Summer Cruise 2017 ❶❻

Summer Cruise 2017 (16)

Now Subtitled: "The Magnificent Two go to Liverpool" Nb Rose of Arden team up with various boats to enjoy a summer cruise along the inland waterways.
 
Parbold Bridge 37D to Lymm Bridge 23.

Date:  10/08/2017

Overnight the weather was  overcast and cold. By morning the overcast was breaking up and there was some patches of blue.

Morning:  8:00 we pulled pins and headed off for the locks. We were accompanied by Nb Fenland Breeze. Everything went to plan hopping between various swing bridges and locks. Taking it in turns to set them up. By lunchtime we were in Wigan and at the Eli Meadow lock (89) close to the stadium. I had just entered the lock and was waiting for the other boat to join me. Soon the cry went up - man overboard - or in this case woman overboard!

Somehow The lady helming Fenland Breeze had caught a rope on her leg and it dragged her overboard. I backed the boat out of the lock. She was clinging to the centre line. I asked if she could swim. The answer was Yes. So I urged her to swim for the bank to get her away from the boat and any risk from the propeller. A couple of strong men on the bank had her lifted out in no time. I reversed up to her boat and roped it onto mine and drew it over to the bank. Time for hot shower and a change of clothes. Though she did observe that the water was warm. No injuries to note and though the adrenaline had by now kicked in. A cup of sweet tea and a chance to relax put everything right.


Afternoon:  We turned onto the Bridgewater canal and it took almost an hour to clear the first two locks. They are hard to open and take a long time to find a level. Then it was head for Plank Land swing bridge before the rush hour shutdown.  After that it was a steady plod on in the nice warm sunshine.  There were few boats on the move.

Evening:  At 8pm we moored up in Lymm by bridge 23.


Wildlife:  Hare and Rat

Birds: House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Starling, Blackbird, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail,  Robin, Great Tit, Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant, Canadian Goose, Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Kestrel, Buzzard, Herring Gull, Greater Black Backed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, House Martin, Swift and Pheasant.

Butterflies: Meadow Brown, Common White, Small White, Comma, Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Red Admiral.

Damselfly: Banded Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly,

Dragonflies: Emperor, Ruddy Darter, Four Spot Chaser.

Today's Total:
Miles: 36.4
Locks: 8
Swing / Lift Bridges: 4
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 12.1

Accumulated Total:  
Miles: 2959.9
Locks: 1833
Swing / Lift Bridges: 402
Tunnels: 77
Pump Outs: 27
Engine Hours: 3915.7