Day 50 and some work to do, we set off early to try to get Bosley flight done before lunchtime. Lots of CRT volunteers near the top, slight delay to wait for boat coming up which was struggling with low water level, when our turn came we were just about to come off the side and someone came along the cut and tried to go straight into the lock. We went aground slightly in the first pound on the way down. Had CRT help for the first few locks until we met a single hander coming up and J suggested that his need was greater than ours (the CRT guy seemed to know the single hander and didn’t seem that enamoured of the idea. Half locks set against us; finally met some boats coming the other way at the last three locks. First boat we met was a very new hirer who took a lot of persuading to go into the open set lock. We finished the flight of 12 locks in an hour and three quarters, very impressive! Moored overnight next to a couple from NZ who had come over for a year (with two dogs) and bought a boat and were busy smartening it up.

 

Day 51 D went off to get a hair cut and then J and D met up and cycled up an old railway line to visit Biddulph Grange garden. Really beautiful, extensive and varied gardens. Short trip to the moorings at Red Bull aqueduct once we returned to the boat.

Day 52 was a short day taking us back through the Harecastle tunnel and to the Black Prince marina at Stoke on Trent. J did a good job of putting the boat up to the lifting bridge but since we were last here they have added a lock to the gear mechanism so we had to moor up. It was very windy so we had to rope the boat into place once we got inside the marina. It only has short pontoons so needed to tie ropes to neighbouring boat for stability; noisy over night because it was so windy and ropes were creaking and fenders squeaking.