Bridgewater Canal

 Awake early with good intentions of a flying start out of Wigan but  a cool wind and shower of rain plus listening to the Otago  Highlanders beat the South African Sharks ,their  first win in eight games of the season in the Super Fifteen Rugby meant 11am was our kick off. Heading for the 2nd lock off the day, Poolstock 1, there suddenly was a bit off a crash, I'd slowed down to tick over eyeing up the bollards ahead to parallel park  and tie up too but had failed to see the protruding canal wall in between.Lucky we aint got a plastic boat as fragments of rock and dust were still on the right front corner of the hull.Only paint damage but was a good test of build strength.

 Hit this coming from way of walker,that light spot is probably the impact point.


Moved on to Poolstock lock 2, two boats coming up so had too wait a while, no bollard for the centre or rear rope so Leonie was put to use as a Bollard.No she didn't have to do the lock paddles as well, I took the windlass  and she done the steering which I must say she is getting very good at.Now we share the locking.

Lots of people around as there  were 5 more boats waiting to come up after we left the lock.


What was this queue of cars stretching back to the
bus lining up for?.Was it they'd heard there was
a former Highland Dance medal winning dancer
in town?,(as a kid)

 
 
 
 

 No it was not,it was because Leonie had raised the Plank Lane swing bridge. And the queue was as big the udder way too.

 

 

 

 

Unusual old building seen as the canal passed through Leigh township.Why the two large doors?,okay I can understand a Cadillac in the garage down stairs but on the 2nd floor??.

 

 

 

Thanks to the trail blazing of Paul and Elaine, The Manly Ferry, a Tesco shop was done, even though there's no canal side entrance or tie up.As per Pauls instructions tie up to the back,canal side fence,of  Frankies & Bennies Restaurant, go shopping then pass the goods over the fence to the boat,beautifull..

 

 Leonie with the bootie,and her best impression of a Spastic Crayfish walk.Reckons it was the trolley wheels woud'nt allow it to go straight, chuck it in the canal I reckon...OH, notice the Beers for me? 12 quid for 1 doz,or 15 quid for two,now I got 2 doz, Burrrrpppp... Excellent shopping.

 

 

Could'nt help but notice through out Wigan and surrounding canal tow paths a great number of Seious cyclists, you no,all the lycra and flash gear,well I did some enquires and it seems since Bradley Wiggins ,cos,he lives near in Chorley, won Tour D France and numerous other world champs the general public have gone bonkers on cycling.Not all with a great Ambition to emulate or better Brad, (mates call him that), but today we meet one who does.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THATS HIM, the new LEAD OUT,for the sprint parts, team mate of Brad, got talking to him as he paced our boat,Na, he was on the bike riding and tell you what,He had a bit of Toe, admits he's still a couple of weeks away from full fitness ,apparentley 7 burgers jammed in his throat and he couldn't train for an hour, but he'll be ready for Tour D France and he'll

 succeed cos while we was talkin I happened to mention that the shinning sun was nice and he said,"do you want to talk to him"?, Who Brad ? I say, No the sun because you know who it is?, Na I say, its Jesus Christ and  I can talk to him he says. With contacts like that he can't fail on the bike I reckon.About then the noise from the boat engine and my industrial deafness made hearing him difficult so he rode off to continue his training regime..

 

Parked up at Boothshall Bridge, tomorrow just Another normal Day..