Day 32 and we stayed at Tixall wide and walked to Shugborough Park. Last time we visited here when we did the four counties ring many years ago we got thoroughly wet so were pleased that it didn’t rain this time although the weather was somewhat overcast. Their current exhibition is about the two Anson brothers George and Thomas; I’m sure some of my colleagues at work will know all about George Anson, suffice it to say his riches came from blasting a Spanish treasure ship to smithereens. They also have Lord Lichfield’s apartments open to the public now. The model farm is just a full size version of the sort of toy farm we had as kids. Walking back the canal was very busy. Stocked up at the really good farm shop near the junction of the Shropshire union and Trent and Mersey (T&M) canals.

Day 33 and a dispiriting day because of the weather, it rained most of the night and pretty much all the time we were moving today. Saw hardly anyone else moving (others obviously have more sense). We moved up through 12 locks in the rain, the sides were very slippery particularly where there were polished cobbles or nice new engineering bricks. At least all but the last three were set for us. Rescued a frog from a lock (not a good place for a frog). Stopped at Barlaston, close enough to Stoke to get through it and the tunnel tomorrow, but far enough away to avoid any problems.

Day 34 we travelled to and through Stoke and on through the Harecastle tunnel. The locks going up into Stoke are generally quite deep and the first one had really stiff lock gear. Half the locks were set against us and the two boats following us. It looked like we were going to go almost straight into the tunnel as were told two boats were coming out almost as soon as we arrived. One did arrive but the second one didn’t appear for another 20 minutes or so. An uneventful passage through this long tunnel (one and three quarter miles), last time we did it the boat in front went really slowly and it took an hour and three quarters (compared to 3/4 hr this time) and the tunnel keepers were about to send in a rescue party. To add insult to this the boat in question shot off as soon as it was out of the tunnel. Much better weather today although distinctly windy on the north side of the tunnel.