May 24 - May 26

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Gday all

Well the weather has beaten us on the boat. It was raining all morning and not expected to stop anytime soon so instead of being stuck on a cramped boat for 2 days in the rain we took the hard decision and handed the keys in early.

May 24 - Today we started off very well, nice weather and clear skies. We went north on the canal to Tewitfield the end of the canal at this stage....the Government has only been talking about reopening the rest of the canal since 1968...can't rush these things. When we got to Tewitfield it looks like the diesel fairies had been around as there was a lot less diesel in the boat then when we started off. Apparently the mongrels like to come along and pinch the diesel cause they seem to need it more than the owners...anyway because of the low diesel the muck from the bottom of the tank stuffed up the fuel filter and we had to wait half an hour for the owner to come put a new one in. We then did a turn around and for the fourth time we went back through the only obstacle on the canal The Hest Bank Swing Bridge. After a really good day of putting along we got to a most beautiful spot on the canal just after Aldcliffe.

May 25 - After spending a splendid night in the glorious solitude we started off again south. With a stop at Garstang (The Owd Tithebarn Hotel) for another hefty lunch...still don't know how they do it for the money...we then travelled down to Bilsborrow (the home mooring for the canal boat) Here we moored for the night hoping to go to Preston Today then back to Bilsborrow on Friday to hand the boat back Saturday but as I said earlier we woke to heavy rain.
We decided to hand the boat back and get an early start to the next leg of the Holiday.
We are staying the night at the Grosvenor Hotel in Stratford upon Avon where tomorrow we will go have a look at all the Shakespeare stuff.

Bye for now
Love to all
Mark and Jules

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Photos

Lancaster Canal
Just before we stopped for night

Lancaster Canal
Just before we stopped for night

Lancaster Canal
Just before we stopped for night

Lancaster Canal
Just before we stopped for night

Lancaster Canal
Just before we stopped for night

Lancaster Canal
Where we did stop between Aldcliffe and Galgate

Comments

[Denise Rodda]

Hello from WA
Hi Julia & Mark, Guess you were not really meant to do the canal boat experience, at least it wasn't boring!!!!! It looked so pretty tho shame about the rain. Enjoy your next adventure, look forward to seeing the next stage. Take care, love to you both. Denise.

[Jane Holland]

Looks like you are having an action packed holiday guys!! The long boat looked great would have loved to have had a peek inside. shame you had poor weather lets hope the sun shines on the rest of the trip Love & hugs jane xx

[auntie joyce]

so glad ur enjoying yourselfs pity about the rain hope it brightens up a bit,its busy here packing we move on the 11th miss u already have a great time lots of love to u both xxx