Had a pleasant, very dark and quiet night at Westport Lake. Really easy moorings, lots of wildlife (birds - Canada's particularly). Watched a chap land a 10lb Carp this morning while walking the dog (he wasn't walking the dog, I was). We set off on the last mile before the dreaded Harecastle Tunnel. As we arrived a really useful CART chap coming from the tunnel said 2 boats had just gone in. As the tunnel is one way in convoy, and it takes about an hour to get through, it looked like we were in for a two-hour wait at least! However, as we approached, the CaRT chap waved us up, opened the gate, gave us our safety chat on the move (very eloquent, lots of info but easily understood: basically if this /that goes wrong this is what you should do; paperwork completed on the hoof so as to speak) and said "on you go the other have a 5 minute start on you". As we entered the tunnel Spot gave an extremely good impression of scardy cat (in Terry Darlington's words, she hugged the floor as if she was rescuing the boat). Jan had to take her inside and close the door but ensured she could see us through the top hatch. The passage took 45 minutes during which time Spot sat at the bottom of the stairs shaking. I have to say, I don't know what all the fuss is about, Braunston is a much worse tunnel to go through.
Once through we filled up with water and decided to do 4 locks and moor near the Red Bull pub. It was hot and we didn't feel up to doing the first part of Heartbreak Hill in the blazing sun.
We will make an early start tomorrow.
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| Spot in the garden of The Red Bull |
We seem to be building a rather good collection of photographs of Spot asleep in various pubs up and down the country
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