Wednesday 23 April 2014

Rode Heath to Etruria

Wednesday 23rd April

We moored yesterday before bridge140 with the Broughton pub just across it, we went for a walk last night to have a drink and maybe a few games of pool only to find it was closed yet on the door it said that it had been closed for refurbishment and that it would open Tuesday 22nd April! Obviously not! Maybe they hadn't got all the work done for some reason but there seemed to be a few people walking to the pub only to find it closed. Anyway we walked down the road and found another pub I think it was called The Royal Oak which seemed to be the locals main pub and we had a few games of pool with Sam and a couple of pints too!
Up again bright and early as usual, we are always up early at home so being on the boat is no different for us and sometimes it is the best part of the day. Leaving Sam still in bed we set off and when we got to the first locks there was a boat coming down so they were all set in our favour. When we got to bridge 133 we moored so that I could pop to shop then we did the lock and went onto the Harecastle tunnel and moored behind 2 boats that were already waiting to go through. We were there about 40 minutes then a boat came through from the direction of Stoke on Trent so at 12.25pm we set off through with the other 2 boats that and been waiting.
Waiting to go through the Harecastle tunnel
A hire boat entering the tunnel
And our turn to enter
Looking back after we exited the tunnel
Very proud of myself as I did the second half of the tunnel!

We arrived at Etruria at 2.30pm and moored opposite the statue of Mr James Brindley who built the first Harecastle tunnel which took 11 years to complete and was finished in 1777! 
Kev is doing a few maintenance checks while we are here and we will head to Stone tomorrow and hopefully get a mooring near the Star so we can meet up with my friend Sue & her 2 boys George & Tom, they will spend Friday night with us and on Saturday will cruise to Great Haywood Marina.

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