Through a Damaged Plank Lane Bridge

 Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd August 2024 in Leigh.

We started off from Scotsman's Flash early as the lift bridge at Plank Lane, about 4 miles away, is damaged and the C&RT is only opening it once a day at 10:00am to let boats through. 

The sky was very threatening so R was dressed for rain. He still looked happy!

We got to Plank Lane Bridge in good time but there were already four boats waiting in front of us. The C&RT let two boats through going the other way, then closed the bridge again to let the road traffic over before opening it again to let three boats through going our way. 

When the road traffic queue had reduced, they opened the bridge again to let MM and Lazy Bee through.

In total, eleven boats got through the bridge today with the bridge being opened and closed four times to reduce the road traffic queues and avoid seriously annoying the motorists. M said it was jolly nice not having to operate the bridge herself for a change!

As Lazy Bee followed us through the bridge, M photographed Shelley photographing M photographing Shelley...

On the other side of the bridge is a water point and MM was third in the queue for water. We had to wait a very long time, not least because the crew on the first boat, that shall remain nameless, had installed their hose the wrong way round so the non-return valve on the boat end reduced the water flow to a trickle! Still, we were not in a hurry and it didn't matter having to wait a while.

The nameless boat is not the one in the foreground above.

Together with Lazy Bee, we cruised on into Leigh, where we moored up just opposite the recently re-opened "Waterside Inn". 

As the weather on Thursday is predicted to bring strong winds and rain, we decided to stay in Leigh for a second night and only move on towards Boothstown on Friday. Meanwhile, Shelley managed to get a hair appointment and we all went to Tesco for a few bits including Shelley and Harley's favourite Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc.

Two Days: 6 miles, 0 locks and 2.2 hours.

Trip: 218 miles, 99 locks and 110.8 hours.