Boatdate: 07072020
Location: Ribble Link Day
Weather: A bit moist but at least the gales of last week have departed.

Finally, we get to cross onto the main system and thankfully the weather has calmed down a lot so the crossing shouldn't get too choppy. Pleased to see the nice folk off Elbereth again. This was a boat we hired from Chas Hardern about five years ago to sail to Llangollen and which is now privately owned. Fond memories of that trip and the spectacular views crossing the Pontcysyllte aqueduct, perhaps one of the most awe inspiring structures of the whole canal network.

At the end of Savick Brook the boats start to stack up on the pontoon as there will be about an hour wait for tide conditions on the Ribble to be optimal for the crossing. Time for a boiled egg and toast then.

An hour later we are off and Ben gets right cross with this eejit trying to jump the gun. He does seem to be in an awful hurry and guns his engine to high revs cutting the corner on the turn out onto the river, (not a good idea), overtaking as many boats as he can. Life's too short pal.

Everyone else makes steady progress togged up against the drizzle. Every so often I run off the hot water from the tap which helps keep the engine temperature down as they have to work pretty hard on this crossing.

It's pretty busy when we get to Tarleton so we moor alongside Elbereth and get a guided tour of his solar array which is hinged on gas struts and angles every which way to catch maximum rays. Not at all jealous. Not a bit.