Thursday 6th July 2017

A much quieter day than yesterday. We spent some time doing housework and then cruised along the canal for a couple of hours. We encountered a swing bridge - the first for many miles - and just 2 locks. Dean lock used to be paired but only one is in use. We moored below the lock for water and you can see the discharge from the lock weir stream of the disused lock. The M6 is in the background.

The Lancashire countryside is very nice and on a lovely summer's day it was very pleasant just sailing along.

We moored at Parbold with its sail-less windmill and thought the chimney on the adjoining house looked unusual.

A trip to a nearby garage to buy oil for an engine oil change was like stepping back in time. I didn't feel that I could take a photo but all surfaces were piled high with parts, tools and paperwork. Certainly you couldn't have reached the back of the office to get anything. Prices for petrol were definitely 2017 level.

As we returned along the tow path these 2 small installations caught the eye. Someone must have spent quite a lot of time putting them together.

Off to Southport tomorrow on the train.