News
Rufford Branch - Closure Update 15th September 2015
Today I have spoken with CRT in Wigan and they are planning for the first boats to be moving over the repaired Rufford Branch on Friday 25th Sept, with priority being given to boats heading for the Lancaster canal on the 26th Sept crossing, then to boats with the furthest distance to travel. As we have to get back to Fenny marina we are fairly high up the priority list so expct to be underway Saturday 26th afternoon, or latest Sunday 27th Morning.
Latest Stoppage update is here
Lancaster Canal - Hest bank to Cockerham 1st September 2015
From Hest bank through Galgate to Cockerham.
Lancaster - Hest Bank to Tewitfield and back 31st Aug 2015
From Hest Bank North through Carnforth to the current terminus of the Canal at Tewitfield. Lunch in the Longlands hotel and a crew change. Then a walk up the Flight of locks to where the motorway intersects the canal on the level.
Returning the same route back to Hest Bank for an overnight mooring.
Lancaster Canal - Salwick to Hest Bank 29-30th August 2015
From Salwick a late start Saturday morning then head north along the Canal stopping in Bilsborough for lunch, and Garstang for provisions. Then an overnight mooring at Cabus Nook with the remains of the Tarleton Tandori for Dinner.
Sunday another mid morning start stopping at Galgate for Water, services and a lunch time pint in the Plough. At Galgate one of moorers started asking about the Pellet stove having seen it on the boat web site. So an impromptue demonstration of the stove and its operation and discussion on its installation followed.
From Galgate we continued north through Lancaster and across the Lune Viaduct to an overnight mooring on the outskirts of Hest Bank. An excellent Dinner in the "Hest Bank Inn"
Rufford Branch Breach 27th August 2015
I took a walk up to look at the breach today and it does not look like much has actually been done on site. There is one small trench across the culvert presumably for the drain mentioned in the last CRT update to take the water from the stream through the site. The long arm excavator on site was being used to off load materials rather than any excavation.
The overpumping has been stopped and the pound below lock 5 is now very low. The pound between locks 6 and 7 is on weir and there is still a considerable water flowing over the bywash at lock 7, presumably from the EA pumping from the surrounding land. So it looks like the Cross pumping may have been unnecessary.
I can only hope that now they have all the necessary agreements in place the work can proceed quickly, though I am still doubful that we will be moving on the 26th Sept as planned.
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/library/11723-rufford-branch-stoppage-update-28-august-2015.pdf
