TNC On Tour 2003 16 - The Lanky
Neil Arlidge
That evening we wandered into town quite early and found the previously
"closed due to flood" Weatherspoon's open for business. As usual an on form
pint and the now usual "two meals for 5.75 quid" deal. Martin, of course
finished of his meal with the famous Wetherspoon chocolate cheesecake. After
the pub we had a wander up to the Williamson Memorial view point - nice view
of Lune Aqueduct. Rather strange woodland noises in woods below monument -
warm up for a Grimm's Fairy Tales evening. We then walked back down to the
Lune waterfront, to look at the new footbridge and converted to flats wharf
buildings - quite a nice development.
We were expecting a somewhat noisy night in Lancaster, due to the close
proximity of the now "TNC Banned" Water Witch pub...............but it ended
up a complete reversal...............boater rage!
When we returned there was a tatty cruiser in front of us, with two oldish
lads fishing by it. We thought nothing of this and went inside for a coffee.
After about half an hour there was a lot of shouting, then banging on
cruiser.......Neil retreats to back of Earnest to get a mooring pin close to
hand.........but upon looking at the commotion, it was noted that the two
fisher lads were on the cruiser (borrowed dad's boat??) and were now
involved in a rather violent argument, with much boat thumping and swearing
going on between the lad holed up inside and the rather irate one outside.
Eventually the lines were cast off and the boat whizzed off.............then
back and forwards a few time at full tilt, before the lads tied up beyond
the BW lawnmower craft,to continue their argument in private.
The Water Witch pub packs up around 23:00 and all was quiet for the rest of
the night, apart from some bouts of singing girlies, returning home from the
Lancaster clubs.
Saturday 12th July 2003
As it was a nice sunny day and we were surprisingly near the bank, Neil
decided to give Earnest it's yearly "Autoglm". Greg Chapman was first to
arrive of the new TNC On Tour recruits. This was about 12:00. Greg had
decided to come in his car, leave it in a Lancaster car park, then bus /
train back for it at the end of his week. Martin and Greg took advantage of
having a car and did a big re-provisioning exercise at Sainsbury's, which
was a fair way from the canal, near the river. Greg also did a taxi service
for Molly, when see arrived at the station - 14:30.
By this time Neil had finished his anti-social practices and Earnest looked
ready for the National.............apart from the rusty mangled looking swan
neck.
After brief introductions we shoved off at 15:35 - destination Glasson Dock
and another trip down the little used but VERY nice Glasson Dock Branch. At
the junction Neil got out the WWW's new Brompton foldy-cycle and lock
wheeled down the 6 original Lanky style locks - large fixed windlasses and
scissor gate paddles, all locked up with BW padlocks. Roving BW locky was
surprised, but glad we were going down. He said that the locals hardly ever
bother and before the Ribble Link there was only around one boat a month
using the locks.
Arrival at the basin was at 19:55 and we tied up on the mostly empty Long
Term Moorings, to the right of the dock as you arrive down. Greg managed to
find the owners of the NB Dutch Barge - "Sulasker". Carole and Stuart Samson
are the people that do the "First Mate" waterways guides, that Greg said are
the best for local info. The "Victoria" was our chosen venue again. Not too
full, nice pint of Thwaites Lancaster Bomber and OK food.
Afterwards we walked up to the viewing point again, this time with the
ship's bins. Nice clear evening, many ships and the gas platforms visible
out in Morecambe Bay. A small barge, eventually identified as the "Aulden
River" started up the Lune, going pretty fast on the evening flood tide.
Neil legged it back down to the docks, to get a couple of good shots of it
slewing sideways into the dock entrance, virtually loosing it against the
flood. After almost narrowboat corrections the barge corrected it's position
and then stormed into port, through the outer single lock gate. After a few
blasts of smoky power the little barge was moored up ready to discharge it's
cargo...........another magical small port moment.
Sunday 13th July 2003
Another blazingly hot,cloudless morning. We missed the 10:00 opening of "The
Lock Keepers Rest" as we left at 09:50. Brompton got out again for Greg to
play with. Above the first lock we passed a small NB - "Night Owl", with a
terrified local crew that had just done their first up hill lock. They had a
small disagreement with another ascending local boater and the BW locky, so
were waiting for some off-Lanky "Lock experts" to help them
out.................any way eventually we caught up with the other local
boat - NB "Prime Time". TNC soon spread harmony amongst the natives and we
all managed the rest of the locks together.
At the top of the flight (12:15) we parted company, with NB "Prime Time"
following us down the Lanky mainline. Neil got bored, so continued his boaty
re-refurbishments. The tiller arm and swan neck was attacked with the angle
grinder. Coarse.then finer production paper was used to gradually restore
the very RTBC tiller arm.
Arrival at Garstang Visitor Moorings was at 16:05. Before this we filled
with water and most people had a shower, on the Garstang Sani-station, for
around an hour (slow tap). After arrival Neil decided to "do" the rudder
bearing and swan neck, so both items were removed. After a bit of power wire
brushing, the swan neck - collar re-welded area was tidied up with a bit of
metal filler and the removed items cleaned up and red oxide primed.
During proceedings Trevor Burridge arrived, via train and bus, who then led
a mini mutiny, where all crew left for the pub - "Th Old Tithe Barn". Trevor
returned with a pint of Thwaites Bomber for Neil, who by that time was in
steering gear re-assembly mode. Trevor also reported that the pub food was
on until 21:00.
Eventually after Neil had cleared up and Trevor showered, we sat down in the
pub and forced a meal order...................the answer to this from bar
staff was that they were completely out of starters and main courses, but we
could order a sweet!!
Off we went again and after a guided tour of Garstang, we eventually forced
a decision - Trevor's initial one - and got a Chinese takeaway from the
"Chop Suey House - Garstang" Molly did the honours and was glad to report
that they won the Evening Post award for the best local takeaway
in...................1988.
Jolly meal back on the boat as we sweltered with all possible boat orifice
open.
Monday 14th July 2003
Yet another brilliant morning. Trevor survived his night on the single
dinette bed....only one of the wayward base cushions had escaped in the
night. Greg lightly cooked fry-up breaky on the move - started off at 08:30.
Neil did undercoat on tiller / rudder bearing, while on the move. We filled
up with diesel at Moon's Bridge Marina - did not get the price but is was in
excess of 40p/L.
--
Neil Arlidge - NB Earnest
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