Take Five: Ribble Crossing

The day for our first Ribble Link crossing had finally arrived. we had booked this back in January as it rapidly becomes fully taken. We were told on our booking form to be ready by 10:43 but during the morning Harry, the lock keeper, came to brief us and updated that instruction to 11:30 at the lock..

As there are no moorings just above the lock we waited as long as possible - the other five boats had motored down the 400 metres quite early. They had already been waiting midstream for some time when we arrived but it was clear that nothing was happening any time soon. This was an opportunity to hone one's skills at keeping station - for some of the time, with hot sunshine and almost no breeze, we were even able to turn off the boat engine.

Just before twelve there was action - we were at the end of the queue and so in the third locking.

Down we went and by 12:20 we were let loose. Although we had been given instructions about what to do immediately after leaving the lock to couter balance the flow of the water, it was actually the direct opposite of what we understood. Instead of having to deal with the flow of water coming down stream, which would turn the boat to the left, there was a strong incoming tidal flow which turned the boat very much the opposite way. Some strong steering was needed to bring us back on course.

Very quickly we realised that even with high revs on the engine, we were not making much speed over the ground. It took some while for us to reach Tarleton Boatyard which is about a mile down stream. This section is comparatively narrow so the tidal waters are compressed and thus much faster.

Once past the boatyard and around a large loop in the river - where we could see our partner boat across the ground - the river became much wider and we made altogether better speed.

At this point we started to count off the marker posts, although not all of those on our little chart were spotted. The tide was now slack and so the last part of the River Douglas passed much quicker.

Eventually we could see the buildings on Warton Airfield and then Asland Lamp started to appear. However, despite having studied the maps and instructions, it was still hard to believe the direction we needed to go!. After a long sweep towards the sea, it is tight around the lamp post before heading back inland. It took some time before we were back to a point opposite the midstream position on the River Douglas.

So here is the famous marker - in this direction it is spelt 'Astland'

whilst on the other side it is 'Aslan'! Christine brought us round in a steady turn but it takes some minutes to complete the manoeuvre.

Now we were on the River Ribble at last, a very different situation. Several times wider and the river flow was less aggressive. However, the tide had now turned and although we were heading upstream, it was against the tide.

There are few landmarks along this stretch apart from various marker posts. Apart from a couple, they have no indications on them and the chart we had is not always correct, not helped by the fact that they are gradually falling into disrepair following the closure of the docks to commercial traffic some twenty years ago. this one was clear - the four mile marker.

Although the pipeline markers are very clear they were not on the chart so not much help!

It seemed a long way back but still only half way to the turning at Savick Brook.

From time to time the peace was disturbed by aircraft coming in to or taking off from Warton Airfield, just behind the buildings back at the junction. Just managed to catch one but it's not a brilliant photo!

At the two mile perch we called CaRT as directed - only to discover that they had tried to call us be we had not heard them. Eventually they told us that we were now too late to make it into Savick Brook. As we passed the entrance we could see why! (The first lock is a half tide sea lock) We were a bit miffed that it seemed as if we were being told that we had been too slow!

As a consequence we were being diverted to Preston Dock where we would spend the night before coming back down to Savick Brook on the high tide tomorrow morning, around lunch time.

Gradually the dock entrance came into view and we had to be careful to avoid the large sandbank that obstructs the left side of the entrance.

We came first into the outer basin - the vast gates closed behind us and then we had another call telling us to hurry up into the lock itself or we would run out of water and be stuck for the night!

As we were coming up the lock we were told that actually all of the boats ahead of us had also been diverted so it seems that it was not our slow speed at all!