The Flotilla

While helping a couple of boats up the Johnson flight, I tried to get some "publicity" shots of the Navvygator.

Of course, by the time we got to the top of the locks, the bottle was empty!

Then it was off to Blackburn to have  some food at the Calypso

It was a lovely misty Morning in Rishton, before I set off to deliver the "provisions" of Navvygator  to Kennet.

I drove into Leeds, straight onto Granary Wharf where Kennet was waiting, next to the Knitted boat.




There were four other boats waiting by the Candlebar to join on behind Kennet at the start of the flotilla.  I would join them a couple of days later in Burnley.



Tuesday evening, the flotilla arrived at Burnley Wharf, spent the evening there and set off early Wednesday morning.

 
Pretty soon we were in Gannow Tunnel, I bet this tunnel hasn't seen this amount of traffic in years.







There was a bit of a pile-up on the approach to Rose Grove Services, when some boats stopped for water

 

But soon, we were in open water and the Flotilla spread out into a more orderly line





 



 

 

 As we passed church, and the half-way point, there were crowds of schoolchildren on the banks, cheering and waving flags.

  


Then we were approaching Blackburn

Just by Whitebirk, Ribble stopped, with something jammed in its prop








Which left me directly behind Kennet on the final approach to Blackburn

 


Just before Eanam Wharf, we all slowed down to allow the historic boats to the front of the flotilla

  


and then the flotilla had arrived at Blackburn






  
The welcoming committee of the town mayors was first

Then the crew of Kennet (plus the Brewer) had some Navvygator

Blackburn was another overnight stop, and time to get smartened up to go to the Dunkenhalsh for the CRT Centenary dinner, where I had to don dickie bow and all to present the Enterprise award.








On the Thursday morning, the flotilla left Blackburn.  There was a lot of water coming down the Blackburn locks, overflowing the gates.



The next stop for photos was at the top lock of the Johnsons flight

We continued down the flight sharing locks

and we were met at the bottom by Kier with Eendracht.  Amazing to see a 100 year old boat taking part in the 200th year celebration of the L&L.



When we got to Botany Bay I moored up at the boatyard.  That was as far as I was going in the flotilla, as I had to go and present a "meet the brewer" evening at the Shepherd Ale House in Chorley.

This morning we decided to go down to Wigan to assist the flotilla down the 21 locks.

 

 Pretty soon they were all at the bottom, and while the flotilla were heading on to Liverpool, we used this as an excuse to go and drink several beers in Wigan Central