Finally Past the Leak at Burscough.

 Sunday 18th and Monday 19th August 2024 at Burscough.

The plan today was to get to Burscough so that we were past the leak between swing bridges 31 and 32, not least because the C&RT was still silent as to when they might close the canal to make a second attempt to fix the leak (the first attempt closed the canal for four weeks last year).

None of us particularly likes doing swing bridges but M decided to take on the first one at Coxhead. 

Luckily, that bridge opened and closed without any problem.

The canal goes through a cutting at Halsall, where the very first sod of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal was cut on 5th Novenber 1770. The completion of the canal was delayed by arguments about its route and very many difficulties of overcoming the high terrain between Leeds and Liverpoool, which includes the Pennines. As a result, the canal was not finally completed from end to end until 19th October 1816, 46 years later!

After the cutting, the canal runs through some very agricultural land that used to be a marsh but was drained and then fertilised by "night soil" (human waste - yeuk) shipped on the canal from Liverpool and Wigan - all promoted by our friend the Duke of Bridgewater.

At this point M got off MM and walked the towpath.

The point at which M got off MM is opposite "Trundle Pie Lane" and "Trundle Pie House" - what marvellous countryside names!

On the way towards Liverpool two weeks earlier, M has spotted large fields of wild flowers and was curious to see what varieties they were. Close up, they were very beautiful and the number of different species was surprising; this photo doesn't do them justice. Among all the other varieties were flax, with its delicate blue flower, bistort, crimson clover, two different types of wild mustard and mayweed. It appears that they have been sown as a crop to improve the soil, which will probably be overseeded with a regular crop next year.

There was also a lot of evidence of previous crops of oats and wild oats.

Finally, with a sigh of relief, we gently cruised past the site of the leak and its temporary tarpaulin. So that is one obstacle out of the way!

Back on MM, M used the wild flower books to identify all the many flowers that she had seen today in the fields.

The flower above is Lacy Phacelia, certainly worthy of a florist's stall! It attracts pollinators.

Moored up in Burscough, we watched the sun set behind the trees. It was spectacular.

Later the moon (full tomorrow) rose above the horizon and was reflected in the still water of the canal.

On Monday morning, all four of us went for breakfast at Hugo's in the courtyard next to the canal, followed by a visit to the local Tesco for a few more bits.

Sadly, the weather then deteriorated and so we all had a quiet afternoon being domestic.

Two Days: 9 miles, 0 locks and 4.5 hours

Trip: 201 miles, 91 locks and 100.5 hours.