Arrived at Garstang

13 August 1500. Arrived at Garstang Marina for the canal boat Martini. Well for a boat that had not seen a clean and polish for some 9 months, it was not bad. But, on examination, there was a lot of cleaning required, and the diching of mouldy carpets. Something, (not the carpets), that we are used to with the Bruce Trust. But we set too. Chris doing most of the internal and me doing the outside, and the mucky jobs! We eat out tonight at the Bell Haven. A Marston's pub. Very good it was too.

14 August and we are still at it, but the end is in sight, and Chris is content with the finished product. The inside is clean and tidy and the outside looks fine with a polished finish. The fuel has been orderd for delivery, (157 litres), and the gas cylinders replaced with full ones. The neighbours next to us have been very helpful with the gift of a windlass. (The boat had none because there are no locks on the Lancaster canal!) We will have to buy another before we venture too far south. We have also been given a special key for using on the Leeds and Liverpool. It is apparently needed to open the vandal-proof system on the locks, otherwise the locals tend to empty the pounds for a bit of fun.

15 August and the boat can have its photo taken. We have decided to buy a towbar bike rack to carry our two bikes on the stern of the boat. (It has a towball already fitted.) This will make the carriage of the bikes so much easier, and prevent us from scratching the roof surface that was our only alternative.
The weather forecast is for heavy rain and strong winds. Have decided not to boat up to Lancaster today to collect the bike rack from Halfords, but to car up and spend the day there. A great place with a large pedestrian area with both large and small shops. Arcades and stalls spread through the streets. We bought our final restocking items for the boat. All should be finally finished now.
So we headed south, by car, to check on the Ribble Link. What a disaster. Could not approach it by car. Might have to rethink meeting up with the owners on the 22nd when we start the traverse of the Ribble and Douglas as we head for Tarleton on the Rufforth Link of the Leeds and Liverpool. They are due to bring an anchor, rope and lifejackets for our traverse and the approach is all by foot. We headed back and into the downpour of rain the was forecast for this morning. Headed for a Garden Centre for tea and cakes. Far too expensive, so headed to Booths in Garstang. Still too expensive for  a small slice of cake at £2.75. Especially when Chris has her boiled fruit cake on the boat.