Short break to Foulridge

lovely field full of buttercups

We finally managed to get a week on Tormentil and had two short trips. We were joined by Paul (PJ) who we wanted to learn the ropes before borrowing Tormentil for a holiday with some other of our friends. Although we are happy for friends to share our enjoyment of Tormentil I think it will be a bit like letting your child go off to school for the first time. I will worry all week about how she will be though I am confident that PJ and friends will be fine with her.
We decided to make for East Marton and the lovely (we thought) anchor pub that we have visited by car and bike but always wanted to go by boat. The trip took us back through the Foulridge ‘mile long’ tunnel, which was just as exciting as the first time (see blog of ). We then had to go up the Barrowford seven locks. We went through with another boat luckily. Jon and PJ did the hard work for PJ to learn how locks work and I had to drive. I must say even though it’s been a few months I was perfect and Tormentil and the other boat went into the locks perfectly together without any scraping or banging each other or the lock sides, and no getting grounded in the pounds between.
We eventually got to close to East Marton and I suggested we moor up where we could since reading Bendigedig recently Else had said there were problems with lack of moorings.

Fantastic view from the moorings.

It had been a lovely day so we were very hot, tired and thirsty so decided to walk up to the Anchor for a drink. It was a longer walk than I had thought but as Else had said there were no moorings any nearer except where the banks were very high and full of nettles and small bushes, so we stayed put. We had a couple of lovely refreshing drinks and checked that we were OK for dinner without booking (it was a Saturday). The trip back to the boat to change for dinner (we were pretty hot and scruffy) seemed shorter and then we returned to the Anchor. We had been here before when it was full of locals and had some great home made food (their pie and peas was wonderful), however unbeknown to us it had changed hands. The food luckily was fine but the service left a lot to be desired. Mum and I had Mussels as starter which was supposed to come with bread but didn’t. When the waitress (the manageress if fact) came to clear the plates I just mentioned that a bit of bread would have been nice, her reply was a bit gruff and seemed to be ‘Oh well I don’t know how you can eat these things I can’t stand them’. A bit of a surprise I must admit. The main course took ages but was again OK. As she came to clear up again we said that the food was fine and we were too full for puddings. Her reply ‘well you’d be lucky to get any now anyway and the chef is very busy’. Not the best way to sell your business I would say. They weren’t that busy but to be fair (though I don’t know why) she was short staffed and was having to run the bar as well but still no excuse.
The ambiance has also changed and things like her ?husband was there but I never saw him help with anything-just chatting to the customers and also one (male) customer had a small child(still in nappies) with him and he was sat at the bar with her and at one point had her sitting on the bar. I think he was a relative of the owners since they never said anything to him. At nine he made to go outside muttering something about the 9 o clock watershead. I may be old fashioned but I don’t think babies should be sitting on bar stools in pubs until 9 at night. I don’t think we shall return for a while.
However, our moorings were great, quite a community of boats moored on the opposite shore and a few had joined us on the towpath side. We all managed to get safely aboard (several drinks too many). Next morning PJ discovered that we were moore on top of a small aqueduct with a small river running under the canal. On investigation we found the bottom of the aqueduct and it was a small engineering delight. In the past they seemed to take pleasure in building something lovely where only a simple structure was really needed. A good photographic opportunity.

A tiny river under the canal with a beautiful curved bridge above it.

A view from the other side.

We spent the Sunday returning to Reedley with PJ doing all the driving this time to get more experience. He managed well with only a few bumps and scrapes (same as most beginners I would say) and did manage a perfectly controlled docking when we got back home- the best I’ve seen so far (sorry Jon) although PJ did say he was only following Jon’s instructions.

PJ doing the driving with Jon supervising

It was such a lovely evening that we had a great al fresco meal with lots of celebratory wine.
We had a relaxed Monday and saw PJ off and took Mum home.