Day 48 - Pennington Flash to Parbold

Monday 20th July

13.5 miles, 8 locks

Anna is four months old today!

The day started with drama. Paul had a notification from CRT - the second lock today was closed due to damage! It looked as though Liverpool was off or at least postponed.

After a slow start decided to head towards Wigan and find out what was going on. Just moored at a flash just before Wigan when two boats came down. They said they had been escorted through on a test run. We decided to take a chance and approach the lock. Sure enough as the CRT chap said we were "very, very lucky" they would escort us up and then lock the locks behind us - phew - Liverpool is back on.



Wigan Pier

Moored in Wigan for lunch and a quick look around. The moorings were quite full as people waited to go down the broken lock. Walked to look at Wigan pier a slab of concrete and looking quite derelict then into town. Lovely church didn't go in which I regretted later as the guide book said there was a William Morris stained glass window - never mind. Got some groceries in M&S and made our way back to the boat. Keen to get out of Wigan didn't feel at all settled there. Got fouled - this time a pair of boxers!




Onlooker at Wigan Pier



Church in Wigan



Entering West Lancashire

After that we cruised towards Parbold taking in 5 locks the last being called deep lock as it was a 12 ft drop.













Approaching Parbold

Moored opposite a windmill without sails late in the evening for us gone 7pm.

Felt we deserved a beer so visited the Windmill pub. Text Sarah Boardman as Phil comes from Parbold who said the Wayfarer was the best pub but we couldn't be bothered to move!