TheBiscuits

Was it the truck carrying the blue signs that broke the bridge?

Yes, but that's not a potential problem. Once you are across the sea lock cill you are either on your way on a flooding tide or you are moored between two locks and putting the kettle on. I know a few people who have had to wait 24 hours on the pontoon as weather conditions prevented their scheduled passages. Yeah, if you miss the timing to get into Preston Docks it's quite important to moor over the deep water channel on the Bullnose. There's an alarming slant on the drying mud by the river bank. Tie to the floats/risers please - tying to the ladder is a very bad idea on a 25 foot tidal range ... Oh, and if you have a dog, it had better be either very small or very good at climbing ladders!

Nah. You put the bread on the gunwales and the swans come and eat it and the algae ...

I've not been towed, but I have seen boats be towed past me on the Ribble. At waterskiing speeds - it looks fun! You're very unlikely to divert to Preston on the way back off the Lancaster (unless you deliberately want to go there.) The timing limit for the Ribble Link is actually the depth of water over the cill at the rotating sea lock, so if you're taking too long coming from Tarleton the tide ebbs too low to navigate that bit. On the way back to Tarleton it's the first thing you cross - you'll be held on the pontoon until it's deep enough, then off you go.

Because of the shape of the rivers and the water flows, your hardest bit is going to be coming out of Tarleton lock and heading downriver against the incoming tide towards Douglas boatyard. Which helpfully is where the tug boat moors! If you fancy booking a tow, it was under a hundred quid last year. I'd recommend having the tug pilots number in your phone just in case you have difficulty out on the wide bit but just try it under your own power. CRT keep an eye on your progress during the crossing and will tell you if you need to divert to Preston.

Try the dark mild at the Market Tavern. It's very good!

Nah, Rochdale summit. There's sometimes as many as two boats a month moving ...

Not yet. All the whining is about future increases over 5 years starting this month. April 2024-March 2025, 57 foot boat, CC surcharges applied. Beam < 2.16m (narrow), £1352 2.16 - 3.24m (medium wide), £1519 >3.24m (fatty), £1687 Non-CC surcharged for the same bands: £1287 £1455 £1622 Now just try to find a residential mooring in that London for fifty quid a year.

Is it that high a percentage? I thought a current licence (pre-surcharges, last year's rates) was about £1200 pa for a narrow boat. I was under the impression you couldn't rent much in London for £100 a month.

Non As they say across the Channel