Doubly trapped!!

Lock 3 with no gates

Big pump at lock 3

Re-enforcing the lock walls

We knew we’d be trapped on the Rufford Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal for a few weeks, as

CRT are replacing the gates of lock 3. Last Saturday we decided to stroll up the canal to the main line to look at the works in progress. The water level is low, as to be expected due to the work and no boat movement. By the time we got to the top, as you can imagine we were thirsty, so just HAD to pop into The Ship for a couple of pints. The Ship is also know as ‘the blood tub’, an early landlady was a famed producer of black puddings. She sourced her ingredients, particularly pigs blood, from her farmer customers. The deals were largely barters, exchanging jugs of blood, which were emptied into a barrel, for ale; which was then carried off in the same jugs - hopefully thoroughly swilled! The barrel of blood was known as the 'blood tub', again the name being adopted for the pub.

Our boat's bow just seen on right

Stop planks, St. Mary's entrance

Monday the manager of St. Mary’s Marina, where we’re moored told us all to loosen our mooring lines as there was a problem at Tarleton Lock and our levels were likely to drop further. The CRT lads arrived and put the stop planks into the marina entrance to prevent all the water draining away. This afternoon we picked the children up from school and took the opportunity to walk past Tarleton Lock to have a look at what’s occurring there. Interestingly there aren’t any stop planks in place and there’s blue tarpaulin over one of the ground paddles. The boats moored at the boat yard there are all listing a good bit.

It’s not too bad being stuck where we are as Rufford has pretty good public transport links, there are two bus routes to Preston, Ormskirk, Southport & Chorley. Plus, the train which links us to just about everywhere. However, we are marooned on a Sunday as there is no public transport at all.

Nikita's ginger breadman

A new wide beam going into the water