Thursday 9th August 2018



We left our moorings at Rode Heath and had a short cruise before the first of the day’s locks were reached. En-route we passed alongside and under roads that I had travelled over all the weeks when Bridge Street was being built. The build site was less than two miles from the southern portal of Harecastle Tunnel.


The Cheshire Locks would all have been paired when the canal was built. However, some of the locks have fallen into disrepair so only one lock is now in use and many have actually disappeared. At one of the locks Brenda was taking Harvey across the foot plank on the lock gate when he decided he couldn’t do the jump at the end. After a lot of manoeuvring Sarah managed to lift him up. He had all four paws wrapped tightly around her complete with the claws. It was such a funny sight. Then when they reached the other side he wouldn’t let go and had to be virtually prised off.

We came to the service point at Red Bull where we took on water and emptied the cassette. Cassette didn’t really need doing but it’s as well to do it at every opportunity. This service point is part of a larger building incorporating Canal and River Trust and would have been a large warehouse in its heyday complete with two wharf cranes.







                  Red Bull Wharf, Kidsgrove















We stopped at the Red Bull pub at lock 43. Sarah bought us a pint. This had been suggested a few locks before and by the time we got there I was well ready for it. The power of suggestion.

We had some cheesy chips and salsa, lovely.









On leaving the pub we passed under the Poole Aqueduct. This carries the Maccesfield Canal over the Trent and Mersey and, like most canal structures it is quietly impressive, especially considering it’s age.



                

The last lock of Heartbreak Hill was passed just before the junction with the Macc. Then the run-in to Harecastle Tunnel where we had to wait about 30 minutes before entering. This was Sarah’s first canal tunnel. She sat up the front and enjoyed my serenading, although it was nothing like being on a gondola in Venice with a Cornetto. Sarah took some dramatic photos going through the tunnel.



The Southern Portal of Harecastle Tunnel with Brindley’s 1777 tunnel

entrance on the right  





                    















We moored about a mile from the tunnel at Westport Lake, a local nature reserve and beauty spot.

We had a lovely dinner of asparagus, spring onion, garlic and egg fried rice with piri-piri pork with cheese and oatcakes later.



                      

                        Westport Lake,Stoke-on-Trent             
                                                 The days trophies




Day Total: 12 locks; 6 miles; 1 Tunnels; 0 Boat Lift; engine running hours 4.4

Overall Total: 142 locks; 299 miles; 11 tunnels; 2 Boat Lifts; engine running hours 163.8








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