Lovely Day on Kennet on the Leeds Liverpool

@LLCanalSociety @CRTNorthWest #Ll200 #Kennet on the Leeds Liverpool with Kennet

Many thanks to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Society who hosted me on board Kennet for one day of her epic end to end trip to celebrate the bi-centenary of the opening of the full length of the canal in October 1816.

I did the run from Greenberfield to the bottom of Barrowford locks, starting in the sunshine and ending in the rain! Great run and fabulous to go through the tunnel as a passenger this time.

It is a great voyage and has even got coverage in the national press. So many people, school children and others coming out to cheer her through. Also a lot of church bells being rung, which is quite magical. A huge effort of planning and a lot of effort and time undertaking the voyage, well done one and all.

There was also quite a flotilla along with them including two other Leeds Liverpool short boats, including Ribble who has been along the length with a cargoe of sand.

It took from the 1770’s through to 1816 before the canal was completed, I am sure arguments between those in Yorkshire and those in Lancashire had nothing to do with the delay. It actually came down to the problems with finance, the Napoleonic wars and the American war of independence. But after working out how they can use some of the canal already built by the Lancaster canal company and amending the route for new coalfields it was finally completed to much acclimation and helped with the industrial growth in the region and the success of Liverpool docks.

Tonight is the Gala celebration ball, looking forward to it.