During the night we were disturbed by a knocking on the boat from the canal! When we investigated it turned out to be a cow that had somehow gotten into the canal and couldn't get out again.
Contacted the RSPCA, not interested not a pet.
Contacted 101 emergency services, not interested, no human life in danger.
Contacted local farmers, one of which believes the cow may belong to John Spensley and gave us his telephone number. Rang him to tell him of our concerns for one of his livestock. He turned up with his wife and two sons who valiantly wandered up and down the canal on both sides and in the canal trying to coax the cow out of the water all to no avail. The decided that there as nothing more that they could do until daylight so went home. Turned up at first light and retrieved his cow with the help of the rest of the herd. It is not surprising we are tired.

Tried a Cornish Pasty from the Cornish Bakery in Keswick

In to Skipton to the facilities. Chatted to a woman who seemed to be involved with the facilities. There are rumours that the facilities here will be closed because of the mess. The contractors, who are meant to empty the bins, are unreliable for one reason or another and frequently miss a pick up resulting in overflowing skips with rubbish everywhere causing the local residents to complain (with good reason).
Turned round and cruised a short way back to good 14 day moorings in the centre of town in preparation for our busmans holiday on the Lancaster canal.

Attended a music recital at the local Quaker Meeting House, Airton. Violin, piano, cello playing Beethoven and Mendelson piano trios. The whole thing was free with a collection for asylum seekers and refreshments were laid on as well.

Purchased a pair of trainers that actually fit without pinching my extra wide feet.
Spent most of the day packing for the trip to the Lancaster canal. I suppose this is what you would call a busmans holiday. We have always wanted to do the Lancaster canal but cannot face the tidal Ribble crossing as it seems just too fraught with difficulties and we both avoid difficulties wherever we can, all to do with keeping stress levels low.
So instead of taking one or both boats across the Ribble Link we decided to hire a narrow boat on the Lancaster canal;. The one we have picked on is called Cornflower and is owned by a guy who just has the two boats for hire, a nice friendly family affair that makes you feel welcome right from the get go instead of a regimented national organisation where you are just one of many.

Off to Tewitfield, collected Cornflower (the boat)and motored (cruised) to Carnforth to do the shopping for the week. the handover was as smooth as could be. The owner went through the checklist as is required but seemed happy that we were well acquainted with narrow boat life.

Spent a few days at Hest Bank as it is a great place to watch the waders on the mud flats.
Actually a major factor for mooring here as my No2 is a confirmed twitcher and takes every opportunity she can to twitch.

Cruised to Lancaster. Really could not resist stopping on the aqueduct over the river Lune to take some pictures. Bus trip to Glasson Docks where we found The Smoke House where they smoke kippers on the premises. Needless to say we purchased some.

Cruised to Ratcliffe Bridge where there is a winding hole so we can turn round. Much of the canal beyond here is inaccessible due to a breach at Woodplumpton near Preston.

Bus to Glasson Docks again to get more kippers. Glasson docks is actually on the River Lune and the lock can cope with wide beam canal craft, whereas the docks can deal with craft up to 4,500 tonnes but they must be NAABSA ("Not Always Afloat But Safely Aground") capable.
Kippers from the Port of Lancaster Smokehouse are quite a treat but not necessarily what you might think. They sources their herring sustainably from the North East Atlantic, with the vast majority of their catch landed in Peterhead, Scotland, so don't get excited about local fish from Morecambe Bay.

Train trip to Ulverston.

Cruised to Lancaster in the rain! It was so much fun because the rain was not cold and the canoeists seemed to be enjoying it as well.

Cruised to Hest Bank and got there in time for my No2 to have half a day bird watching on the mud flats.

Cruised to Hodgesons Bridge via facilities at Carnforth and some last minute shopping. Hodgesons Bridge is just a short hop from Tewitfield and handover on Friday. We are here a day early as tomorrow it is going to be tipping it down with rain and not much fun for travelling

Hunkered down for the day consuming all the remaining food and playing scrabble all day.

Got to Tewitfield mooring by 8:30am, lots of time to clean the boat for handover. The whole process went off smoothly, fuel deposit returned.
Caught he 10:58 am train to Skipton and we were back on our own boats by 12:30, in time to get a couple of loads of accumulated washing done, some shopping and filling up with fuel.

Got to Tewitfield mooring by 8:30am, lots of time to clean the boat for handover. The whole process went off smoothly, fuel deposit returned.
Caught he 10:58 am train to Skipton and we were back on our own boats by 12:30, in time to get a couple of loads of accumulated washing done, some shopping and filling up with fuel.