Moored here close the the site of the former Festival Park and went in search of provisions and something to eat. Came across a Morrisons store where we ate well and shopped a bit and then back to the boat and prepare to go through Harecastle Tunnel
This short arm just past the Festival Park Marina was once a hive of industrial activity. For it is around this area that the mighty Shelton Bar Steelworks complex was spread. I recall passing this point in 1971 when a large canopy that was a part of the complex covered a part, or maybe all, of the canal
Travelling along toward Harecastle tunnel the area looks quite rural and yet the reality is it's mostly urban beyond the canal banks. The various bodies responsible for the area have done a decent job, I think they have anyway
The old and the new or perhaps history and progress in these two photo's. I don't know anything of the history involving the now derelict building but suspect many years ago it would have been turning out goods on narrow boats made from materials that were delivered by narrow boats
The vast Westport lake gives a nice feel to this section and many boaters choose to moor here either before or after they pass or have passed through the tunnel for it is not too far from this point
Waiting for the tunnel keeper to give us safety instructions and clearance to enter the tunnel.
About to come into daylight as we approached the north portal. Dave steered the boat though in a very respectable thirty-three minutes. We were the lead boat
Nice looking pub as we entered Kidsgrove but not for us this night for our intended mooring location was just past the British Waterways wharf between locks 44 & 45
We had a relaxing evening with Dave and Trev doing a spot of fishing between the rain showers
No comments:
Post a Comment