I love Harecastle Tunnel

Probably having a boat or two to follow, and an extra light at the back might have made a difference.  But hey I had fun, I didn't touch the sides and I didn't knock myself out on the very low roof.

Then after cycling back to the car I was just about to drive the car further down the canal then cycle back 7 miles  (I wasn't looking forward to this) when I got a phone call from dearly beloved to say he had called to the boat for a cup of tea and I wasn't there.

So I had a cunning plan.  Dearly beloved was on his motorbike, I had my helmet, gloves and jacket on the boat.  Done deal we moved the car to the final destination and came back on the motorbike.  There was a slight flaw in this plan - he had no foot pegs for a passenger so we had to share his.  Both of us had bandy legs by the time we got back to the boat!  Much better than cycling back 7 miles!  In fact no more cycling this trip!

Tunnels

I have decided I am not a huge fan of tunnels.

Even interesting ones that don't just have a kink in them but actually bend every which way and then some!

I find them a chore.

Unless of course I have a friend on board and we do 'singing'.  Which I didn't today.

So I would rather not do tunnels.

And it is Harecastle next - whoop de do.

Once again going against the fan so no pinprick of light in the distance to guide you either.

Hope I have crew for that one.

I am not a huge fan of tunnels - have I mentioned that already?

Photos of Leeds Liverpool etc

Above - new crew.  We showed them how to do ground paddles first then gate paddles then sent them up to the next lock by themselves.

They couldn't find the ground paddles so tried to sink my boat by using gate paddles too early.

The reason they couldn't find the ground paddles?  Well they had changed mid flight to the above scenario.

and some of them were tough to do, you felt too much pressure would snap them and you might end up in the drink!

Above is the stretch between Burnley and Blackburn overlooking the Ribble Valley.

Fran went skinny dipping here as it was so clear and inviting at 5.30am and yes that boat was there.

Luckily she didn't get leeches on her whatsit although we found a few on the fenders!

There is a nasty shelf all along this stretch but we found a bit where it was above the bottom of our boat so no chance of us floating over it then tipping over if the levels fell.

Above is the famous Barton swinging aquaduct.

You have to swing that road and the canal to get the big boys below to where they need to be.

The Manchester Ship Canal

A very large hinge!

View from mooring just outside Lymm

Barrowford Locks

So glad we passed through here last week.

We have made good time since leaving Gargrave and we have whistled down the Wigan Flight as well.

We had another boat to share the locks with us - which was pretty much the best set of locks to have a partner for.  The crew were very grateful for the extra help but were still exhausted by the evening.  And we were stopped before the rain came.   RESULT.