Its been a while…

27th May 2023

Moored somewhere along the Leeds to Liverpool Canal, a short distance out from Burnley.

Its been a while since I’ve had the time or inclination to update this blog, but seeings how I got a notification that I’d just renewed the domain I figured it was time to try and get some updates into here! Quite a lot has changed since we set off all the way back in June 2019. Its been quite a period in human history, not just the history of the Cullen’s and their boat! But for us, the biggest changes are that I now work again (albeit 4 days a week) and we have a new dog, rather than Honey who set sail with us and is sadly no longer with us (I am sure there is a page here somewhere about that). We have a small 3 bed semi in Stoke on Trent where we spend the winters and Arty has spent this last winter just outside of Liverpool on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

So, why this update then? I suppose the main thing is that, finally we’ve been able to get onto the Leeds to Liverpool canal proper, after getting up the Wigan flight this means we are now going to traverse the Pennines in a canal boat! That is quite an achievement and gives a real sense of the staggering engineering achievment of the late 17th century. I have shown where the canal goes and highlited the part we will be sailing on. It is the longest canal in the country and you can see that it is very wiggly. That’s because when they built it, rather than buiding embankments and making cuttings to force the level, they just follow the level around. So the canal basically follows the countryside, winding its way around to keep on one level depending upon where that level goes. It makes for some very long journeys with little actual progress towards your goal! Which, as far as most boaters are concerned, is just perfect!

The Leeds to Liverpool Canal, the longest canal in the country and very wiggly!

I will update this page with links to the different places we visit along the L&L. Honestly, it is probably the most beautiful canal in the country, if not the world – so I will try and post plenty of pictures.

  1. Travel to Burscombe https://artful-dodger.blog/2023/06/04/setting-off-on-the-ll/
  2. Up the Wigan Flight – editing