After a lovely weekend weather wise today has been somewhat damp.  The day started out with fairly light rainfall which became more persistent and heavy as the day progressed.  Still made good progress though and this evening we are moored up at Hall Green on the Macclesfield Canal.

On Monday, which was an unusually sunny bank holiday, we headed up through Stone and on towards Stoke on Trent, mooring for the evening just before Trentham Lock.  The trip was interesting as we have not  been this way before.  Had a relatively short day and Graham did some painting in the bathroom when we moored for the day.  No drinking on the towpath though as it clouded over and rained in the evening.

This impressive building, now flats, used to be Stone workhouse!

Graham had a little helper at this lock!

Pretty row of cottages, which Graham tells me are called the 'teapot cottages'

Today we went through Stoke on Trent, which looked particularly gloomy in the rain.  The locks up to Stoke are deep with big heavy gates.  I worked the first one but then had to swap with Graham due to not being able to walk under a bridge full of pigeons (I am a bit of a wimp about birds in enclosed spaces).

The locks through Stoke look a bit grim

Bottle Kilns are a common sight along the canal in Stoke on Trent

We arrived at Harecastle tunnel in good time and were first in the queue to go through.  Sadly though we were last through as we had a problem with the engine.  Harecastle Tunnel is almost 3000 metres long and has airtight doors at one end and huge fans to keep it clear of fumes.  It is one way traffic only.

Harecastle Tunnel South portal

Entering the tunnel!

North portal

Turning from the Trent and Mersey onto the Macclesfield Canal

Hall Green stop lock on the Macclesfield Canal