Today we completed the last few  locks before we took a very windy trip into Albert Docks for a week long celebration of my 60th birthday

Today would have been dads birthday and sadly mum passed away on this day.
R.I.P.
On a happier note two years ago Poppy was born.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today we had a longer cruise than expected as we had been told to moor at Bridge 10 and then leave in the morning to cruise to a bridge operated by C.A.R.T. at 1pm.
As we travelled to bridge 10 we were advised by other boats that had travelled into Liverpool the last nine years to travel on to Litherland Visitor Moorings.
The reason being that we may have to stop to clear the prop. on a regular basis and could miss the 1pm slot.

After very short cruise today we have reached Halsall Bridge where there is a statue dedicated to the navvies that built the canal.

 We are holding back so that we can start our trip into Liverpool on the 31st.
Today we have had a short run as we waited for the diesel boat at Pinfold.

 Today as we are holding back as we have a couple of days before we start our trip into Liverpool docks we are moored in Burscough.
When we walked up the town there was an advertisement for a Spring Fest on the Cricket Ground which had a beer festival and live band.

 Today we turned on to new waters and cruised through Wigan and past the famous Wigan Pier.
Also we cruised into the county of Lancashire to moor in Parbold.

As we go further north the number of the Victorian Mills increase and try and imagine the number of people that had worked there and what effect it had on the area when they finally shut.
We left the Bridgewater Canal and joined the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Today we have moved on to Worsley Bridge passing the Linotype Works which is in the process of being developed for housing.
We have also passed over the Manchester Ship Canal via the Barton Swing Aqueduct.

Everybody taking a well earned rest as we travelled on to Lymm yesterday.

 Staying overnight at site of the Dutton 2012 breach of the canal when the canal side slid down the side of a hill.
Had an early start the following morning as we aimed to get the 8am passage through the Preston brook tunnel on to the Bridgewater Canal.

 Moved on today passing the Anderton Lift and few strange people on the towpath.
We had to get to the Barnton and Saltersford tunnels as they are one way traffic tunnels and you are only allowed travel through only certain times.

Ruby now chills out and is coming a proper boating dog.
Which is good as to day we had a seven hour trip taking in the views of TaTa's brine processing plant.

Today we cruised down sixteen locks and after taking the dogs for a play it was time to have a pint or two in the Shroppie Fly.
Even Father Christmas needs a holiday and a few pints.