After arriving in Stockton, and once the formalities were sorted out and our gear stowed away, due to the late hour and the consistent heavy rain we retired to the Blue Lias pub for a meal and a couple of drinks.
Although we awoke early on the Saturday morning I had to carry out some preliminary checks to make sure all was OK for the journey home. We eventually left Stockton at around 6.45am and after reversing through Shop Lock No 12 and winding we were well on our way to Sutton Stop, tying up just before Hawkesbury Junction for the first night.
With the first real days boating ahead of us we were up at 5am and on our way for 5.30, firstly passing through Sutton Stop Lock, and turning off the North Oxford and onto the Coventry Canal. We tied up late after a long days boating outside The Swan at Fradley Junction.
Yet another 5.30am start saw us passing up the three locks at Fradley and also passing FMC Dove and Marquis and the Middle Northwich GU Motor Sextans.
The past few days boating had been relatively quiet with only seeing the occasional boat and today was no exception, except for a spot of traffic at Great Haywood. The afternoon saw us stop in Stone for some provisions at around 3pm before setting off again and working our way upwards towards Etruria at about 4pm where we stopped for the night.
We didn't set off as early as usual on the Tuesday morning due to the Harecastle Tunnel operating times. We set off just after 6am and arrived shortly before 7.30am. However it seemed that an early start would have been favourite as when we arrived I was informed by the tunnel keeper that there was a single boat already heading south.
Once through Harecastle we made good time as all the locks were in our favour. A short stop for refreshments at Hassal Green Top Lock and we were away again heading downhill towards Middlewich but with a brief stop off at Wheelock Services for a much needed shower.
We tied for a short time above Kings Lock for a pint in Kings Lock and to visit the Chippy, before working down the Middlewich Three as the light was fading. We tied opposite the park and spent the night catching up on the Boxing at the Newton Brewery Inn.
Another early start as I had to make Lymm in good time to attend to some business. It was quite an uneventful trip along the northern Trent & Mersey towards Preston Brook with only a few minutes being hend up at Saltesford and Preston Brook Tunnels.
Lymm was reached at around 4pm where I tied for the night before leaving the boat. Although I would be attending the FBCC rally on Ariel in Lymm over the weekend I returned the following morning to move Ariel to Sale as I had other business to attend to there and tied up alongside my parents boat.