Great Score Bridge, Leeds and Liverpool Canal (7-10)

It finally stopped raining so we left our mooring at 0615 (in the dark) this morning and headed out to the country again.

There is something not very nice about the locks along this stretch. They seem very big, a few are quite deep and they are all definitely unloved.

We had a brief stop at Burscough for water (and a quick shop and after a total of 12 miles, 6 locks and 10 swing (3 open) bridges later we moored up on the landing bollards of Great Score Swing Bridge.

"On the landing bollards?" you say. Well, yes. The bridge is permanently open, so we didn't thing we were causing any bother to anyone else.

This card made with handmade paper and lilac flowers was done a few years ago. I don't know whether you can tell the earlier cards from the ones I make now.

I matted a piece of square silver card onto some white card and then onto the handmade paper and tore the edges of the handmade paper. I fixed it to a white card blank and added the flowers with sticky fixers and then the bow with another sticky fixer.

Wigan, Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Yet another example of BW not giving a S*** about the boater.

To get to the other side of the lock you have to walk up the path (where the 3 people are), turn right to the end of the bridge, then back over the bridge and down a ramp. If there are two boats, the person working the off-side lock (going down) has to walk back to the ramp and up over the bridge. There he/she either crosses the busy road and walks down past the bridge to get on the boat from a grassy bank. Or, walk over the bridge, down the ramp and then under the bridge to get back onto the boat. Thanks a bunch!

Set off in brilliant sunshine and got to the lakes before it began to rain. So we moored up and waited for a break in the clouds.

Unfortunately the break in the clouds lasted only long enough for us to set off!

By the time we got to the junction with the Leeds and Liverpool it was really raining, so against better judgement, we moored up for the night.




A "Jolly Nation" decoupage card. I just stuck him onto a black, white card.

Plank Lane, Leigh Branch, Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Don't think I have managed to come around the corner at Worsley and not taken a photograph of the Packet House. Can you see all the satellite dishes on the right?

We had a few good days in Castlefields. Spent lots of money and had lots of visitors - all David's family.

When David set off early this morning it was freezing and he went on strike as we got to Bridgewater Boats. So we stopped for lunch and after he warmed up we set off again in glorious sunshine and shirtsleeves. We popped into Aldi for some wine and other stuff and then came on through Plank Lane before stopping for the night.


This is the second Christmas card in a set ready for personalisation. They are all for sale in my MisiMe shop which can be accessed from the bottom of this page (or the top!)

Moore, Bridgewater Canal

More nights out in the bondu, and even now the GPRS is a bit slow. So this is all you're getting for now.

Dutton Stop Lock, Trent & Mersey Canal

Yet again, an early start (for David: no locks, I can stay in bed for a while!). So we were moored up just before Dutton Stop Lock by 1045.

Started with a white card blank and covered the front with some sparkly dotty paper. The edges are outlined with black peel-offs.

To finish off, I added the skiing toppers which are slighly raised with sticky fixers.

Bramble Cutting, Trent and Mersey Canal

At Wardle Lock I posted this card for Maureen (the lock keeper). We had taken the photograph on the way through earlier on. She came out to help with the lock just as I was emptying it.

We stopped in Middlewich to do some shopping and then travelled on here. It is one of our "regular" moorings, as it is just outside town, relatively safe, has mooring rings and most importantly we can get the satellite to work here. It does not work in the actually offside cutting moorings.

Anyway, I wrapped some blue spotty ribbon around the front of a light blue card and tied it with a knot. I cut the photo and scallop mat with Nestabilities and stuck them down over the ribbon.

The leaves of the flower were made with a punch (a new toy) and I made up the flower with two prima flowers and a gem brad.

Church Minshull, Middlewich Branch, Shropshire Union Canal

It really feels like we have been out in the back of beyond Internet-wise. We have had no Vodafone signal since I last blogged. It got so bad we took the computer and gubbins into a Vodafone shop in Shrewsbury, just to check that it was still working. It was.

Anyway, I will catch up eventually - please bear with me. I've had 83 emails so sort out!

We spent last night above Hurleston Locks, ready for the morning - but we were alone. The sun was just coming up as we entered the 2nd lock and the boat looked like it was on fire.

Phoned the Wigan BW office regarding our trip into Liverpool next month. Banged my head against the wall several times. The form definitely says (and I quote) "The maximum duration in Saldhouse Docks is 14 days inclusive". But when I tried to extend our stay up to 14 days, I was told that it was only 10 days and that included the 2 nights in Eldonian Village. Work that one out.

A cheat's card. Though sometimes it is nice to just pop a few pieces of card pre-printed and cut out and just stick them together with sticky fixers. It is a "twisted" decoupage, though it doesn't really show up in the picture.