The June Rose: Thursday 4 and Friday 5 August 2016

We are a long way from home, Thursday morning we left Hertfordshire at 6.30am, a quick dash into Asda for some supplies and take the hire car back – we didn’t even have time to go and unload before taking the car back this time so Enterprise had to take us back with a car full! By the time we had had some lunch and put everything away it was 3pm. We had to get off our mooring at the boat yard so we decided to chug a short way up the canal to the open countryside, through two swing bridges but we stopped before we got to the next village.

As we left the South the sun was shining but as we got nearer to the boat the cloud was quite dense and as we arrived back in Accrington to drop the hire car off it was raining making our mooring even more difficult as we were tied on the outside of two other boats so we had to carry nine bags of shopping, an overnight bag, rucksack and two golf bags and golf shoes over two wet slippery boats. We’ve decided that next time we will definitely find a marina – normally boatyards are cheaper but this one wasn’t and he wouldn’t even let us reverse the car into the boatyard to unload so we had to leave it all on the ground and make four trips back across the boatyard in the rain! Rant over!

It was nice to be back in the countryside for the evening.

Friday morning we got going quite early as we need to get through Burnley before we reach safe moorings. Through Hapton, a quick pit stop to empty and fill, through the Gunnow Tunnel and through Burnley then we arrived at the flight of 7 locks – it started off very overcast and chilly this morning but I am pleased to say that the sun came out in the afternoon. We chugged 13 miles, originally we thought we would get through Foulridge Tunnel but when we got to the top of the locks the views were stunning and it is obviously a good place to moor as there are plenty of boats here so we decided to stop.

The locks were pretty tough and as we were in the third lock we could see another boat coming up behind us so we waited in the fourth lock and did the last four locks with “Little Patience” which definitely makes life easier. We are getting near to the northern most point of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and at the top of the Barrowford Locks is the Reservoir in which the summit level’s surplus water is stored, although it looks like the level is down a bit.

It’s amazing that at the bottom of the seven locks you still feel like you are in a suburb with graffiti and anti vandalism locks on the gates then you go under the M65 motorway and through the fourth lock and you are in open countryside, no graffiti and no anti vandalism locks on the last three locks – the CRT volunteer made a comment that the thugs don’t stray further than 50 yards from the motorway which at the time I thought was funny but it really was true!

Leaving the boatyard - we were mooring next to Beryl B - It didn't help that our stern was next to the other boats' bows - oh well lesson learned - Marina next time!

This looks like a nice quiet spot for the night.

And we are off - under the road bridge and under the clouds!

This was a tight bend - we had to do an eight point turn to get into the tunnel!

Always nice when you can see a light at the end!

Looks like a nice pub!

Not sure what laid this.....or why?

From the terraces of Burnley Football Club...

To the terraces of the local neighbourhood.

Over an aqueduct.

Chimneys in perfect symmetry.

Arriving at the Barrowford Locks

Third prop clear out today - headphones included!

The level is looking a little low in the reservoir.

Reaching the top of the flight.

Once moored I went for a walk and couldn't help but laugh - from this side of the canal I could just read this sign "last turning point before locks" but looking back at it any boats heading for the locks wouldn't see it - I wonder if it has caught anyone out?