08/21/2006

Penny's entry - Monday, 21st August

This is going to be a short entry, given that I'm perched high above the canal with the laptop balanced on a wall protruding from Harecastle Tunnel building - it's the only place I can find to get a signal. It's 9pm and I'm starving, so here goes...

We started early this morning wondering if we'd get through the broken/repaired lock. We did! We worked long and hard covering many miles through Stoke on Trent and beyond. The purpose of the day was to get through Harecastle Tunnel (a mile and a half) so that we could catch up on lost time and make it to the Macclesfield Canal. Along with another boat, also in a hurry, we really pushed ourselves through very heavy locks (about 13 I think) dealt with the boat rage from some boaters going down the locks, phoned ahead to the tunnel for permission to go through later than usual and arrived a minute early. Entry into the tunnel was then denied because the North Tunnel keeper decided to stick to the rulebook - even knowing we are on a 'raising money for charity' journey. The South Tunnel keeper was most apologetic, but nothing could be done. We were devastated as it means losing about 4 hours cruising.

So, having recovered some good humour, we await the morning when we will motor through the tunnel looking out for the ghost (the White Lady) that dwells therein!

Photos to be downloaded tomorrow.
P.S. The dates on Pledgepage are American i.e. the month before the day (one or two people have been confused)!

Sarah's entry
The day had been defined in its early stages by news of a lock gate falling off it's hinges the previous day. When we arrived at said lock - the British Waterways van was parked beside it, but no BW people to be seen. The lock seemed in working order. Looking at the huge metal doors - on which the figure 1650 kg was carved - it seemed astonishing to imagine them collapsing. There are many potential dangers to be aware of when using locks. This was not one we had cared to consider. Having a lock gate fall on top of you is not even worth contemplating.

The arrival on the outskirts of Stoke on Trent was a rather brutal welcome in the form of a low lying flyover motorway, under which we had to queue for entry to a lock. Alterations are currently being made to this area to provide more adequate mooring facilities for boats. In the meantime, we found ourselves standing in the temporary waiting area, in inch thick pigeon poo, building equipment, puddles, and slippy moss, with no mooring rings. The pale grey concrete walls reflected the putrid smell as they flickered by the fluorescent strip lighting. Holding the boat still in these conditions was hard, as the weir out of which the lock emptied came out right beside us, causing the boat to lurch away from the side as the water surged out. It was all quite disgusting and dangerous.

Passed quickly through Stoke, and onwards to our destination at Harecastle Tunnel (see above).