Curiosities!

 
The home of the Bridgwater canal - note entrance to mine at right of building.

One of the most photogenic parts of the inland waterway network, and also the place it all began in Britain. The Duke of Bridgwater had a coal mine here, and they used to use barges to bring the coal out from the flooded mine. Originally, it was taken to Manchester by wagon on poor roads, at significant cost. The Duke commissioned the construction of the canal from the mine direct into the centre of Manchester, slashing transport costs and therefore the price of coal, and bringing about the start of the Industrial Revolution.
Graffiti. It reads, "Farmers Shit Porridge, Farm workers Eat Corn Beef, We don't like Sheep".

There is some fascinating graffiti around, most rude, some poignant, some occasionally thought provoking. Like it or loathe it, you have to accept that it has been around for as long as man has been able to write, and what is the stuff found on the walls as Lascaux after all, if not what they would have done with spray paint if it had been available?

But this, written on a bridge in Worsley makes no sense to me. If you think you can explain it, please let me know. It might be lines from Chaucer or Shakespeare for all I know. But somehow I doubt it.

Sunken cruiser

Whenever you leave your boat for any length of time unattended, which all boaters have to do from time to time, this is the thing you fear you will find on your return to it. There are many potential causes, a leak, ropes too tight, vandalism, a failed bilge pump, Al Qaeda terrorists, heavy rain, anything. It must be soul-destroying to discover your pride and joy settled on the bottom of the cut.
Steam packet.

I didn't get the chance to meet or talk with the chap at the controls of this lovely little boat, but I imagine that it was a labour of love for someone. It's always a thrill to discover these little treats, and they do remind us of our island race heritage.

High-speed link routes, old and new.

This is the current view of the top of the Lancaster canal, looking North, immediately adjacent to he M6 motorway. The locks are abandoned are unused at present, but there is a plan for them to be refurbished and thus this enable navigation to Kendal from Lancaster once more.

 
Why are there 4 bathtubs on the riverbank?

A great sight this. I don't know whether they breed bathtubs in this part of the World, or whether they run wild and graze in small groups like this in their natural habitat, as I've never come across them in the countryside before. But I suppose they have to come from somewhere and it's great to see them in the wild like this. They look happy don't they?

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