MONDAY. Plank Lane, Leigh.
The 2008 trip thus far: 366Locks; 713.5 Miles; 71 Swing\Lift Bridges. Bus pass journeys 35
This morning, just four locks to do before rejoining the Leeds & Liverpool main line. We had enjoyed the views from the Rufford Branch; it was now time to point Martlet in the general direction of the home mooring at Crick.
We will travel via Manchester, Ashton, Lower & Upper Peak Forest, Macc, Trent &Mersey and via Fazeley to Crick. We will not chance our luck on the River Trent and Soar given the amount of rain that we have been having this so called summer.
As we passed through Parbold, we saw a girl that had come across the Ribble link on Friday with us. She boats on her own and was getting ready to move off; we waited at Appley Lock for her and travelled with her for the rest of the day. We both filled up with diesel at 75 p/Litre from the Barge ‘Ambush’ at the foot of Wigan Bottom lock.
The sun made an appearance and managed to stay out for about an hour or so, before reverting to normal and hiding behind some rain clouds.
We parted company at the Dover Lock pub; she was meeting friends there, we carried on to our stopping place just south of Plank Lane Bridge.
Weather – Dry and overcast with a few sunny intervals
