Thursday 22/9. Withnell Fold to Haigh Country Park

Before we left this morning we took a little constitutional around the village which owes its existence to the now defunct paper mill

The place is jammed with des res's. This one can be yours for a mere GBP800,000

However there are some more modest old mill workers cottages around the square

Looking at our mooring. The nature reserve is to the right

And a nice view down the canal

We got tantalising glimpses of countryside as we wended our way toward Chorley

However before we reached Chorley we had to tackle Johnsons's Hillock Locks, a flight of 7. We aborted the waterfill at the top of the locks because no-one could manage to attach the hose. Aqua Life was just leaving the first lock  when another boat approached. I went and spoke to them and as they were heading down the locks too, I said we would wait for them in the next lock. Tim and I then helped work them through the lock while Aqua Life sat in the next lock that had been readied by Mike.

They were a couple from British Columbia on a 3 week hire.  With Mira steering the boat and doing a grand job considering it was her 4th day on the tiller and with her husband, Mike, Tim and I lock wheeling we got through the locks in record time. it did help that we didn't need to use the anti vandal keys.

Mira and Lawrence descending in a lock and neither of them paying proper attention to the cill.

Tim and Mike at the bottom lock

Looking back up the flight

Another spire, this time a Mormon Church

Botany Bay, an old mill, now a flash shopping centre

Going past White Bear Marina 

The downstairs maid, unfortunately not supplied with the boat, doing a Stirling job on the carpet. Thank you Tim.

We moored up at 4.00pm opposite Haigh Hall Country Park, now owned by the Wigan Corporation.

Our view down the canal

Now just to finish off, remember the kid in the canal incident. Well, Tim was so concerned he managed to to take a photo. And tonight,math much cursing and sweating, Lawrence managed to perform some magic and get the photo from Tims camera onto the iPad via the bluey.  So here is chubby about to hit the water

We are moored up less than an hour from Wigan Top Lock. The plan is to leave here at 6.30am as we want to get,through Plank Lane Bridge, currently opened,only at 2.00pm each day and it is about 4 miles,beyond the bottom of,the Wigan 21 flight. Keep your fingers crossed for us tomorrow.

10 miles, 7 locks in 6 hrs 10mins