Lock-side Sex!

OMG he must have a long tongue because it was so far down her throat I’m sure I could see the pink tip poking out the bottom of her shorts.  It’s rather distracting trying to do a lock in the correct sequence when two people of the opposite sex are so entwined, engrossed in themselves and oblivious to their surroundings.<phew>  Actually we saw something similar earlier this year when doing the Farmers Bridge Flight in Birmingham!

We passed through Blackburn today and despite reading how “rough” it was we found the locals friendly and helpful.  There was a wide beam ahead of us going up Blackburn Locks [6] and they were making slow progress despite all the locks being in their favour.  Jan went to have a look and they appeared to only be using one paddle.  Fortunately we were able to pair up at the bottom of the flight.  We’ve seen some big boats since starting on the Leeds – Liverpool.

We passed this next one in the flight.

When we foreigners think of Lancashire the first thing that comes to mind is cotton and of course that requires cotton mills.

The large building we passed at Botany Bay appears to be a former mill that has been converted into multiple retail outlets.

On the outskirts of Blackburn there were a number of brick chimneys.

Apparently; like the Mills; they used to number in their hundreds but most have now been demolished.

We passed this unusual craft which had a piano on the front and a sign asking for a tow.

Stopping just beyond bridge 101 Jan walked off to the large Asda below the canal whilst I attended to a few small maintenance tasks on Waiouru and took photos of the buildings across the valley. 

Rows of terraced houses in a mill town

There were a few derelict mills.

This building looked like the engine room for a mill.  As we passed the word “Imperial” could be seen on the gable.  One assumes they drew water from the canal for the steam engines that powered the looms on the four floors of the attached building.

A quick Google search reveals the mill was constructed in 1901 and ceased operating in 1980.  Interestingly, by the 1880’s there were 2.5 million spindles operating in Blackburn with more than 24 mills.  But by 1900 the industry was in decline with much of it being transferred to South Lancashire. The Imperial mill used a different and cheaper method of manufacturing cotton cloth and was also close to rail transport. The industry reached peak production in 1912 producing 8 billion yards of cloth.  Ironically it was WW1 that initiated the demise of the local industry.  Rather than import raw cotton the British government encouraged the colonies to build mills and produce the cloth locally for export to the UK.  The industry in Lancashire was unable to recover it’s former markets after the war.

Whilst shopping at Asda Jan noticed there appeared to be a large muslim and Indian population.  This observation was supported by the two large mosques seen in the town.

The other interesting sight was this……….

I thought it was a decorated portaloo but Jan was quick to point out it’s a telephone box!