THE Wigan flight of 21 locks on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal has reopened following repairs to Locks 68 and 69..
But although the day dawned wet and miserable the boaters whose journeys had been stalled for nearly six weeks were going locking whatever the weather.
One said: “We’ve been stuck here at the top of the flight for nearly six weeks and there is no saying how long the locks will remain open so we’re off!”
Most were just glad to be moving so despite the horrendous conditions there was plenty of friendly advice and banter going on between the crews to make it a unforgettable experience which in years to come will still be talked about: “Eh do you remember coming down Wigan when it p….d it down?”
A goodly number of boats made the passage up or down the flight on both the Saturday and the Sunday with the Canal & River Trust relaxing the closing of the flight at 12noon on the Saturday to allow everyone to complete movements and then have a good drying out session.
