Tunneling to the Macclesfield.

Another dull day but at least the rain was holding off. It didn't take us long to arrive at the south portal of the Harecastle Tunnel The tunnel keeper was standing waiting for us so they must have a camera looking down the cut. As we approached I sounded the horn and flashed the light so he  waved us on and went to open the door and bridge. Once we were just in the portal we stopped and he went through the safety brief which has got a little more lengthy since the accident in the tunnel earlier in the year. We were soon on our way

Approaching the south portal of the Harecastle Tunnel.

The doors just about to be closed behind us. This is to make the forced ventilation of the tunnel more effective. As soon as the fans were turned on it caused a fog in the tunnel. It didn't take long for it to clear though.

 It took us just over 30 mins to get through and out at the north portal. The water is the normal brown windsor soup colour caused by iron leeching into it. You can see the first canal tunnel on the right.

There was a boat waiting for us to clear as we continued on to the Hardings Wood Junction and turned left on to the Macclesfield Canal. To be precise though nit is still the Trent and Mersey Canal until the stop lock at Hall Green. We got round the first turn and found a spot to moor up at so as to pop to the nearby Tesco's for a spot of shopping. We were off again quickly and soon at Hall Green Stop Lock. There were actually two locks here, one for each company, but now only one.

Helen waiting at the stop lock.

We stopped just afterwards to fill up with water. We had to move a boat off the water point before we could get to it. It was annoying as a little further along were moorings with rings that were empty.

I wish I had managed to get this shot with both sides of the bridge, but I was taking it one handed. I love the shape of these bridges and with the sun on the white cottage and boat it would have been a good one.

You can't go on the Macclesfield Canal with out a picture of a snake or turn over bridge that it is famous for.

It is nice to see a happy boat.

As we passed over the Shaw Brook Aqueduct just after Congleton I saw another kingfisher and this time Helen had the camera. It is better than the last one but we still need to try harder.

We were heading for the bottom of the Bosley flight of locks but we passed a lovely spot before we got there so stopped a bridge short. It is a great view of The Cloud and if it were sunny it would be good for the solar panels too. As soon as we moored up Macy was off for a look about and I had the stove lit. about 30 mins later it was chucking it down with rain.

Our night's mooring with the view of The Cloud.