TNC On Tour 2003 Page 15

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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Tour 2003

15 - Tarleton to Salwick. Rufford Branch of Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Tidal River Douglas, Tidal River Ribble, Savick Brook / Ribble Link and Lancaster Canal.

Friday 4th July 2003

It was a lazy morning waiting for Ribble Link tidal passage down River Douglas. Harry Mayor came over with some jerry cans of diesel and told us to amble down to the sea lock at 14:00. Four other boaters all left some what earlier and had a jolly time clambering to moored craft, that are right up to the lock entrance. Ed Mortimer came over and decided to go for the complete Link experience and collect his car later. On doling out the self inflating life jackets, Neil found out what the unexplained crack was last evening - one had decided to self inflate in the cupboard!!!
We set off down to the lock at 13:50, soon followed by tug NB Jacob, who we found out was a Cutweb member. We eventually exited at 14:20. Having watched the antics of one of the last boats leaving (nearly pushed up the tidal Douglas by the flood, we decided to floor it as we left the lock and be the first out. The flood was really quite strong and we stuck to our tried and tested 2200 revs speed.
Beyond Hesketh Bank - Shepherds Boatyard, we caught up with the other four boats, which seemed to be taking the whole affair as a Sunday afternoon pootle. After hanging back for a while Neil decided that we would just not make the link in time, so went up to normal tidal cruising speed and went past the 4 boats and an exiting yacht. By the time we got to the Asland Lamp, corner marker of the tidal Douglas, onto the tidal Ribble the tide was well in ebb, so we now had to punch the ebb tide coming down the Ribble. It was at this point that the other crew realised they needed to speed up and a bit more black exhaust haze could be seen.
We eventually arrived at the mouth of Savick Brook at 16:00, some 40 minutes after the high tide ideal. It was another 10 minutes until we went through the rotating sea lock (RH side, the other side is a fixed weir!) The BW bods seemed concerned, especially as we said that the other boats were at least 15 mins behind. They told us to carry on up into Lock 8 and await the next arrival - if they had not been diverted to Preston Marina! We were in Lock 8 by 16:20 and the next boat, "Dragonfly No7" arrived at 16:35. A BW bod arrived at the same time and told us to work up the link on our own, dropping the water as we
left.
The passage was much longer than expected and some of the turns rather "interesting". We were held in the turning basin below the dogleg sited triple staircase to await the BW bods who did the staircase for us. We got off the link and onto the Lanky at 18:45. Both us and Dragonfly decided to push on until the first out of Preston pubs - the "Hand and Dagger" at Salwick - Salwick Bridge No 26. Our arrival was at 19:50, to a very popular spot.
Ed jumped ship and said he would be joining us on the 19th July for a week. We were lucky with our "mooring" and actually got our bow within 3ft of the shore! The pub was OK, on form Timmy Taylor's Landlord and a filling meat pudding and chips.
Martin C had a word with other crew that arrived in the pub. As they were entering Savick Brook they were told to divert to Preston Marina, but carried on. The last boat cleared the rotating gate by a couple of inches. If we had not inspired them to get their finger out they would have all ended up in Preston Marina for the night. Harry Mayor said that such occurrences are not that frequent and if they happen then the boats are pushed through early on in the cycle the next day - same applies to passages lost through bad weather. Martin also heard that Harry was not late in letting the first boats out as the first boat scraped the cill.

Mayors boatyard at Tarleton. Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Tarleton Lock No 8 and some of the keen Ribble Linkers. Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Tarleton Lock No 8, with its outer flood gates and dubious flood wall round the inner gates. Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Tarleton Lock No 8. Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Tarleton Lock No 8. The first wave of narrowboats have got out over the bottom cill. Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Tarleton Lock No 8. Our turn - tail end Charlie. Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Tarleton Lock No 8. Off we go - full tilt! Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Exiting Tarleton Lock No 8. Tidal River Douglas.

Exiting Tarleton Lock No 8. You really DO have to go full tilt to get control against the incoming flood tide on this corner. Tidal River Douglas.

Looking back at NB Jacob exiting Tarleton Lock No 8. Observe the standing waves the flood tide makes at this point. Tidal River Douglas.

Tarleton Lock No 8. Tidal River Douglas. (picture by Martin Clark the evening before)

Leaving Tarleton Lock No 8 behind. Tidal River Douglas.

The first landmark - pipe bridge. Tidal River Douglas.

Coming up to Hesketh Bank. Tidal River Douglas.

Shepards Boatyard, Hesketh Bank. Tidal River Douglas.

Shepards Boatyard, Hesketh Bank. Tidal River Douglas. (picture taken by Martin Clark the evening before)

Shepards Boatyard, Hesketh Bank. Tidal River Douglas.

Shepards Boatyard, Hesketh Bank. Tidal River Douglas. (picture taken by Martin Clark the evening before)

Shepards Boatyard, Hesketh Bank. Tidal River Douglas.

Having rounded the bend at Hesketh Bank we leave Shepards Boatyard. Tidal River Douglas.

Beyond Hesketh Bank we catch up rather quickly with the narrowboats let out before us. Tidal River Douglas.

If we don't get a move on we ain't gonna make it! Tidal River Douglas.

We make our move, just at the same time as NB Dragonfly No 7. Tidal River Douglas.

NB Bradgate Oak seems to be making a lot of wash.........but not getting anywhere. Tidal River Douglas.

The Asland narrowboat trials. Tidal River Douglas.

We overhaul the lot! Tidal River Douglas.

British Aerospace Warton works in the distance. Tidal River Douglas.

We start to loose the other narrowboats. At this point the ebb tide has started drawing us out. Tidal River Douglas.

Confluence with the Tidal River Ribble. We have to go downstream to go round the Asland Lamp marker and the underwater training wall. Tidal River Douglas.

Confluence of the tidal Rivers Douglas and Ribble. Asland Lamp is on the right.

Asland Lamp from the Douglas side.

Asland Lamp from the Ribble side. We meet our own bow wave and the ebb tide coming down the River Ribble.

Looking out to sea as we go up the tidal River Ribble. Asland Lamp on the left.

View looking across at the other narrowboats coming down the River Douglas.

Looking across at NB Dragonfly No 7 coming out of the Tidal River Douglas - the only NB that seems to be going for it.

Looking back at Asland Lamp - NB Dragonfly No 7 has turned. Tidal River Ribble.

Looking up towards Preston. The nearest pair of markers are the 4 mile Perch. Tidal River Ribble.

Looking up Freckleton Creek from the Tidal River Ribble.

Work going on at the sewage works. Tidal River Ribble.

Steaming up towards Preston. Tidal River Ribble.

Looking back at the other narrowboats that seemed to have got their act together. Tidal River Ribble.

Preston looms into view. Savick Brook entrance is just before the left hand bank side trees. Tidal River Ribble.

Looking back. The poles on opposite sides of the bank by the crane are the Three Mile Perch markers. Tidal River Ribble.

Looking up the Tidal River Ribble beyond our turn into Savick Brook. Just beyond the disused jetty to the left are the one mile perch markers. The entrance to the docks is dead centre.

Looking back downstream at the stragglers. Tidal River Ribble.

We take a wide turn into Savick Brook, against the ebb, to miss the downstream shoal. Tidal River Ribble.

Turning into Savick Brook. Tidal River Ribble.

Looking back at the Tidal River Douglas from Savick Brook.

Coming up Savick Brook. You can just see the green traffic light by the weir / half tide rotating sea lock, under the white gabled building.

Looking back down Savick Brook.

Approaching the Rotating Sea Lock No 9. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Rotating Sea Lock No 9. Savick Brook / Ribble Link. The BW bods seem worried about the stragglers.

Safely through the Rotating Sea Lock No 9. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Savick Bridge. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Sharp turn just after Savick Bridge. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Looking back at Savick Bridge. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Holding pontoon just above Savick Bridge. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Yet another sharp turn. Sharp turn just after Savick Bridge. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

The semi tidal wilds of the Savick Brook / Ribble Link below Lock No 8.

Savick Brook / Ribble Link below Lock No 8.

The sewer outfall / pipe bridge. Savick Brook / Ribble Link below Lock No 8.

The sewer outfall is just to the left. Savick Brook / Ribble Link below Lock No 8.

The holding pontoon, just below Lock No 8. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Lock No 8. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Lock No 8. Ed feels safe and removes his life jacket. We wait for the next boat. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Lock No 8. Neil checks the depth over the cill, while on the fone! Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

After about 20 minutes NB dragonfly No 7 arrives. Lock No 8. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Lock No 8. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

NB Dragonfly No 7 leaves Lock No 8. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Waiting pontoon above Lock No 8. First of the economy bridges. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Lock No 7. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Leaving Lock No 7. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

New footbridge above Lock No 7. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

The bridge below Lock No 6. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Lock No 6. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Approaching Lock No 5. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Lock No 5. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Approaching "The big wiggle" below Savick Way Bridge. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

"The big wiggle" below Savick Way Bridge. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Savick Way Bridge. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Lock No 4. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

The railway bridge and Tom Benson Way Bridge, just below the the triple staircase Lock 1,2 and 3. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

The railway bridge and Tom Benson Way Bridge, just below the the triple staircase Lock 1,2 and 3. The railway bridge has a curved invert and you must get a straight run through it. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

Emerging from Tom Benson Way Bridge, you are presented with this confusion. The the triple staircase Lock 1,2 and 3 is just to the left. Personally I think it is easier in a 60ft narrowboat to go up and down the staircase pointing the wrong way, to avoid turning here. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.

The turning basin below the the triple staircase Lock 1,2 and 3. If you must turn here, it is better to stick the bow in the piling slot, not attempt it the other way, as we did. Savick Brook / Ribble Link.