Car Shuffle and Tarleton

Another car shuffle day - this time a longer one to take the car to Glasson Dock where we will be leaving the boat for a week whilst we return home.

First, however, we needed fill up with diesel as we failed to do so yesterday. It was only about 50 metres backwards to the marina entrances. We were told yesterday that Fettlers would be open at 8 am whilst the other marina did not expect to be open until 9. As Mike wanted to catch a bus just after 10, we opted for the earlier but - let us draw a discreet veil over the details lest HMRC are reading this blog - but next time we will opt for St Mary's Marina!

St Mary's Marina Entrance

After completing the refuelling we returned to our overnight mooring and Mike departed for the first leg of his journey, the bus back to Burscough. Although he had been told that the bus stop close to the bridge was correct for this destination, Mike was suspicious and so walked up to the main road. This was fortunate as the bus that comes over the bridge by the station goes to Southport and does not go through Burscough!

There was time whilst waiting the few minutes before the bus arrived to chat to another waiting passenger - she lives on a boat at St Mary's Marina and wp0rks in the tea room. She painted a very positive picture of what it is like to have a mooring there!

Before leaving Burscough, Mike picked up some cash as there was a problem with the card machine at the wharf and Christine might need crinkly notes if they cannot fix the problem before we leave. actually, she managed to persuade them later to accept a cheque. In any event, Mike called first at the boat to hand over the cash before continuing on towards the M6.

There was a little delay just before reaching the motorway as there had just been a traffic accident - plenty of police cars but no ambulance and it did not look as if it was too serious. However, this meant finding an alternative route along narrow lanes - but following a truck that seemed to know where it was going, helped by a very confident sounding man on the sat nav, we eventually came out on the main road a mile or so close to the motorway.

Glasson Dock

Otherwise the car journey was uneventful and Mike parked up at the marina and made contact with the site manager and confirmed our booking (just as well as she had forgotten about it! Blamed her manager. . . )

A short walk to the bus stop and less time to wait than had been in the plan and the bus dropped Mike at the nearest point to Lancaster Railway station. It was a but tight but he did catch the train as well as buying a newspaper and a sandwich for lunch! All in about 15 minutes!

The Virgin train was nearly packed to full (but at least no standing) and it was only about a quarter of an hour to Preston where hordes of passengers alighted - maybe they were changing for the line to Blackpool.

The last lap was a third bus from the city centre (at least it did not require a lengthy walk to the bus station. On the ride back to Rufford Mike was entertained by talking to a man who struggled to carry a folding chair to the upper deck. He explained that it was a special fishing chair which he had been waiting a couple of weeks for it to arrive at the shop. His previous one from this maker had lasted him 12 years!

River Douglas at Rufford

We set off from the mooring with only three swing bridges ahead of us and about four miles. The River Douglas or Asland is now very close to the canal but at Rufford it still seems quite modest.

Rufford Old Hall (behind the trees!)

We passed close to Rufford Old Hall, now owned by the National Trust, but we only caught glimpses through the trees.

Gradually the surrounding canal banks changed in character reflecting the fact that the last part was once a river course.

We made a stop at the service block - the water point was lacking its operating tap lever but a pair of pliers worked wonders!

Two of the swing bridges had an unusual mechanism for locking - much easier to use than the usual handcuff lock.

We passed through a former lock chamber - as yet we have not found any reference to why it was removed and what it was originally used for.

We arrived at the visitor mooring for Tarleton Lock with just one space remaining - which Christine neatly slotted into whilst Mike was still closing the last swing bridge.

Tarleton Lock at Low Tide

After tying up we walked down to the lock along the top of the flood banks - the river here at near low tide was flowing quickly. At the lower end the lock has two sets of gates as is often the case where the lock also acts as a flood barrier for the canal above the river level.

Lower Flood Gates

Later we had a message from the lock keeper and we do not need to be at the lock itself tomorrow until 11:30.

3.6 miles - 0 locks