It is raining in the North West

We had another broken night last night, but that was my fault. Shortly after getting up in the wee small hours, the bilge pump cut in and ran for quite a while, thus making sure we were both wide awake.

No, I don't know what you might be thinking – I had forgotten to turn the stern greaser down when we finished cruising yesterday so the stern gland had dripped enough to close the switch on the pump. Normally, I turn the greaser down as soon as I put the tiller away, but I must have been distracted by the proximity of lunch yesterday.

We got off again eventually and still managed to get going in time for the 7.30 start, Sheila steering whilst I had breakfast. Then I took over, it being my day, and we arrived at the south portal of Harecastle just as the tunnel keeper turned up at quarter to eight.

He knows us well after all these years, so we don't get the extended safety lecture anymore, but he does dish out the leaflet. He still checks our tunnel light and horn, mind. There were boats waiting at the other end who came through first, so we had plenty of time for coffee and stowing the troughs from the roof in the well deck before it was our turn – it's about 45 minutes between convoys.

We had an uneventful run through the tunnel, though I had the usual hassle of trying to get a 70' boat out of the north portal and round the bend. The position of the rescue boat means there's no room to swing the stern before the bow hits the opposite bank.

On we went down the Red Bull locks to the service wharf where we stopped to water and dump rubbish. It's very good water pressure there, so we were soon heading on down the other three locks to the top of Church where we've tied.

It's a lovely mooring here, too, peaceful though the towpath is well used by the locals. The only downside is the heavy bank of reeds on the offside, which reduces the width of the channel considerably. On the other hand, it makes for some good wildlife spotting when sitting out in the well deck.

Tomorrow, a much shorter run to Rode Heath.