Sunday 2nd July 2017

Chris and Tim left us at Burnley to catch a bus and train back to their car and we set off for Blackburn. We thought that the scenery would be much more industrial than it was and for most of the day we had lovely views across to the north.

This lifeboat is obviously the unpainted version of the one we saw last Saturday. There must be dozens for sale as this boatyard had at least 2.

Finally at 63 and five eighths miles we passed the half way point on the Leeds and Liverpool canal. Some rather splendid metalwork records this and we wondered if it had been erected to celebrate the 200th birthday of the canal last year.

Graham and Brown make Wallcoverings and have decorated a bridge hole with their wares - and also a telephone box on their land!

We are moored in secure Blackburn Eanam Wharf which was a significant goods depot on this canal. Twenty five thousand people attended its opening in 1810. Records show that barges bearing yarn, molasses, tallow, timber, lead, malt and earthenware delivered to the wharf. The guide book says that there is mooring here but a trip boat seems to have taken it all so we are double breasted against it and very secure behind locked gates.

We took a walk in Blackburn which unfortunaly looked rather sad on this Sunday evening but modern architecture seems to be "In" although we couldn't find any notices explaining the pieces.

At least this staircase in a redeveloped building looked good.