Thursday, 15 March 2007

Tunnels, and Red Faces

Wednesday 14 March

Up bright and early, and boating by eight o'clock. Arrived at the tunnel to find we were third in the queue behind Dutchess of Marple and Thuis, and that a convoy was on its way through from the southern end. Harecastle is narrow, so the tunnel keepers at each end arrange the boats into convoys of up to eight at a time.

Went into the tunnel at about 9.15, and made a good speed through it, emerging 35 minutes later. Exchanged cheery chat with Ivor Bachelor, who was on duty as the South Portal keeper. We know Ivor from last winter - he used to keep a carrying pair in Braunston (Mountbatten and Jellicoe), but has moved them to the North West now.

It was a glorious day and we worked through Stoke in good mood. Just as we were passing the huge rubbish incinerator, the engine coughed a couple of times, and cut out. I quote Sheila's account as posted to the Braidbar Owners Group:

Yesterday we came through Harecastle Tunnel, worked down the Stoke flight and were cruising along heading for Barlaston and lunch when..guess what... we ran out of diesel! Our only excuse is that we had a full tank in mid January when we went into the yard and apart from a run down to Macclesfield for the protest we had hardly run the engine. It all went on the central heating.

We got off very lightly as the boat following us, Dutchess of Marple, very kindly towed us the mile or so to Hem Heath where there is a filling station. Even so it hurt paying road prices for diesel before we have to. £1 per litre, ouch.

I'm just trying not to think what it would have been like if we had run out in the middle of Harecastle!


Not to mention Ivor's telling the tale all round the system. We tied for the night at Barlaston, decided to do without the central heating, and had another peaceful night.

Thursday 15 March

Made a leisurely start, as it is but a short run from the Wedgwood mooring at Barlaston to Stone, and we wanted to arrive after Stone Boatbuilding had opened for business so as to get some diesel.

It was a rather cloudy and cold day, but dry, and it was very pleasant working down the Meaford locks and into Stone. Tied outside Stone Boatbuilding and gave them the glad news that they were about to sell us a lot of diesel. We also discovered that the next lock, Yard Lock, was stopped for adjustment to the newly installed gates, and that we wouldn't be able to get through until lunchtime.

Put 188 litres of red diesel into the tank - at 53p per litre, it came to very nearly £100. This is the first time in 30 year's boating I've run out of diesel - how embarrassing.

Then we went and joined the queue above the lock. Shared coffee and gossip with the others waiting there, and had a quick lunch. As they say, if you are in a hurry, you shouldn't be boating.

The lock reopened at around 1.30, and we all duly worked down. Moored on the visitor moorings below the last lock in Stone, did some shopping and checked the email. Apparently, another stoppage is over running on our route to Alrewas, at Armitage - I've emailed the relevant BW office to find out if there's a danger of further over run, as if there is, we may need to use a more circuitous route to get to Alrewas in time for our various check up appointments.

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