Now in Middlewhich

We passed through Stoke fairly quickly, only stopping for water and lunch. Not the most picturesque trip. However just north of the city is a lake which made a lovely overnight mooring.

Waiting at the southern end of Harecastle Tunnel
to be given instruction to proceed.

North portal of Harecastle Tunnel,
Note the colour of the water

Saturday morning was a short cruise bringing us to Harecastle Tunnel. About an hour of cruising in the dark in a convoy of boats. Entry is controlled by Canal and River Trust. We were first. At the northern end the water is a strange milky rusty colour due to ironstone strata. This brings you into Kidsgrove. Pretty moorings with a short walk into town, not so pretty! However there is a launderette and a Tesco, so that was Sunday taken care of.

The best building in Kidsgrove

Stopped here for water and fish and chips!

It does exist, note the name, we found her!
Boaty McBoatface

Another couple days of cruising through pleasant countryside​ we arrived in Middlewhich on Wednesday. Mooring by the road, not so good, but next to a boat called Brecon with Diane and Kevin on board, that was good. After a while chatting we ended up in the King's Lock pub where we had a lovely meal. Diane is originally from Sandbach and when we discovered Thursday was market day we got the bus for a visit. There are some beautiful buildings around the town and we had a lovely day.

Old Hall Sandbach

Today Cheryl is joining us for the day, we have some locks ready for her to help us with! We will be continuing our way north.

Moving On

How many babies!

 After a hectic week away we were glad to be back on board. Our first stop was at Tixall Wide, but that was nearly a week ago now!
On Saturday we turned out on to the Trent and Mersey Canal heading north. With an extra passenger, Jill had come back with us. So for a while Paul had 2 Jill's on board. We took our
time slowly

Mid point on the Trent and Mersey with 2 Wind Lasses

heading northwards. We arrived in Stone on Monday. This is a lovely little town and a fovourite place of ours. It was a bonus having help with the locks. Yesterday Jill's brother Dave arrived to take her back to Bristol so she could collect her car and drive the rest of the way back to Plymouth. Today we have moved on towards Stoke on Trent.

Back to Stafford

Moorhen on her nest.

Well for once all went according to plan and we worked the 2 locks and winded coming back to Compton to moor for lunch.
With no more locks for a while we cruised on to Coven for Saturday night. The next couple of days we spent traveling back the way we had come. Arriving at Stafford Boat Club on Thursday morning. Time to catch up with washing. Only to find Annie and Colin from NB Eli were moored here. We first met them at Braunston on our first year out and have 'bumped' into them several times over the years. Annie invited us to join them for a BBQ that evening, which we were only too happy to do.
So at the moment Falcon is safely moored in Stafford and we are in Hereford at Paul's RAF reunion. 50 years ago 309 San signed on the dotted line.
From here we have a quick trip to Plymouth to finalise details for our new tenants, before returning to Falcon on Thursday.