Many Meetings: A Leaking Culvert, fixed in 2023, that is leaking again.

Wednesday, 7 August 2024

A Leaking Culvert, fixed in 2023, that is leaking again.

Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th August 2024 at Haskayne Bridge

On Tuesday 6th we stayed in Burscough as we were in good time to reach Liverpool for our booked arrival slot on Saturday. Breakfast was in Hugo's in the courtyard beside the canal, which serves excellent food in a very attractive coffee shop.

Later in the day, we each had a very welcome ice cream in the sunshine. One of those ice creams belongs to M, who is behind the camera (note from M: "don't believe him"!!)

We were very amused to see this lovely four-footed friend also enjoying a doggy ice cream and were delighted to hear that the shop gives dogs a free ice cream when its hot.

Adam, the General Manager of Hugo's, was very interested to hear about the narrowboats and, when he said that he had never been on one, we invited him back to look over MM. As the General Manager, he gave himself permission to take a bit of time off to come over for look around!

Adam was clearly a convert to the idea of narrowboats. We're hoping he might come and join us for a short trip when we pass through Burscough again on our return journey in a couple of weeks' time.

The following morning, we moved up to the water point and filled both boats' water tanks.

Just past Burscough town is the location of last year's culvert leak which caused this canal to be closed for four weeks while the C&RT fixed it. Sadly, the fix doesn't appear to have worked as it is leaking again in exactly the same place. They have laid a tarpaulin over the leak, which has stopped it for now but they will have to do a more permanant repair at some point soon. You can see the power pole in the picture on the left from 2023 and the same pole on the right today. This, for us, is "the point of no return" as, if the C&RT decides to close the canal after we have gone through, we shan't be able to get back!