July 13

Tom and Liam have gone on to their next adventures, having spent 5 days aboard. We climbed 36 locks over 3 days, and experienced some wonderful summer sunshine along the way. The views from the Leeds and Liverpool canal are spectacular, highlighting the verdant green nature of England. The urban areas of Wigan and Blackburn are less spectacular, with lots of derelict industrial buildings and lots of detritus in the canal, necessitating lots of trips down the weed hatch, to remove plastic, old coats, fishing line and the occasional laundry basket.

Leeds and Liverpool canal above Wigan

Leeds and Liverpool canal above Wigan

Tom and Liam enjoying the sun...

Tom and Liam enjoying the sun…

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early morning mist

early morning mist

 

The mornings have been memorable, as we stayed in the countryside: quiet, with mist forming on the warm canal waters. That quickly burns off, and then the sun is strong enough to burn unprotected areas.

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Leafy tunnels and smiling faces

After the boys left, I was moored outside a pub in Blackburn, where Nick had saved me a berth. There was a festival (small, but enthusiastic), with live music at full volume.We moved along…. Now just outside Rishton, where the heavens opened up overnight, and lots of rain. It is clearing off this morning, however, and that is the perfect balance: rain to keep everything green, but overnight, so I don’t have to cruise with the top up or an umbrella in hand!

 

About Ed Mortimer

I'm a retired school teacher, now living on my Dutch cruiser in France. I'm touring as much of the canals and river systems as I can. This blog describes what I do and where I've been. I did spend 5 years on first a narrowboat, and then this boat, in Britain.
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