Once more into the tunnel, dear friends

The plan for this cruise is to put in some long (for us) days at the start, so as to get back in ten days rather than our usual two weeks. Accordingly, we’ve come from Congleton to Westport Lake without stopping at Hall Green as we would normally. Admittedly, we’d usually go on to Etruria, but this is a better place for exercising Sally.

So we got away at half eight, Sheila steering as the rest of us got ourselves sorted out. It was a fine morning, though cold after a chilly night. Sheila was on fine form, making it through the tricky multiple bridges by the Queen’s Head without touching the sides of the bent towpath. At Hall Green, we found Andy Grindrod, former Braidbar fitter, watering his boat Northern Soul. He’s gone freelance now and is available over a wide area for fitting and maintenance work, the quality of which can be seen in various areas of Sanity Again. He’s on 07709 166240 if you're interested.

Sheila’s form continued for the turns in the flyover approach to Hardings Wood Junction and round the junction itself. We had to hang around at the tunnel for a bit as a small GRP cruiser had been sent in ahead of us. Being powered by a petrol outboard, the rules require it to be given a ten to fifteen minute start to ensure that the exhaust has been drawn away by the fans at the southern portal.

The three other boats then went in with us as tail-end Charlie. This was a bit of bad luck as the boat in front of us was Elk, smoking away like fury. To be fair, it is 72 years old, but poor Sheila emerged from the other end feeling kippered and slightly sick. The low section in the middle had been a severe trial – she’d had to drop to tickover as she just couldn't see where she was going. I think she’d rather have taken her chances with the petrol fumes.

Meanwhile, Elanor stayed out on the front, Sally keeping her company for some of the time whilst trying to persuade her to come below. It being midday, I did the washing up and then ate lunch. Forty minutes later, we were heading for Westport where we found plenty of room, though it’s now filled up pretty completely.

We’ve had a walk round the lake, accompanied by a frankly reluctant Sally who clearly felt that after all the stress of the tunnel she should be allowed to stay behind and sleep. Once she gave up on the protest, she fairly shot round in order to get home again as soon as possible. When we got back, we found Saunter Together tied not far in front of us, just the other side of the Candy Boat, indeed, and had a quick catch up with them before the rain came on.

Tomorrow, a more usual day, down Stoke and on to Barlaston.

Location:Westport Lake

Another trip through the tunnel

We've long since lost count of how many times we've been through Harecastle, but it must be between thirty and forty. After filling the water tank this morning, we got away around 7.45, down the stop lock and along to Hardings Wood junction. The wind was a bit tedious, blowing in just the wrong direction for the turn, so that the bow was reluctant to swing and I had to back and fill a couple of times to get round.

Well, that's my excuse, anyway. Unusually, the first convoy through the tunnel had been southbound and had set off twenty minutes earlier (it was now 8.30). Since there were a couple of boats waiting at the south portal and it takes around forty minutes to get through, we had an hour or so to wait. We pottered about, having first checked that the tunnel light and horn were working.

The tunnel keeper came over for a chat at quarter past nine, the first of the northbound boats emerging not long after. The second one was a bit slower, so it was indeed about half nine when we got going. We were the first boat in, something I hate as they make you queue right up close to the portal which is at an awkward angle to the towpath. I had to lean the bow on the curve of the washwall to motor us round, but once done, it was a case of open the throttle and head straight on.

There's a light kept burning at the other end to make up for the doors being closed, so there's something to aim for once your eyes have dark adjusted. We were followed by a share boat, then the tunnel rescue boat, whose crew were going to come back through immediately, checking whether the new mobile phone signal is working in the tunnel. It's on Vodafone, apparently, but of course any mobile will be able to use it for emergency calls, which is the point of the exercise.

We took about 35 minutes this time, not bad for us – the water level is reasonably high at the moment.

Sheila had got the washing machine running as we went through and made a coffee once we were out the other side. As usual, it was quick going along the summit pound, which is deep and wide, and we got to the Festival Park mooring before half eleven. There were a couple of boats tied here, though for once there was space outside the Toby Carvery. It's still comparatively quiet, indeed there were no boats at all at Westport Lake, the first time we've seen it deserted like that.

We've had a walk up to Sainsbury's for stuff we couldn't get in the various Co-op's, but otherwise have been chilling out in the boat. Tomorrow, a fairly early start down the Stoke locks, aiming for the Wedgwood moorings.

Through the tunnel to Etruria

Things went pretty much to plan today. We got away just after half seven, Sheila steering and the weather unseasonably cold. Indeed, there had been a light fall of snow in the night and it was still lying about as we set off. I had to be cautious crossing the gates of the stop lock with the snow lying on the foot boards. It's hard to believe that it's the first of May on Sunday.

It took an hour to the tunnel where we were alone, though followed by a boat that had worked up the locks on the T & M. There were no boats coming through from the South, so as soon as we'd had the abbreviated safety chat (since we'd been through already this year) we were clear to go. Sheila made a quick passage of it by our standards, just 39 minutes according to the tunnel keeper at the other end.

I made myself a coffee and started the washing machine while we were underground. The quick run along the summit pound got us to Etruria before half ten. We'd originally planned to shop at Sainsbury's this afternoon, but since there was plenty of time before lunch and the weather was due to deteriorate later, we went straightaway.

It's a little bit of a walk up hill to the store but no big deal, certainly not by Macclesfield standards. We got what we wanted and were back at the boat with quarter of an hour to spare before lunch. I relit the stove, which had had to be extinguished for the tunnel, and we stowed the goodies. Soup and sandwiches restored us physically and we've been taking it easy this afternoon.

Sheila has hung out the washing to dry and I had a shower, rejoicing in being able to warm the stern of the boat with the Webasto. The weather has indeed deteriorated markedly, raining cats and dogs and blowing with it. Hopefully it will have calmed down a bit by morning but it looks as though walking to the pub will be a soggy experience.

Ah well, all the more excuse for a roast dinner, winter grub for wintry weather. Tomorrow, down the Stoke locks, probably in the rain, to tie at Barlaston once more.

Through the tunnel to Congleton

As planned, we set off a bit before half seven this morning, arriving at Harecastle south portal at a quarter to eight. There was just one boat already there and at ten past we were allowed into the tunnel. Water levels were a bit down so no anxieties about headroom but a slow passage. It was particularly shallow after we passed the low roof sections; the northern end really could benefit from dredging.

In the end, we were around 45 minutes in the dark, still a load better than a group of American hirers who hadn't emerged after two hours. When the rescue boat went in to see what was wrong, they were discovered to be shooting some video...

I handed over to Sheila after we made the turn onto the Macc and produced coffees all round – the Nespresso machine, like the washing machine, can only be used when the engine is running.

The weather continued to be dull and cold, though little or no rain actually fell. By midday, we were approaching Congleton. Amazingly, there were no boats at all at Congleton Wharf, nor any at the aqueduct when we got here.

Lunch was taken and train times checked out for Elanor's journey back to pick up the car on Saturday. With only the Hall Green stop lock in today's trip, we all felt the need of some exercise, so we explored the Biddulph Valley Way, accessible from the far end of the embankment. This proved almost too enjoyable, as we walked rather further than we meant and are now a bit footsore. Sally, in particular, has curled up in a snoring bundle in front of the Squirrel, raising her head to glare at anyone who makes too much noise.

No lack of exercise tomorrow – it's Bosley.

Pressing on to the T&M

After a decentish night’s kip, we made another seven o’clock start, planning to be at either Westport Lake or Etruria by lunch. We’d normally take two days over this bit, with a stop at the Little Morton Hall moorings or else at Hall Green, but we’re pressing on by our standards.

It was a very pleasant day, with a fair bit of sun and rather warmer than yesterday. After enduring a streaming nose all last evening, I’m now feeling much better, though inclined to sneeze explosively without warning, but Sheila is still suffering.

It was her turn to steer and a case of plodding along a pleasant enough length of canal. Depth was much better than above Bosley, indeed the pound was on its right level, so progress was quite quick, though the foliage surrounding every bridge hole necessitated slowing right down to minimise scratches.

By half nine we were at Hall Green Stop and Sheila later made an impressive, one movement, no reversing turn out of the Macc onto the Trent and Mersey at Red Bull. No other boats were waiting when we got to the north portal of Harecastle at a quarter past ten; the tunnel keeper told us that a  convoy was just reaching the other end and that there was one boat waiting to come through northbound.

This meant a 45 minute wait and the chance for a cup of coffee. The downside of being the front boat is that the angle of the towpath to the tunnel mouth makes it really hard to get Sanity Again round and in, especially as there’s a reef of silt sticking out underwater across the mouth from the towpath side.

At least the water levels were quite high; we’d heard scare stories about it being 15” down from boats coming up Bosley, but if anything the level was higher than it had been in June.

Sheila steered through whilst I did the washing up and generally loafed about below. It took forty minutes, as usual, and so it was twenty to twelve when we emerged. Since Westport Lake was twenty minutes away, we settled on that for today; the extra half hour to Etruria will soon pass tomorrow.

After lunch we’ve been pottering, cleaning boots and shoes and plant troughs and otherwise chilling out in pleasant sunshine. It’ll be a more relaxed start tomorrow, with Barlaston as the target, about three and a half hours away.

Back on the T&M

We did one of our flying starts this morning, after a very good night on Congleton Aqueduct. We were the only boat there, which is unusual, but didn't feel at all at risk. There were the statutory numbers of of walkers and joggers, but once it was dark, the principal noise was that of the owls.

Several tawnies called on and off all night, and one was still going at six this morning. Sheila got up and started boating whilst I made and drank tea, then I took over so that she could get her breakfast. Not only was our overnight mooring deserted apart from ourselves, there were no boats on either set of Congleton town moorings, nor were there any on the Little Morton Hall ones.

Indeed, when we got to the north portal of Harecastle, the tunnel keeper remarked on how quiet it was. The top pound of the T&M is 3 inches down from its already reduced level for this year, which gave us a bit of hassle getting into the tunnel mouth. There's a ledge off the towpath side right in the mouth, and we took two goes to get round it.

Once in there, Sheila was able to make a steady pace, closely pursued by two Black Prince boats. The crew of the first was clearly in cheerful mood, as songs and shouts persisted from them for pretty well the whole time. We emerged around 35 minutes after entry, so a decent speed despite the low water.

We've come on to Westport Lake for the night, as planned. We had a pleasant stroll round the lake after lunch; the bird life here is more abundant than unusual, though there are more coots than you usually see on urban water. We've just been joined by Martin on Ice Breaker, who's had a long day from the bottom of Bosley.

Tomorrow, we'll carry on down our usual groove; we aim to be at the Wedgwood or Barlaston moorings before lunchtime.