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Tour 2003

Index

14 - Burscough Bridge to Tarleton. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Thursday 3rd July 2003

Not much to do to day, we had to be within reach of Tarleton by the end of the day. Eventually left at 10:00. Somewhat better day, coldish but no rain. No one about all the way down the nice Rufford Branch Locks. Some had old style lever side cloughs, just a large "paddle" on a stick to yank out of the way.....Ah the L&L. Neil is looking forward to this roughty toughty canal!
We stopped in Rufford, on the VM below the lock at 11:55. In conversation with fellow Ribble Link travellers it was found out that the pub in Rufford had closed, so at 13:25 we followed them down to Tarleton Visitor Moorings, just below the last swing bridge (14:30). Harry Mayor soon sorted us out and checked us all in for our 13:00 departure from Tarleton and is bringing his diesel bowser down tomorrow morning to service us and a couple of other boats. That night we attempted a meal in the somewhat oversubscribed "Cock and Bottle". After stretching out a pint of Thwaites for nearly an hour (we had been told a half hour wait would ensue, due to a large party in the dinning room), we got pissed off and repaired to the excellent "Tino's" Italian Restaurant in the new centre, that Martin C had spotted on a reccy.
Operational note : Marsh Meadow Swing bridge No 6 is totally knackered. If the three of us had pushed the arm any more we would have sheared it off!! Fortunately the TNC scaffold pole soon dispatched it.

Lathom Top Lock. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

The disused dry dock and sanitary station at the junction. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Lathom Locks. Old style side Cloughs. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Lathom Locks. Looking up from Lock No 2 to Top Lock No 1. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Looking down to Runnel Brow Lock No 3. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Minimalist Ground Clough. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Yet another style of Ground Clough. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

NB Earnest in Lathom Top Lock No 1. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

NB Earnest in Lathom Top Lock No 1. Main line beyond towpath Glovers Bridge No 1. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Leaving Lathom Top Lock No 1. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Lathom Top Lock No 1. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Runnel Brow Lock No 3 and Runnel Brow Bridge No 2. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Leaving Runnel Brow Lock No 3. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Railway Bridge No 2A. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Moss Lock No 4. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

German's Lock No 5 and German's Bridge No 3. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

German's Lock No 5 and German's Bridge No 3. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Looking back at German's Lock No 5 and German's Bridge No 3. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Lovely views over the Douglas Valley. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Chicken Lock No 6 and Baldwins Bridge No 4. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Prescott Bridge No 4. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Skew railway bridge. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Skew railway bridge. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Marsh Meadow Swing Bridge No 6. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Marsh Meadow Swing Bridge No 6. This was totally knackered, if the three of us had pushed on the arm, it would have sheared off. It needed the 5ft long TNC scaffold pole to start it! Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

New marina being created in Rufford, just below Rufford Lock No 7. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Rufford Lock No 7. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

NB Earnest leaving Rufford Lock No 7. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

The visitor moorings for Rufford, just below Chapel Bridge No 7. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

The leafy (and shallow!) bit beside Rufford Old Hall. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Town Meadow Swing Bridge No 8. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Spark Bridge No 8A. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Fearn's Swing Bridge No 9. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Fearn's Swing Bridge No 9. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Strand Bridge No 10 and the disused Strand Lock. Until the course of the River Douglas was altered, this used to be the tidal lock down to the River Douglas. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Strand Bridge No 10.  Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

The old course of the River Douglas from Strand Bridge No 10 to Bank Bridge No 11. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

The old course of the River Douglas.  Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

The old course of the River Douglas.  Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

The old course of the River Douglas.  This was a fascinating bit of waterway and still felt like a tidal river at high water. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Bank Bridge No 11. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Bank Bridge No 11. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Tarleton to the left. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Town End Swing Bridge No 12. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Town End Swing Bridge No 12. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

Below Town End Swing Bridge No 12 are Tarleton visitor moorings. Also the last moorings before Tarleton Tidal Lock out into the River Douglas. Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Rufford Branch.

The Tour Continues...

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