The sunset was excellent.
This morning we woke to solid cloud and yes you've guessed it the rain started as we ate breakfast. We waited for a break in the rain and set off with waterproof jackets on. Within a few hundred yards we had the trousers on too. By the time we had stopped for water, been shopping and had lunch the weather had improved so we headed for our last 'up lock ' of the holiday and the junction with the Macclesfield canal.
We are heading towards Burton on Trent but first had to travel through the Harecastle Tunnel. The original was built in 1777 by James Brindley. There was no tow path for horses so boats had to be 'legged' through the 1 and 3/4 miles by men lying on their backs walking their feet along the roof. The current tunnel was built by Thomas Telford and now has ventilation shafts so that powered boats can go through.
The tunnel staff register your boat at one end and then phone their colleagues at the other portal who check that you arrive safely. They allow you 90 minutes to get through but usually it takes about 45. It is a one way tunnel so 4 boats entered in convoy from our end. You can see 'In the Mood' third inline waiting to go through.
The water is this colour due to the chemicals leaching out of the rocks. A selfie while we wait!
You can get very close to the railway line here.
Once through the tunnel the change in water colour is immediately apparent.
These two photos just show the tunnel entrance from North and South ends with the gauging bar for checking your height as the tunnel becomes lower in the middle.
We were lucky to get a mooring tonight at Westport Lake as it is a popular stopping point. A local chap was telling us that the lake used to be the football ground for Port Vale before it was turned first into a boating and pleasure lake and now a nature reserve.
No comments:
Post a Comment