Next day saw us at the Southern Portal of Harecastle Tunnel, and a short wait for those boats coming through Southbound.
It’s quite an experience, Harecastle is a one way only tunnel, 2,675 metres (2926 yards) long, as there’s no room to pass.
Also quite unique is that they have huge ventilation fans running at the Southern end which are quite noisy for a while when entering the tunnel, also they close off the South end so that air is drawn from the North end, which make it draughty but clear air.
It’s a 40 minute passage with mostly good headroom. The North end saw us in “Red Bull” and the water is certainly very red from the iron ore locally.
After collecting coal from David Smithson it was into “Heartbreak Hill” or “Cheshire Locks” 26 locks to Wheedon.
Moored at Wheedon Jill took the Granddaughter home from Wheedon to Exeter and rejoined the next day.
One of our favourite moorings, near Sandbach, but a long walk into the town for provisions.
Easy cruising now to Middlewhich on 16/04/18 only 4 locks, mooring above Kings Lock.
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