Wigan Locks

8 July

I survived the 23 locks - just!  Teamed up with Richard & Sue (forgot to note their boat name).  It was lucky we arrived at the same time as there was very little traffic.  Only one boat went down and no sign of any coming after us.

It took 7.5 hours for the 21 flight, including a lunch break.  Main reason was low water in the pounds - we went aground a few times which necessitated going up to the next lock and opening the paddles to let more water down - which meant the next pound was emptied.  With another person we could have sent someone ahead but with just 3 of us it did not seem practical.  Even got a bit of help from a couple of local lads in return for letting them travel up a bit on my boat - boredom soon set in though and off they went to relieve the boredom by jumping in the locks.  Their favourite is to open a top paddle, jump in and get washed down to the ladder - youth has no concept of danger!  This no doubt is one of the causes of the low water!

A welcome rest for lunch.

If I ever do the flight again I will do it going down to alleviate the low water risk.

Moored up in a lovely spot at Haigh Hall Country park, with the luxury of pilings which I have not had for weeks.  Golf course on the left.

One disaster was losing my hose reel.  Richard opened one of the top paddles (bottom one was not working) a bit quick and it must have been washed off the top of the gas locker and none of us noticed until I went to fill up at the top of the flight.  Also gave the carpet in the bedroom a soaking! Another lesson learned.

5 miles; 23 locks
TOTAL:  428 miles (129 miles broad, 40 miles river); 198 locks (54 broad); 34 moveable bridges