TheBiscuits

Garstang Marina or Glasson Basin like everyone else does?

There's a full recycling point up the hill a bit. From the offside moorings walk up the hill towards the trees and there's a fenced off recycling compound in that car park. No Elsan, nearest is at Oughtrington Wharf.

Apart from the several billion litres of cryptosporidium infected water that United Utilities helpfully provided across the North West a few years ago. Obviously.

Mornington Crescent 🤣

You probably don't want to know how tap water gets processed and where from then ...

Was it the truck carrying the blue signs that broke the bridge?

Yes, but that's not a potential problem. Once you are across the sea lock cill you are either on your way on a flooding tide or you are moored between two locks and putting the kettle on. I know a few people who have had to wait 24 hours on the pontoon as weather conditions prevented their scheduled passages. Yeah, if you miss the timing to get into Preston Docks it's quite important to moor over the deep water channel on the Bullnose. There's an alarming slant on the drying mud by the river bank. Tie to the floats/risers please - tying to the ladder is a very bad idea on a 25 foot tidal range ... Oh, and if you have a dog, it had better be either very small or very good at climbing ladders!

Nah. You put the bread on the gunwales and the swans come and eat it and the algae ...

I've not been towed, but I have seen boats be towed past me on the Ribble. At waterskiing speeds - it looks fun! You're very unlikely to divert to Preston on the way back off the Lancaster (unless you deliberately want to go there.) The timing limit for the Ribble Link is actually the depth of water over the cill at the rotating sea lock, so if you're taking too long coming from Tarleton the tide ebbs too low to navigate that bit. On the way back to Tarleton it's the first thing you cross - you'll be held on the pontoon until it's deep enough, then off you go.

Because of the shape of the rivers and the water flows, your hardest bit is going to be coming out of Tarleton lock and heading downriver against the incoming tide towards Douglas boatyard. Which helpfully is where the tug boat moors! If you fancy booking a tow, it was under a hundred quid last year. I'd recommend having the tug pilots number in your phone just in case you have difficulty out on the wide bit but just try it under your own power. CRT keep an eye on your progress during the crossing and will tell you if you need to divert to Preston.

Try the dark mild at the Market Tavern. It's very good!