It is one year today since Liz's Mum died. Still missing her very much. As she's buried in Kent, we can't visit her grave, so we bought some flowers for the boat in her memory.We've hardly had any rain today. It must be the driest day so far, with just a few showers. There was a huge black cloud just as I put the washing out to dry, but it passed over without any rain.
We set of just after 7.30 this morning and got to Harecastle Tunnel just before 8.00. This tunnel is one way and there are tunnel keepers who control the boats going through. They count the boats in at one end and out again at the other. We were lucky as our side went through first. When all the boats are in the tunnel, the doors clang shut behind you and a massive extractor fan starts up.
This tunnel is 2926 yards long (2676 metres for the youngsters). It's profile changes regularly throughout it's length, getting very low and narrow in places. At one point it gets lower and lower and each change in height is painted white. It looks like you are travelling under the ribs of some great beast. We got through safely, without meeting the "boggart". After 35 minutes underground it is a relief to come back out into daylight.
We turned onto the Macclesfield Canal and crossed over the Trent and Mersey. Moored on the Aqueduct while Liz did a spot of shopping in Kidsgrove. Carried on to Bosley Locks and moored below the bottom lock at 2.40. The sun came out for a while, but it soon went back in again!
12.5 miles. 0 locks. 1 tunnel.
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