Harecastle and Middlewich

Up and ready for the off by 8.00 this morning! By 8.15 we were 3rd in a queue of 10 boats waiting to go through the Harecastle tunnel. The tunnel keeper dutifully came along and read us our rights as well as signing us all in before allowing us to enter what turned out to be the wettest trip of my life! At points, the water was gushing through the roof and onto the boat and half way through the mile and three quarters long trip underground a thick mist enveloped us to the extent where we couldn't see a thing and squeels echoed all round the tunnel from the convoy of 8, clearly the extractor fans hadn't quite completed their job before we arrived!


The whole task was made even harder by following a little old boat in its grey primer with a helmsman who could barely see over the top and which was weaving from side to side - probably due to the fact that he was only on tick-over the whole way through. Several times, we had to go into reverse to avoid ramming him!




On exiting the first set of double locks after the tunnel and I lost all propulsion and the engine laboured hard. It was clear from the pattern of the water, that I had picked up something very large and heavy in the prop. Just as I was attempting to limp to the bank, a large sodden carpet ejected itself from my rear end, (!) and I was free to go but not before a large clump of weed matted itself round the blades, forcing me to stop and clear the weed hatch.



The rest of the journey was slow but satisfying, with a very good road ahead. Lock, after laborious lock was encountered, conquored and left in the distance, that is - until Middlewich!

As soon as we encountered King's Lock, it was clear we were on the back end of a very long queue - 10 to be precise! The hireboat in front boldly announced that we would be through in about an hour. Needless to say, 2 hours and 3 quarters later...........

One pleasant and unexpected moment was whilst queueing just below King's Lock when Kev. Devine from NB Cabinessence walked past with his dog. Kev. has been an avid reader of the blog for a long time now and I reported on seeing his boat being fitted out at the Middlewich junction a couple of years ago on this blog. It is always exciting to meet in person, people who have contacted me at various times over the years.

We finally moored after 33 locks and 15 1/2 miles, (48.5 lock miles!) just after 'The Big Lock' and Croxton Flash on the Trent and Mersey. Tomorrow - The Anderton Boat Lift!

Conflicting views along the cut as to whether we should book in advance or not. Everyone we met said 'don't bother' until the last lock, where a guy in his engine room told us that he spent 2 hours trying to get off the River Weaver last time and that the boat in front of us had booked a passage for 3.15 tomorrow and that was the earliset time available - I think I'll ring in the morning and book!!