Scarisbrick

The morning was spent on housekeeping: moving the car and visiting a launderette. Mike set off at nine o'clock and drove up to Halsall where he had spotted what looked like a fisherman's car park on the satellite images. It was only a 20 minute drive and then a short walk back to the main road. With no bus stop sign immediately apparent at that point he walked back to the church where he had seen a stop on the way up.

The bus service is half hourly and he still had minutes to wait before it arrived. Christine was rather surprised to receive a text that he was on the bus but at least it meant that he caught her before she set off for the launderette.

The bus dropped Mike in Maghull close to the canal from where it was a 10 minute walk along the towpath back to the boat - about 80 minutes after leaving!

After coffee, Christine went to the launderette whilst Mike headed the other way for a newspaper and to post some cards to Alice and Jess. He then joined Christine while the washing finished and then dried.

By now it was lunch time - there were four swing bridges immediately ahead of us so there would be no time to eat as we went.

Each of these bridges, and another one a little later, has a different design. One, carrying a footpath, was entirely manual without any barriers whilst the others are road crossings. One was fully automated, barriers and bridge opening, whilst others required the barriers to be shut by hand, although an interlock prevents the bridge being moved until they are in place. Finally, one has automated barriers and wedge withdrawal but no motor to turn the bridge deck! needless to say, the instructions on each one are also different!

At least the weather kept dry but a strong breeze kept the temperature down and the sky was rather overcast.It looks as if better weather is on its way but the clouds were reluctant to shift away quickly.

There were regular mileposts along this canal but only some seem to remain and are not always easy to spot. Here is one of the more obvious ones - could do with a coat of paint!

Our aim was to fill up with water at Scarisbrick Bridge, turn in the winding hole (both of which are clearly marked in Nicholsons Guide, and then return a short distance to where the car is parked.

Alas, when we arrived we found that the caravan place that provided the water point is well and truly closed down - leaving no water point - and the winding hole is occupied by two boats, claiming that it was private and not for boaters to use!

Opposite is the entrance to a new marina and, rather cheekily, Christine went to ask if we could use their water and, somewhat surprisingly, the said yes. We were relieved as we have not filled up since Saturday at Litherland. (Note: we really must try to make the sight tube work!) We would also have taken on more diesel but there was no-one around who could sell it to us! Never mind, we managed the water and also found an elsan disposal point as well! We feel a lot better now.

Exiting the marina we turned back towards Liverpool and back to the bridge where the car is parked and moored for the night.

8.9 miles - 0 locks