Back on the Trent & Mersey canal.

I woke this morning feeling surprisingly ‘with it’ considering I had stayed up until 12:45 last night to watch Lewis Hamilton win his 4^th Formula 1 World Championship, not in the style he would have liked, he finished 9^th in the race, but I suspect he didn’t mind too much!

It was a frosty start and Rod needed supplies so I moved up to the services and did the usual fill and empty while he went shopping, I then pulled the boat back to allow him access to the water point before we set off.

Rod ahead at the service point.

It was chilly but another lovely bright day as we joined the T&M again at Etruria junction and headed north.

Looking back at Etruria junction the Trent&Mersey is on the right
the Caldon which we have just left is on the left!

It is not a very picturesque landscape, we are still passing through Stoke and pottery land, with functional modern buildings, a mix of bridges and run down properties but the autumn colours are still just about brightening the landscape in places.

Passing Longport Wharf I was puzzled by this boat, it was wider than a narrowboat so how did it get there? it could not have come through any locks and definitely not Harecastle tunnel so I assume it must have come by road, but why I thought, perhaps a customer particularly wanted work carried out on it at this wharf and so had it road hauled and craned into the water, I am not convinced but can’t see any other solution.

Another bottle kiln demanding a picture, but such a run-down site, like them or not it either needs some loving attention or demolishing, as it is the whole site is just a sad looking eyesore.

And another graffiti ‘decorated’ bridge, I’m not sure if I liked the style of this modern affair but interesting in its own way.

We arrived at Harecastle tunnel at 11:45 and the tunnel keeper advised us we had about an hours wait, so the kettle went on for tea and cake.

Arriving at Harecastle Tunnel's South Portal

There is a description of the tunnel in >THIS< previous post.

Rod led through and after about 40 minutes we were back into the daylight and the slightly orange tinted canal on the North side, this is caused by minute particles of ironstone which seep into the water.

Exiting North Portal

Passing through the duplicated lock 41 (2 narrow locks side by side) was made easier as both locks were vacant and in our favour, Rod took the left one and was assisted through by another boater, I took the right lock and once the chap had finished assisting Rod he kindly closed the bottom gates for me, we moored just before the next duplicated pair (42).

Current mooring:

Totals today: 6 miles : 1 lock : 1 tunnel 

I have arranged to meet fuel boat Halsall here at 7am (what time!!) tomorrow and we will head off again once he's been.