Rode Heath to Etruria

Monday 30 July

We completed the last of the flight of locks nicknamed 'Heartbreak Hill'  by boaters.  As we have completed them over 3 days, these haven't been too bad.  The CRT facilities at Red Bull are very good and the pub food at the Red Bull pub is not too bad either. We moored at Hardings Wood, just after lock 42 and a quick walk over the Hardings Wood junction is a large Tesco, ideal for stocking up.


 Tuesday 31 July      

Early morning start, through one lock and then into Harecastle Tunnel.  After a briefing by CRT, we entered the tunnel... towards the middle it does get quite low in places, however after 40 minutes, it was great to emerge into daylight once again. The tunnel is 2,528m long and took 3 years to complete in 1827. 

Westport Lake

  After a short distance you reach Westport Lakewith plenty of mooring spaces.  Had morning coffee there and a walk, Nugget enjoying a run in the park.  The journey carries on through to Stoke on Trent where potteries are many, some are still in existence and working, however there are the old factories along the way and some of the bottle kilns.

Bottle kiln

 We moored for the evening at Etruria where the Caldon canal branches off from the Trent and Mersey and hope to spend a few days exploring the canal. The Junction has all the usual facilities for boaters. We took a short walk to the 'local' - but it's glory days have long gone !!

Harry Ramjams!