liverpool as it is definitely a feature. (Canalplan tell me there are at least 49 of which seven are normally left open. Funny as it seems like there are many more to open!).
One more lock and we come to another junction. This time straight on continues down the Arm towards Tarleton and the Ribble Estuary, to the left is St. Mary's Marina, and to the right, under the white footbridge, is our destination, Fettlers Wharf Marina.
We headed straight in and aimed for the service berth as I wanted to fill up with fuel to reduce the chance of condensation in the fuel over winter. Here we are taking on the diesel and a few bags of coal before shoving off for out berth which is actual almost abeam to the right of the picture. It is quite tight to reverse into as there is a house boat thing moored on this side and there is little room for maneuver. We were lucky that there was no wind so it was easily accomplished to day and we were soon settled in with the electricity coupled up. The heaters were tested and all the services were switched off along with the water, gas, fridge etc. We were soon packed up once I had kindly been given a lift back to the Ship In to pick the car up and, with the usual regrets, we left 'Holderness' all tucked up for the winter. We will be back every so often to escape back to our other life and warm the boat through and check everything as well as do a few little jobs. Another year's cruising completed.
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