Another two flights of locks.

Saturday 14th May 2022 near Norden.

 Last night, we agreed with Colin and Janis on nb "Ocelot"that we would set off together at 10:00am to go through the seven Johnson's Hillock Locks. At a few minutes to 10:00 - a welcome sight - a C&RT volunteer on the bottom lock, quaintly named Johnson's Hillock Bottom Lock (the lock, not the volunteer - his name was Nick!). He helped us to "set" it.

As soon as the lock was ready, MM went in, followed by Ocelot.

Colin and Janis's daughter Ffion was visiting them so, with Nick from the C&RT, there were six of us to set and do the locks. Two could go ahead to set the next lock while two closed up the last lock. R and Janis drove the two boats and we kept the two boats side by side in the pounds.

With all this help and a few Gongoozlers, we went through the seven locks in under an hour. Slightly better than three hours to do eight locks on the Wigan flight on our own two days ago!

Well, actually it took a bit over an hour as we were held up by a boat coming down the last lock. R and Janis hovered the two boats in the last pound waiting for the boat to come down. At this point, neither Robin nor Janis could see the pantomime taking place up at the lock!

All four of our "crew" were at the lock and there was quite a crowd of the crew from the other boat, which appeared to be a broken down cruiser that they were trying (badly) to bow-haul with ropes. Our "crew" set the lock for them but received neither acknowledgement or thanks. The cruiser was slowly pulled through the lock. We had no idea what they were trying to do and it was quite clear that they had no idea either! We stood, mesmerised by such a show of disorganised chaos, waiting for one of them to fall in (rather to our disappointment, no one did!)! It took a while and they passed us as if we didn't exist. However, Nick the C&RT chap, set off after them, saying he could see a disaster in the making!

Having completed the flight of locks, we stopped at the water point next to the top lock and M got rid of the rubbish. Then we said a fond farewell to Colin, Janis and Ffion who were mooring Ocelot up for the day. We hope we see them again; they were lovely people and Ocelot was a beautiful boat.

A little further on, we were passed by a large group of people carrying a telegraph pole! Many of them were wearing "Motor Neurone" T-shirts so it appeared to be a fund raiser. Everyone waved cheerily and they all seemed to be enjoying the walk in the sunshine, including the dog, who was bounding on ahead.

Despite the proximity of Blackburn, the cruising was very rural.

Quite surprisingly, the bluebells were still in full bloom in the shade of the trees. They really have been spectacular this year.

In Blackburn there are a further six locks, which we decided to go ahead and do, as it was such a lovely day. As we approached the bottom lock, another boat was coming out so, all the locks were for us, more or less. 

Half way up, we saw this fellow, looking a bit gaunt, on his bike. M said he should never have gone on that crash diet!

Just after the top lock, there is a "secure mooring" in the middle of Blackburn which we had used in 2015. It no longer appeared to exist and  part of it had been converted into a pub. There were disco lights along the edge of the canal and, it being Saturday night, we thought it best to move on.

Soon after, we passed Daisyfield Mill, now used by Granada TV News.

It was a lovely sunny evening with clear blue skies so we cruised on for a few miles until we were well out into the countryside. We found a very quiet place to moor for the night surrounded by wild flowers and open fields. Larks trilling overhead, and only the sheep for company, Bliss!

Today: 12 miles, 13 locks and 5.5 hours.

Trip: 115 miles, 81 locks and 56.2 hours.