Hassall Green to Church Lawton (Trent & Mersey)

 Monday 25^th August

The weather forecast wasn’t great today, so we decided to stay put.  It did rain on and off throughout the day, there was a gap in the middle of the day when it brightened up for a few hours, but by that time, we coiuldn’t be bothered to move, so just chilled out for the day.  Will chug off tomorrow.

Tuesday 26th August

Working through Rode Heath Locks

Up and out another paired lock

It was a bit overcast as we set off to the locks, the first two were very close together and was set for us, so we didn’t take long to go through.  On through Rode Heath and on up the canal to the next locks, we were very lucky as every lock except one was set for us and at a lot of them a boat was just coming out, so even the gates were open, it was just the last one I had to set.   

Nearly at the last lock for today!

We moored up at Church Lawton. We have done 10 locks today and 3 miles!

We were the only boat moored there for a bit, then a boat called Whisper moored up in front of us, we had seen it moored at Rode Heath as we went  by this morning and that is only about a mile away, so there some people that travel less than us in a day!

We chilled out for while, then went for a walk up the canal to Kidsgrove, about 2 miles away and then walked onto Harecastle tunnel.  Walked up the road to the shops and found an Aldi which is up a big hill and a big Tesco near the canal and railway station.  Walked back along the canal and there is a pub on one of the locks called The Red Bull. We stopped in there for a drink and the people from the boat Whisper were sat in the garden with their three doggies, we got chatting, they are called Susan and Shaun and moor on the Macclesfield canal. They are really nice people, we had a drink together then we all walked back down the canal to where we were moored. Tomorrow, we are only going as far as Kidsgrove as we need to do some food shopping and we will probably eat At The Red Bull as it looked really nice.  We shall then get ready to go through the Tunnel on Thursday.

Moored at Church Lawton