Wednesday 5th July

,The day of the great Wigan flight. This photo taken from Pearson's guide book shows the locks coming in quick succession. We were starting from the left hand side, right across the page and then turning right down to the bottom right corner.

We were very lucky as there was only one other boat wanting to make the descent - 'Evening Star' with Cath and Terry on board. The top lock is only open between 8am and 9am so we were ready to go. In fact it didn't open until 8.30. Terry and I were working the locks whilst Cath and Graham steered the boats. I find the outpouring of water behind the stern as you descend rather frightening so I was very happy to get the exercise on lock duty. Photos are rather non existant as you are too busy concentrating on windless duty and handcuff (anti-vandal) keys to look after a phone or camera too. 

Graham on board did take this looking behind at Britannia bridge near the bottom of the flight and there is also Terry and I walking between locks.

As you can see the sun had come out. We had started in drizzle and actually you don't want it to be too hot. We both had a spring in our steps at the beginning but it had become more of a plod by the end!

21 locks in 4 hours and then we reached the bottom lock to discover that we could not pass through as it is padlocked until 2pm to conserve water and prevent people starting late in the day. We certainly didn't want to hang round for 90mins but a volunteer turned up with the padlock key and let us work through. There is supposed to be a roving lock keeper who is monitoring the levels between locks. We never saw him!

Wigan regenerated the area around the infamous Wigan Pier in the 1980's with information boards and a visitors centre. Unfortunately in 2007 it was left to its own devices and everything is closed and decaying leaving only a large pub.

The original Wigan Pier can be see on the left and in the photo below.

It was onward past Wigan Athletic Football Club called DW stadium in honour of Dave Whelan who famously broke his leg playing for Blackburn Rovers in the 1960 FA Cup.

We are moored tonight at Crooke and intend to eat in the pub to celebrate our success with the Wigan 21.

Just across from us are the preserved Long boat ' Ambush' and her powerless butty Viktoria ( yes I know it should have a C ). Crooke was a mining village and as recently as 1964 coal was being loaded from a chute here destined for Liverpool's gas works and Wigan's power station.

We are both expecting to sleep well tonight.