Heading for the Kings Lock

Just as the coronation takes place a while after the accession, likewise this blog rarely gets written the day it happens.  first we said goodbye to Reginald

Good Luck at Crick Reginald

And picked up some sound advice about our planned route up past Braidar on the Macclesfield- don’t bother it’s already desperately short of water and closures are expected. Mind made up, it was through the tomato soup tunnel, aka Harecastle tunnel.

Strong tea, tomato soup, or just plain old Iron deposits

And instead of turning left onto the Macc, we would carry straight on, staying on the Trent and Mersey.

Sadly the Macclesfield canal will have to wait until there’s a bit more water

The added advantage would be knocking 20 locks from our route, but we would have to descend “heartbreak hill” the 31 locks between Harecastle and Middlewich.

One of many

We’re never quite sure what this stretch has done to deserve this title, because it really is a very pretty section

approaching Halls Lock 49

and there’s plenty of of opportunity to moor up over the 12 miles. Which is what we did at Lawton, just below the Red Bull bottom lock.

opposite Bridge Farm

Firecrest was suitably adorned in its finery, complete with a knitted golden crown

Very en trend

And we settled down to watch the coronation

TRH King Charles III and Queen Camilla

Before taking another few days enjoying the cheshire countryside

And moving on to Middlewich for King’s lock fish and chips, deceptively good.

King’s Lock chippy

And finally through Kings lock

The Kings Lock, a good pub.