I'm Free - Oh no I'm not!

Having spent a lovely winter in Fettler's Wharf Marina at Rufford I set off on Monday 12th back to the mainline at Latham (Rufford Junction). I was accompanied by my daughter, her husband (and almost toddler Louise) who live locally and had offered to help me up the 6 heavy locks to the junction. It was a lovely, sunny day and we had a good trip up the locks to arrive in time for Louise's tea.

I had gone into the marina in October with battery charging problems which the owners had promised to put right for me, meanwhile a hook up was most welcome this year. Nothing was done by February, well it was a cold winter, but I then went away for 5 weeks and by the time I returned they were busy, despite keeping in touch with them. By the time I left they told me that there was no problem with the output to the batteries. Of course by the time I got to the top of the locks I knew that this was not correct so Wednesday pm I arrived at their new sister marina at Scarisbrick in need of an urgent hook up. Am now waiting for a new alternator! How am I so unlucky - I had a new alternator March 06, then another 2 years later in April 08 in Ely. This one has only lasted 18m (until October 09) when it failed again. Not to mention the new PRM gearbox I had in September (after only 4 years since the previous one).

The other problem here is that they have closed all the services bar water at Rufford Junction and also ALL the services at Burscough. Anyone coming this way should bear in mind that services are only in Wigan (by BW office), down the 6 locks on Rufford Branch, or in Litherland (needing a booked BW escort). All this makes it rather difficult to cruise slowly and explore this lovely part of the L&L - which BW Wigan don't seem to understand my wish to do!

Meanwhile I am getting lots of jobs done at my mooring in front of the wonderful coffee shop, providing entertainment for the visitors and answering all their questions... yes I do live on board, no it isn't cold in winter, yes I am very lucky to travel all over the country, yes the locks are hard work but it is more fun than going to a gym.

Tomorrow (Monday) Chris and Mary arrive from Suffolk. We have an appointment with a BW escort at 9.30 am, Bridge 9, on Wednesday - when we go through Aintree, Litherland to Liverpool and moor in Salthouse Dock for 4 days. I have never been to Liverpool and we are all looking forward to this exciting trip - just keeping fingers crossed that the weather keeps reasonably fine.