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caption
We resume the story moored at Etruria Junction on the Trent
& Mersey Canal.
Wednesday 5th September 2007 |
Mike, Wendy, cats Tilly & Mandy
Etruria to
Hall Green |
Tilly stayed out in the morning, so Wendy decided to
do a wash while Tilly didn't want her cave behind the machine. Meantime I
caught up with some web-site work. Wendy went for a walk - seeing no sign of
Tilly. With the help of a young passer-by, she found a basic shop (a Happy
Shopper) some way across the canal (and the Caldon Canal). On Wendy's return we
had a snack lunch, and feared that Tilly was out for the day, so settled down
with some drinks.
Festival Park Marina
|
Old industrial sites in Stoke
   |
In accordance with Sod's Law, Tilly then came back,
and as we'd only had a single drink each, we set off at 14:37. I steered
because the tunnel was fairly close, and Wendy's eyes aren't good enough
nowadays for steering in tunnels. Wendy was horrified by the height of some of
the banks before the tunnel - not good places to get off the boat. It was sad
to see the derelict land where once Shelton Steelworks used to be.
Harecastle tunnel
  |
Harding's Wood junction
  |
As we approached the tunnel, we were able to join on the
end of a convoy going in. The tunnel-keeper gave us written and oral
instructions - that's new since we were last here. He also checked how many
people and animals we had on board. It was a really difficult trip through the
tunnel, just over an hour, because the boat in front was going very slowly
indeed, so we were on tick-over most of the way, and out of gear for the rest.
We found out later that the boat in front of us had an even worse time - they
were being slowed by the boat in front of them and caught up by us behind them.
Red Bull Aqueduct
   |
Hall Green
|
 
Hall Green junction & stop lock
|
At Harding's Wood junction, Kidsgrove, we joined the Hall
Green Branch, then stopped by Red Bull aqueduct for a few minutes for me to
take some photos. Next came Hall Green junction and the Macclesfield Canal
proper. We tied up at 17:57 on the visitor moorings just above the stop-lock,
next to the boat which had been ahead of us in the tunnel, who told us their
side of the story (see above). The cats leapt ashore with great eagerness,
having both reacted badly earlier to the noise of the fans in the tunnel. They
went to explore the hedge, but both came back for some supper and again
afterwards, so we're not without hope for the morning.. DAY'S RUN
7.1 miles, 1 lock in 3 hours 17 mins
Thursday 6th September 2007 |
Mike, Wendy, cats Tilly & Mandy
stationary
above Hall Green lock |
We hoped in vain. Tilly was resolutely out and
incommunicado. However, I had a painful ankle so it wasn't the worst day she
could have chosen. Wendy went to find a shop, and eventually at some distance
found a very limited Co-op. Tilly returned mid-afternoon and we prepared to be
off. Then I wanted my camera from inside the boat, and Mandy managed to get out
and make off. By the time she returned it was too late in the afternoon to be
worth doing any boating.
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