6th June

Savick Brook
The last and lowest bridge

The end of the Savick Brook

Out onto the River Ribble

The trailing flotila

Autumn Years gunning it

The flotila just before they turn off the Ribble

Back on the Leeds & Liverpool

The day we recross the Ribble Link.

The day started well clear skies and little wind, it then clouded over and threatened to rain, but by the time we were ready to go, the sun was getting more predominant.

We assembled by the top of the locks at 11.00 a.m. we were going to be the fifth and sixth boats to travel down the locks, we reversed down the locks, this is because when we get to the bottom, we immediately have to travel the way we are facing and there is no room to turn the boat. We then wriggle along the Savick Brook and down six locks, continue along the Brook, under a low bridge, through a rotating sea lock, that lets us out onto the tidal bit of the Brook and then onto the River Ribble. It didn't take long before both our boats were in front, and stretching the gap all the time.

The weather was perfect for the crossing, a very low wind and blue skies.

Then we turned south, to travel down the River Douglass, a big river with the tide starting to ebb we had to drive hard to keep in front of the rest of the flotilla.

We arrived at Tatleton lock at 4. p.m. with seven BW staff waiting to take us through, we exited the lock before the rest of the boats were near the lock.

We then travelled down the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, after three miles we moored up.

On this day in 1844 "The Factories Act" was passed, restricted working hours for women and children.