Five Lunatics?

Friday 9th Nov. The BBC was forecasting storm force winds in the South, and Force 5+ winds in the Lune Estuary, but five paddlers made the trip to Glasson for Mike Sunderland’s trip. Someone decided to shut the M6 that morning, but after some text messages and co-ordination via WhatsApp Phil. Mike H Mike S Heather and Peter congregated outside the Lancaster Smokehouse* and got kitted up for a breezy day.

 

The sun was out, (well, mostly), and we made rapid progress up the Estuary despite a strong cross wind, kind of surreal paddling at 45^o to the wind  and making progress into directly  into it! reaching the canal aqueduct in well under two hours.

Then huffed and puffed up the steep slope to relaunch the boats on the canal. Even the Cumbrian partisans admitted the stretch through to the centre of Lancaster is very pretty, with lots of greenery and restored buildings, and we stopped at the Waterwitch for a welcome pint, (Thanks Mike!), and a bite to eat. Suitably refreshed, we ‘flew’ against the wind down to Galgate where we encountered a barge blocking the width of the canal, and on to the turn to the Glasson arm.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Six locks were portaged, with maximum points for effort, and zero points for style; seal launching a sea kayak down a grass bank looks as absurd as it sounds. By now the wind had picked up and pushed us the last few kilometres to the basin, and home. *The smoked haddock, smoked cheese and smoked salmon can all be recommended.