Overnight at Rode Heath

Lock 60 on the Trent and Mersey Canal

Yesterday we worked 14 of the 26 locks known as 'Heartbreak Hill'. I don't think it's as bad as it sounds. With other flights once started there is no mooring until the end, with this flight there is opportunity for overnight stops at several point. Rode Heath being one. We moored opposite the pub, which has been very useful as we can use their WiFi! We were very lucky managing to avoid most of the rain. Also only another 12 locks between here and Kidsgrove. Not all the locks are as deep as the one above, also, unusually many of the locks are set in pairs. Back in the days of working boats this speeded their passage. Most of the locks still remain as double with only a couple filled in. It does make for an interesting trip. You can be coming up in one lock as another boat is going down in the other! We will probably spend 2 nights at Kidsgrove, as whilst it is not the most picturesque of places there is a useful launderette and a large Tesco, so we will be busy!