Leaving Leigh and urban sprawl behind,
we overnight at Pennington Flash. The canal has been built up - appropriately with pit waste- while the land either side has sunk considerably.
Pennington Flash is one of the north west's premier sites for bird-watching.
We do like a spot of canal side art....
Plank Lane lift bridge and time to take on water...
and do a pump out.
Dover Lock Inn, once the site of two locks moved into Wigan as a result of local subsidence, towards Plank Lane lift bridge.
Wildlife havens have taken the place of a landscape once spoilt by mining.
Approaching Wigan and what's this I see..... a lock sharer ahead....
Poolstock Locks and there is already a boat in the lock going up.....
Historically a troublesome and very leaky lock Trev employs the pole to help level the water and get the boat ahead out!!
Then it's our turn and the pole is back in play. The problem with the leaking back gate leaves the next pound low in water.
We fair better than last year...just...
helped along with these two boats coming down.
Come on CaRT we need maintenance here!!!
Left for central Wigan and right for Wigan flight - give that one a miss this year!!!
Seasonal lock-keepers on Henstock Lock. First week on the job and a result of Richard Parry's(Canal and River Trusts "man at the top") visit to Wigan to witness first hand Wigan's problems.
Wigan in all its glory
The dry dock...
The pier area...
Looking back on Trencherfield Mill on the right.
Pagefield Lock
We moored and Crooke for the night and headed out into the Douglas Valley for the final day of cruise 2014
Approaching Parbold
First glimpse of Wheat Lane cottages with Ainscough's Mill on the horizon - look's like the renovations are back in full swing.
Our resting place for a day or two then the repairs begin.
Scores on the doors.....
495 miles...219 locks....13 swing bridges.....2 lift bridges...13 tunnels.
21st April 2014 to 17th July 2014
A challenging time!!!!
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