Wednesday 31st May 2023
OMG! – last day of May. That is why an adjacent bush has dumped all it’s pink flowers all over Jannock last night – May’s out. Roof looks like there’s been a wedding.
We awoke to a grey sky and a chilly wind which has stayed with us most of the day – except in Harecastle tunnel. We set off and ascended three locks before mooring up at Red Bull to refill the water tank and dump our rubbish. Unfortunately, although these locks are paired, a couple of the towpath side ones appear to have broken ground paddles and so were very slow to fill. Better to use offside ones if you are in a hurry.
As we untied from Red Bull, there was a boat already waiting to go in the lock and so we pulled in behind him and Graham held Jannock on the centre rope. The boat departing the lock came out at great speed and Graham asked him to slow down as he was struggling to keep the boat under control. He replied “What?” so Graham asked again in a louder voice. The torrent of verbal abuse received back was totally un-necessary and even the volunteer lockie that had just arrived was shocked. He came over to ask if everything was all right and did we get the boat name or number. unfortunately we didn’t.
When our turn came, we then moved up a couple more locks to moor up and visit Lidl to replenish our store cupboard. Back on board with still 90 minutes to go before our tunnel booking, we ascended the last lock and made our way to the tunnel mouth so we could have our lunch while waiting.
On arrival at the tunnel we were greeted, given our H&S briefing and sent straight in as the 12 o’clock flotilla of boats were only about 10 mins in front of us. Out the south portal in 34 minutes and then had lunch on the move past West Port lake and Middleport.
Brenda wanted to visit the Wedgewood group reject shop at bridge 119 so we pulled over and she went off while Graham cleared the prop and emptied the prop shaft drip bucket.
finally moored for the night just before Festival Park marina. Toby Carvery followed by a visit to the Holy Inadequate tonight – another of Graham’s favourite pubs (complete with in-house brewery)
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