Birthday Treat.....Harecastle Tunnel and Rain !!!!

Having reversed out of the marina ( we still don't do backwards well ) we set off in the pouring rain for the Trent and Mersey canal and the Harecastle tunnel, we had been warned that I would have to duck in places, that our chimney would have to come off and the solar panels would need to be stowed as flat as possible, oh, and watch out for the concrete lumps about 600 yards in and on the way out and you will get wet, get wet, we were bloody soaked already!
As it is Ali's birthday today I tried to say it was a special birthday treat, laid on for her......it didn't wash, however she did say she would stay on the back with me and the dogs instead of hiding below with the curtains shut.
We all too soon took our place in a line of four boats and were told we all would be off in a minute, so mad rush to check lights, take the chimney off, chimney won't come off......two kicks later...chimney still on,  foot sore, other boats now in the tunnel, keeper says will probably be alright.....probably ? Oh well need a new chimney anyway.

The door opens and we line up and enter, lights please Ali.

An idea of what we see, Bow light is on, you can tell ... can't you ?

An idea of how tight the height can be, hope we still have a chimney up front somewhere.

After a mile, the doors open ahead, Ali can now stop screaming and take a breath!!

Birthday Girl......On Warmer Days.

Taking the easy way up on Santorini.

Boating in the sun, Perth, bit like the T & M ?

Happy Birthday Ali, love Baz, xxx 

Bye for now

Baz and Ali