Trent and Mersey Canal

Continuing North.

After leaving Handley Park it was a steady cruise back along the Caldon canal, a right hand turn on to the Trent and Mersey again and straight away we were looking for a ‘filling station’. Down to half a tank of red diesel, I don’t like to get lower that this, incase it drags up any muck at the bottom of the tank.

We were passing the Black Prince hire company depot so thought we could re-fuel here. . .after struggling to get on to the mooring we were told ...sorry... we can’t refill you because...we have two boats going out this morning. . ..WHAT.??..

It takes a maximum of 10 minutes to fill the tank. They couldn’t be bothered more like it.

So, onwards towards the Harecastle Tunnel. Luckily enough we passed another boat yard who were more than happy to have our custom. £120.00 later we have a full fuel tank and a 5ltr can of engine oil served by a lovely lady.

The lake we had moored beside was called Westport Lake, sadly it had been on the national news the previous week. Three lads went into the water to cool off, tragically only two came out. A body was found two days later. So sad to see the tribute of flowers by the visitors centre, a life lost so young.

As we came into our chosen mooring spot we noticed a narrow boat called ‘Barge Inn’. .it was a floating mobile pub !!

As we checked exactly where we were on our new app on the phone (big brother is watching you) Jenny had down loaded it before we left Yelvertoft.

If you open it, press a marker on the page, it shows you exactly where you are using sat nav. If you zoom in it shows all the surrounding area. Shops and other services we need. As we surveyed the surrounding area it was decided to go ‘hunter gathering’ Hunting out the bargains and gathering the food needed.. We were only about ten minutes walk from Aldi. Our favourite store, so off Jenny went, complete with our trolley, she set out in brilliant sun shine, dressed in shorts and T-shirt to said supermarket. As she came out there was a cloud burst !!She arrived back at the boat absolutely soaked to the skin..

Did I laugh you might ask, …….Err actually ... Yes !! …..It was funny. However a hot shower and dry clothes she was soon back to normal.

We had planned to go and check out the floating pub but as it was a wet evening we stayed in and left it till the next day. A slow stroll down the tow path. We were greeted by a happy chappy with his head sticking out of the serving hatch just about level with our feet. Checked out the beer on offer, a local brewery call Titanic.. I thought that will go down well !!….Just don’t ask for ice.. It was sensible pricing, Jenny with a glass of white wine, me with a pint of local brew. Jake and Carly being fed treats out of the window after asking permission. We had a couple of hours in some lovely company. Some locals, just walking their dogs, other boaters moored near by...good conversation, who could ask for a better evening. Geoff and Wayne the owners do mobile shows and events. A new venture, I hope it works out for them they have the right attitude for hospitality. Yes I admit it ...we went back the next day..sadly spent all our spending money for the week in two days. Doh !!

Barge-Inn

Monday morning we set off towards the Harecastle Tunnel.

Last year when we returned from the top of the Shroppie canal we chickened out of passing through the Harecastle tunnel. We didn’t trust the engine then, but we do now.

Mooring up at the entrance, the CRT official came over and did a run down of the ‘do’s and don't s’. When you enter the tunnel, its one way so its only wide enough for one boat.

They leave two minutes between boats, keep to the middle, don’t go too slowly, don’t try to stand on the gunnel's or the roof. Mind you that would be impossible due to the height of the tunnel roof. In some places its only about 6 inches. I had to duck my head to stop me hitting the structure.

Passing though was uneventful (thankfully) however if we had of broken down, a long blast on our hooter would have alerted the authorities, we were timed in and out taking 40 to 45 minutes to complete the passage. It is 2962 yards long and pitch black (one and a half miles). The original tunnel(s) were complete at 1827 taking 3 years to dig out. There were two tunnels built, but the other tunnel collapsed due to underground mining works and subsidence. It was closed in 1973 or 1977 (conflicting information).

The Boggart !!….The tunnel is haunted !!!. . Now that's a surprise. Again there is conflicting information regarding this. According to legend, a headless woman has been seen as you enter the tunnel. Trouble is, it could be mixed up with another incident.

A lady by the name of Christiana Collins hired a couple of bargemen (and a boy) to take her to London. Slower, but more comfortable than horse and carriage also cheaper. .10/6d one-way.

However the boat men liked the alcohol too much, at a stay over one night, at Rugeley, she complained to a company representative regarding the men's behaviour but it was ignored. Sadly she was raped and murdered and her body was dumped at Hopwas, (near where we stayed the other week end).

The boat men were tried and hung for their crimes. The cabin boy went to jail.

Some wag has painted a skelton trying to get out of a hole in the wall as you enter the tunnel going North to South. That was the only thing I saw on our passage.

Entrance to Harecastle Tunnel

Friday the thirteenth passed with no incidents but I’m not superstitious (touch wood).

As we arrived at a local beauty spot my energy levels had dropped to emergency tank level so we moored up for the weekend. 3 to 4 hours a day moving seems to be about right. Jake and Carly can manage that amount of time in between squats and leg lifts without any problems. They must come first to us. They are loving our lifestyle, different back garden everyday, lots of new smells and other four legged friends.

A five day week it plenty, I like to have the weekends off, there's no rush, as long as we are back by October that's all that matters. Only need to make sure we have a TV signal so I can watch the F1 Grand Prix.

We continued on our travels through Red Bull where we did the bits we need to do a couple of times a week. Bog empty.. rubbish dump.. and water filling.

Red Bull service area

The next stop will be the village of Wheelock. When we dropped down the last lock in to the village a person was running towards us waving their arms about. This usually means ‘leave the lock gates open’ ‘we are coming through’ but the there wasn’t a boat, that we could see.

As we got closer, it turned out to be our friends Gail and Chris, on the way back from their excursion further up North. Had a pint with them in The Cheshire Cheese pub, but as they were with other friends we didn’t gate crash, although we did sit opposite them in the Italian restaurant that evening. I made the waiting staff laugh when I asked if they would move them ...because they were hassling us ..did explain later they were our friends.

Enough for now...to come next time...meeting up with old friends from Norfolk .. Frank and Susan..the ride on the Anderton lift...our trip on the Weaver... Jakes run in with a dog behaviourist ..and my birthday party.