Leeds and Liverpool Canal:Cherry Tree

Today we expected mostly a long cruise with three swing bridges.   The cruise gave us huge panoramas over the valley.  The swing bridges were a new variant needing the windlass to raise a peg securing the bridge through some gearing.   We were expecting to complete the day at Blackburn Top Lock, but there are no moorings there.  The best place would have been Eanam Wharf, except that we blew by without understanding.   The top lock had no formal moorings and underwater obstructions near the bank.  It was also frequented by characters sitting around with nothing else todo, although we did get regaled with a story of a decaying body found there previously.  So we were compelled to descend the locks and stopped for lunch in the longer pound above the last one.   The nearest mooring appeared to be Cherry Tree, so we moved on.   The actual visitor moorings appear to have been decommissioned.  The sign has been removed and the concrete wharf with rings is collapsing and not really usable.   We moved a bit further on and found some metal piling, but as always, shallow.  There is a recreation field nearby but little sign of the shops.  At last the sun is shining and it is warm.