Weather

Someone once said, "there's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes." A survival expert also once said, "any idiot can be uncomfortable". Well, yesterday, us two idiots were wearing the wrong clothes as we went for a walk in Elnup Woods.
The length of the grass in places caught us by surprise, so whilst we were dry at the back

we certainly weren't at the front 

We both have waterproof trousers but didn't think we would need them. When will we ever learn? Even if much of the way is easily manageable 

it only takes a few yards of overgrowth to necessitate a full strip down when you get home.

Drip dry!

So, when I woke today to another wet, coldish day I bit the bullet. Out goes my normal attire of t-shirt, short and one and a half pairs of flip flops, in comes shirt, pullover, jeans, thick socks and slippers, i.e. the right clothes. Here, have a laugh at my selfie face!

Nice and warm again!

We were planning another walk today but our boots are still drying out so we'll get the train to Burscough for a Tesco Shop and will see about a walk tomorrow.

Gathurst

After returning to Crankwood from Worsley we made our way to Wigan yesterday and to Gathurst today. Last night we dined at the always excellent Franco's, this morning we had a lie in listening to the rain drumming on the roof - one of our favourite bedroom activities 😎.
But enough of that, what about the weather? Yesterday it was shorts, t-shirt and one and a half pairs of flip flops in the sunshine (you need the extra flip flop to splatter the horse flies!), whereas today it was torrential in the morning and only partially brightened up this afternoon. So we waited until just after noon then cast off, only one pair of flip flops required.
Today's trip involved three locks and the task was shared with this old workhorse.

Having just attended the Lymm Festival the owners of Dove were heading for Liverpool. As we chatted in the locks I discovered that she was built in 1925 and the owner restored her from a wreck six years ago. The original engine was binned - and quite rightly so in my opinion. It had to be started by heating the engine block with a blowtorch then kicking over the flywheel. With no gearbox, the way to "select" reverse was to kick the flywheel in the opposite direction! Instead, he installed this 1948 twin cylinder diesel.

And boy could it shift! They left us for dead as they charged from lock to lock.

Off he goes!

By the time we got to each of the next two locks they were already there, waiting with the gate open. Poor Lottie's tongue was hanging out as we tried to keep up!

After Ell Meadow lock we eased off and crawled through Crooke as they tore on towards Dean lock. Soon enough we got to Gathurst and were surprised to be the only boat here. We'll stay the rest of the week as we slowly head back to Scarisbrick Marina. Lottie is being left there when we head to France next month.

Our regular Worsley walk

Cross the canal and skirt Worsley Green.

Cross the road then climb up Hill Brow.

Straight on into Worsley Wood, with its cool shade and wood carvings.

Leave the woods at Beesley Green.

Turn left on to Greenleach Lane, right on Walkden Road, then right on to Old Hall Lane

Cut through and go past Worsley Marriot

Then head for Worsley Old Hall 

Follow the road back to Worsley, stopping for tea at the John Gilbert

Then back to the boat to wait for tonight's sleepover guest

Sack the gardener

 Here we are at one of our favourite spots just past Boothstown Marina and sad to say it needs a good mowing.

Well, like it or not it's our base until tomorrow at least. We came down here from Crankwood yesterday in a very pleasant evening cruise, having stayed outside 'till dark the day before, making the most of the weather.

Tomorrow we'll be in Worsley with a shady walk planned followed by the inevitable beer or two (I promise pictures) but today it could be a case of get the swimming shorts on and keep jumping in and out of the shower to combat this heat (I promise no pictures!).

Speaking of heat I want to praise my grandson Logan. Yesterday was a very tough day to play rugby league but the little hero ran himself into the ground, scored a great defence busting try, put out an unbelievable hand off to flatten a poor opponent in the last run of the game and was awarded yet another MOM. He's my hero (and thanks to him for his (grand)father's day cards!😘

I've cracked my ribs....

....and it feels great! Here's what I did.....
Use a good quality pork rub (or make your own, it's easy enough) and apply liberally about four hours before cooking. Wrap in foil then BBQ 1 1/2 hrs or oven 3 hrs. I used my new BBQ because I ain't using all that gas and having the oven fan draining my batteries. Here's my new BBQ

It opens like a book to give two cooking grills but I just used one and kept the lid closed for the first phase. After the hour and a half, coat the ribs with a 50/50 mix of BBQ sauce and runny honey then give them 10 minutes or so on the open BBQ.

I can't show you the result but here is the aftermath 

Crisp on the outside but fall apart tender in the middle, I have never had better ribs anywhere. They take a while but believe me they are well worth the wait 😋

He shoots, he scores!

I don't fish much but I have ALWAYS caught at least one every single time I set up. I caught this chap after about 15 minutes

Elaine chopped his nose off!

but shortly afterward an old gentleman came walking by with his dog and that was that! Further angling was out of the question as he gave us chapter and verse about his entire working history plus details of every house he'd lived in.! 

"You're not packing up because of me?", he asked.

"No", I lied. Then the quiz started.

"Guess how old I am."

"Guess how old she (the dog) is."

"Guess her name, it begins with P" (WHAAAAT?)

Oh what the hell, might as well roll with the punches. We had a chat about life in general then I headed in using my tea (which wasn't quite ready) as an excuse. He was last seen waylaying a cyclist. I'm not sure, but I though I heard him say "Guess how old I am?" 😉

Red in tooth and claw

That's how Alfred Lord Tennyson described the harshness of nature and, sadly, we saw a little of it first hand yesterday. Here we are at Hall House Bridge in the Bedford area of Leigh.

We've been here since Friday as it's just a short walk to watch Logan playing rugby at Sutton Park where Leigh Miners Rangers are based (he won opposition coach Man of the Match so that's another superhero rugby shirt I'm buying as reward!) and it's actually quite a peaceful spot.

We were back on board yesterday afternoon when a woman came knocking and we ended up with this poor little passenger.

She'd been almost drowned by two males and was rescued by a couple out walking. Elaine set her on a cushion and covered her before ringing the RSPCA. Sadly though, the poor thing died before they got here, probably through a combination of shock and exhaustion.

Also dead is my smoker 😡. The strong winds have blown it over twice and the legs have collapsed 😡. So I'll be buying a new BBQ but I promise my smoking days are far from over!

When the wind eases tomorrow we'll about turn and start heading towards Wigan and, eventually, Burscough. More later.