Monday - Botany Bay to Eanam Wharf An early start as the aim was to get to Rishton before stopping for the night, it was however not to be. Good run to Johnsons Hillock Locks. The two bottom pounds need to be transitted with much care - the bywashes cause very strong undercurrents and throw the boat all over the place if not careful. Another good run in dry weather to Riley Green where we stopped briefly for lunch. Onwards and soon at Blackburn. A much slower progress through these locks, many leaking from bottom gates, and from top gates, a number of paddles either needing extreme effort to operate or not operable at all. The only lock that was empty was lock 53, but the bottom towpath side gate was almost impossible to open for one person so we had to use the other gate, which opened with ease, and then found we could not close it. Time was now 1600. Had two or three tries at shutting gate with no luck even with help from passers by. Rang BW Emergency at 1615 who recognised immediately where we were and said we would be contacted, I reported that the gates would not shut as there was an obstruction stopping them closing - I had used boat pole and could feel what I thought was a largish stone at the point where the gates close. No phone call by 1645 so rang again - shortly after a young lady from Wigan Office rang to say emergency team on way - I asked if they had a keb but she did not know. The team arrived having had a 50 minute journey from Burnley - they had set off only minutes after I first rang but the report they had was it was a paddle problem so they had to obtain a keb with a long handle. After much prodding and feeling with boat poles and keb they felt an obstruction about half way along the offending gate and pulled it up - they identified the stone as part of the apron as it had a hole in it that had been drilled about a week ago and filled with epoxy resin. This was apparently one of the repairs done at the same time as replacement of the gates. BW have not been very lucky with this lock, the new gates apparently have shrunk and they needed a stoppage to seal one of the gates, they have also had some problems with paddles which have resulted in another stoppage and now this problem with the apron (and I got the impression one of the paddles had been damaged yet again prior to our arrival there and needing a stoppage to repair). It appears the towpath side gate is still bedding in on the pintle and hence the difficulty in attempting to open it (it did open with two people on it but with much effort). We were on our way again but about 1815 and getting dark and still one lock to go and numerous miles before our chosen mooring. We had always been advised NOT to moor anywhere in Blackburn but as it was now dark we moored at Eanam Wharf (the noisy pub close by is currently closed) and where we moored has locked gates either end and the building now houses the Community Support Police Office. We felt relatively safe and it is a very quiet mooring with the pub not in operation.
Tuesday - Eanam Wharf to Barden Mill An excellent run with no locks today. As we were coming to the bends before Hapton we passed the steam narrowboat Whistle Down the Wind going in the opposite direction to us, you could see its smoke from some distance even if you could not see the boat - he gave us a long blast on his whistle. The canal however, through Burnley, is filthy with debris from commercial organisations alongside the canal. Going round the left hand turn into the Burnley Embankment I lost all steerage and propulsion, managed to slip into the side and up weed hatch - a nylon bag much similar to the large bags that sand is transported in - this needed the double edged kitchen knife to cut into it and pull as much as possible out at a time, after about 10 minutes I had it all out and into a black bag for disposal. Even with a very sharp knife it took a bit of cutting. Onwards and finally moored on the pontoon outside Barden Mill and went in to see if anything worth buying - not a lot, some hand cream as my hands were getting a bit dry. Suits here £100 buy one get one free, many nick nacks, many cheap tools, some reasonably priced bedding, a large selection of lighting, lots of books many of which of local interest. Wednesday - Barden Mill to Barnoldswick A beautiful morning, sun out early but still a bit fresh. The new Marina just past Barden Mill (guess about 100 boats) is taking shape, dug out in the main and bases for pontoons in place, roadways being levelled, not sure when due to open but guess towards end of this year. Good run to Barrowford, we had been given two reports that one ofthe pounds was empty so rang BW, by the time we got there a boat was just coming to bottom lock, they had to wait for about an hour while pounds being filled. Had a good run through locks, a few very heavy paddles and again a few inoperative along with a few leaky gates. Got to Foulridge Tunnel 1 minute before the half hour so only had to wait 1 minute to get into tunnel - the traffic lights on the tunnel entrance were not working. Quite wet going through but not as wet as some tunnels I have been through. Onwards and past Lower Park Marina, does not appear to be much done to the Marina that is to be built here, the outer road is being put in and it does look as they have took some soil from the middle but not much. Not much room to get through here as a wide beam boat moored directly opposite diesel point and also a boat moored on diesel point wih another trying to moor outside it. Just enough room to get through. Finally moored outside Richards house at 1500. End of trip. Terry Waldron
