We started the day with a walk into Garstang to visit a car care shop that had a variety of tools that should enable us to get the diesel filter off. To be on the safe side we bought two different models. Watch this space!
We departed at 10:50 and almost immediately crossed the Wyre Aqueduct. We made quite slow progress as there were so many boats moored along the canal. You may have guessed after yesterday but many of them were once again yoghurt pots.
Our plan was to get to Glasson Basin and spend the night there. Peter did a fine job making the tight turn into the Glasson Branch just after 14:00 but we had to wait for the lock to be filled as a boat had just gone down. We were assisted in this by some CRT staff who were there for engineering works. Graham and Diane then kindly waited for us at the next lock and we completed the flight with them.
The locks have an unusual paddle arrangement with a door that slides across the gate opening. This is operated by a rack and pinion which has a handle permanently attached so no windlass is needed.
It has to be mentioned that one of the crew, as obstinate as Theresa May, was determined to open one of these paddles in spite of not being able to reach the handle from the ground. Adopting a stance reminiscent of a mountain goat, a rather dangerous practice, luckily resulted in the paddle being opened without said member falling off. We won’t mention the time this took but leave you to judge the advisability of such an approach.
Arriving in the Basin we spotted Colin and Jane, the rescuers of Peter’s camera last year, on “Itledoo4me”. It was a very happy coincidence that gave Peter a chance to thank them personally.
The CRT signs in the Basin could be better. One sign, a bit old and faded, says Permanent Moorings and a newer plan of the Basin shows that the same area is for Visitor Moorings.