Monday 1st August 2011

Westport Lake, Trent and Mersey to Br86 Macclesfield Canal

Westport Lake is a good place to moor before heading for Harecastle tunnel. A Viking Afloat hireboat was the first to pass us this morning at some unearthly hour, even the dog wasn't awake!!

Just a short cruise to the tunnel entrance and we were second in the queue for the passage through and two other boats joined during the 45 min wait. The BW tunnel keeper was very helpful and informative and obviously enjoyed his job. He even had a pocket full of treats for dogs.  There were only two boats heading south out of the tunnel, and the first on emerging from the tunnel announced that he had picked up something on the prop half way through.

Bentley stayed inside the boat through the tunnel and seemed to be quite happy looking out through the cratch window.

Having passed through the tunnel we soon turned off onto the Macclesfield Canal and stopped for Nicola to make a quick excursion to Tesco. I stayed with the dog on the boat but when I decided to lock up and go and help carry the shopping Bentley decided to fall off the back deck into the cut!! After  a short time I managed to pull him out but he was obviously very embarrassed.

Once on the Macclesfield we headed to the marina at Sherbourne  Wharf and a very helpful young lad put a new gas cylinder in for us, saving my back!!

We continued a bit further to moor and take a short walk to Little Moreton Hall. This is a National Trust property but unfortunately closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.