pearley

Generally speaking Jeannette and I take turns but shes not that keen on wide locks. However, she tells me she would rather operate the lock than steer as that way she gets to talk to people as MEN DO NOT TALK!

Moored at Bentley a couple of times with no problems. Mooring at Walsall Top LOck is on offside behind lockable gate. The one whose name I can't recall is also behind gate and fence though I've never stopped there as Sneyd is just around the corner. I should also have mentioned Walsall Town Arm where we've moored on numerous occasions with no trouble.

Might be difficult at Hand & Dagger. Towpath inc the moorings were closed off last week for footpath improvements. Too shallow on other side of bridge for us.

Not so, there is the stub end of the Bentley Canal at Bentley Retail Park, Sneyd Junction, Walsall Top Lock and a BW mooring just before Sneyd whose name escapes me at present.

Just come back from the Lancaster. Only two places that sell diesel, Moons Bridge and Glasson Basin although if you have a jerry can and don't mind a short walk Harrisons at Garstang will seel at the domestic rate. Sanitary Station and water taps at Hest Bank closed. Restrictions on the Sanitary Station at Galgate. Lots of overstaying on visitor moorings (or so it seemed) Doubling up on the visitor mooring at Preston services seems the norm. Quite shallow in places for us at 29 inches. Weather was lousy but great views and we hope to go again.

The towpath has been reopened with lots of railings along it and a gravel surface but the sanitary station is still boarded.

When I was at Burscough a month ago I heard a rumour that Worsley S/Stn had been vandalised. I haven't seen anything on here but am now moored outside and the door is boarded over with a sign stating 'closed'.

Didn't know there was one planned (I rarely need to go, unless pubbing at The Hop) - will have to investigate! When we left Clarence Dock in February to go yup to Skipton at the bottom of the round tower block facing the roadway there was door which the workmen had left open, Inside was an Elsan point, toilets and shower, unless Id had too much at The Hop!

Is the new sanitary station at Granary Wharf open yet?

If you want shops near the Sea Life Centre there is a huge Tesco at the far end of Broad Street. Alternatively, if going by Old Main Line equally large Sainsburys at Oldbury. Moor opposite the garden centre on the bollards. Regards Pete

Never had a problem at Wellingborough apart from the swans!

All the current Dynorod vans are vinyl wrapped. That fluorescent orange paint they originally used faded too quickly.

You should try to deviate from the BCN mainline by going via the W & E if you have time. These are underused waterways though the Walsall Canal might be pushing it a bit the art gallery at Walsall is always worth a visit.

We went to the end last summer. I don't recall any problems with my T-Mobile dongle.

Overcrowded! We have passed 4 moving boats today. That's more than every other day combined since we arrived on the Lancaster a week ago. Thanks for telling me about Moons Bridge. Going towards Tewitfield at present so will have to get it on the way back. However, did fill my jerrycan at Harrisons depot in Garstang this morning. Only 64p a litre! Regards Pete

Currently at Garstang. Got the email from Watewrscape re Galgate but the Hest Bank one was so long ago I assumed it was sorted. Thanks for the reminder. More importantly, none of the boatyards/marinas seem to sell diesel anymore except for Glasson. Regards Pete

It is not in the marina. If you go up the arm past the marina it is about 75 yards past the entrance. Usual elsan, water and toilet. No rubbish. You will then have to reverse back to the marina entrance to turn. Regards Pete

£34.55! And to think I gave my copy away to my local canal society when I moved on board.

All I can say from previous experience with 3 is I will never use them again! I'll stick with T-Mobile.

We received our licence whilst in Leeds. A blue one expiring end Dec 2011. I went into the office to enquire why wrong colour. The receptionist rang Licensing to ask and fell about laughing when told they had run out of the right colour ones.

Taking them down on Tuesday because there are so many. Whilst we were in the dock last week, a wide boat arrived at 10.30am on Tuesday - 19th - He must have come part way on Monday, overnighted at Litherland or Eldonian village and then taken down the locks Tuesday morning. The BW team that took us back up said Tuesday is reserved for 'emergency movements'?

BW emptied the dock on Monday. There are supposed to be 30 boats coming down the canal for the show and another 10 coming from Ellesmere Port. The pontoons go up to S46 so that still ,leaves empty spaces plus the new pontoons. However, the problem is Hancocks Bridge 9. It is a very busy road and BW are very wary of having the bridge open too long. We passed 7 boats going down Tuesday and another 6 going down yesterday. Went off to Southport today so don't know how many tomorrow but 2 very wide boats have just gone past to the show. Regards Pete

I should have added that the Mersey TAI swimming club swim around the dock every Sunday morning, hardy souls, and that the Duckmobile enter the water with a huge splash which will push your boat around a lot. If you are there for more than a few days you will get really p****d off with the horn blowing and 'Yellow Submarine'! Ribble Link next week.

We have just left Liverpool today having spent the full 12 days there. To be fair to the s*** boat, his fuel pump failed last week but he still managed to empty our cassettes twice. Whilst there is power for all berths water is every 2 or 3 pontoons so you may have to share hoses. The pontoons are open access with only a chain across the steps so make sure you keep your doors closed. There are plenty of people walking along the pontoons that are not boat owners. Don't fall in the water! It is about 18ft deep. For a company obsessed with H & S, there are precious few ladders to help you get out of the water. Your booking confirmation will probably give a departure time of 9.30 and tell you to stay on your mooring at Salthouse Dock until told to move. The team at the locks say differently, giving all sorts of different times, seemingly depending on which day you came down. Today, they knocked on our roof at 7.50am to tell us to get ready. They did the same with the other 6 narrowboats and one wideboat giving the stupid sight of many boats milling around in Canning Dock while waiting for the lock. As the last boat, I just watched the others from the dock side and when the last pair entered, I walked back to the boat and left, still arriving at Mann Island before the lock was ready. There are no facilities after Burscough until Litherland, so make sure you have enough water if you are going slowly. If, like us, you only cover 3 hours a day and then your water pump leaks, you might have a problem! Most boaters travelling to Liverpool tend to stop the night around bridge 10. It is very pleasant there but the 9.30am time at bridge 9 is also variable. The pair of boats moored next to us were phoned by BW at 8.20am to find out where they were as BW were ready to open the bridge. We moored overnight at bridge 9. Whilst there were plenty of anglers around, it was one of the quietist moorings we've had. And the start was dead on 9.30am! There is a pub at Albert Dock, the Pumphouse. It sells Greene King real ale at London prices. I don't think I would want to eat there having seen the chef. There is the Baltic Fleet about half a mile along Wapping with its own brewery. Beers are first class but the pub decor leaves a lot to be desired. The Hub Alehouse just up Hanover Street past John Lewis has 5 real ales on tap but again at London prices. We tried several other pubs in the city, most of them good but our favourite was The Beehive on the far side of Liverpool One as you enter the old city centre. A trip on the Mersey is a must if only for the best view of the Three Graces. The view from the dock being obscured by the 'stunning' new buildings. Enjoy Liverpool, we did. Regards Pete ps. The meter for socket 2 on the electricity pillar between berths S16 and S17 is stuck so whoever gets there first can enjoy free electricity! We were on S17.