From suevbutler@compuserve.com Sat May 1 11:29:50 1999 Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 17:09:08 -0400 From: sue butler Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org To: Messages for newsgroup , judy , Mike Casswell , jackie lewis , Terry and Sue Subject: Trip Report - Consall Forge to Wigan - Day 2 [The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] Trip report - On the Canal to Wigan Pier. Day 2 - 20th Sept 98 - Consall Forge to Longport 17 miles, 16 locks, 3 swing bridges, 9 hours, LOL The Famous Five go Boating! Following our battery problems we had decided that it would make sense to try to moor near a boatyard tonight, and we had identified Longport as the most promising destination. We were up early (for us) and were ready to greet our crew as they arrived - Jackie, Terry and the lovely Baggins! After a quick car shuffle we are away, and it is not long before we pick up Mike who has walked along the towpath to meet us. Now we are team heavy - a veritable JIG - and a new experience for Neil and I who usually boat alone. The locks come and go, with so many hands it is really light work, and we chat as we chugg along, enjoying the Caldon. Hazelhurst is as pretty as ever. We stop at the Hollybush for a quick pint, but the queues for the bar mean that we do not stay any longer! The weather is glorious now and we sit outside in the sunshine. A lovely pub, a lovely spot, but just a bit too crowded on a sunny Sunday lunchtime! We pass Chiff Chaff moored up - and recognise the boat and her crew from last night's incident - so I go and 'have a word'. They agree that they were in the Black Lion, and left in the middle of the night, but claim not to have heard or felt a thing. We get a lot of aggression and abuse, and it leaves us with a bad taste. Please avoid this boat if you see it - above all do not moor near them. One of the lift bridges causes us difficulty as the previous boat kindly leaves it up for us. But this means Terry has to make an adventurous leap from boat to high bank to close it again! These must be real puzzlers for single handed boaters, as the banks are high and awkward on the lifting side! We later meet a single hander on Vagabond at Planet Lock, and admire his almost effortless technique as we help him lock through. It does not seem long before we are locking down at Etruria, and swinging onto the main line, but the light is going from the sky, and the last stretch is navigated in the dusk. We have to thank our crew for the day - and Sean for training Jackie and Terry so well!!! Baggins too was a delightful companion - if a bit excitable at times!! (He appeared to love all humans and hate all other dogs). It was lovely to spend time chatting and travelling, and we were sorry to say goodbye at Longport. The sadness was tempered by the signs outside the Packhorse announcing a beer festival and live band! Neil and I gratefully fell in through the doors, and ordered a basic meal. Unfortunately the food was inedible - but luckily the beer and the band were good. I am only sorry that I was too tired to really appreciate them. Not such a pretty mooring as last night - but certainly quieter. Sue and Neil Happy to be on Jemima D