Trent & Mersey Canal - Harecastle Tunnel (north end)

This was shot the day before we started our Cheshire and Four Counties Rings Tour 2004. We were staying near by and it seemed like a good opportunity to go and ask the Tunnel Keeper what was the latest time we could enter the tunnel from the south next day, as we were fairly convinced Black Prince wouldn't be doing us any favours and let us get away before 3 pm. It also gave us a chance to check out that both cameras were working properly and film a few boats going into the tunnel. The tunnel in use these days is the one by Telford and the second Harecastle tunnel to be built. The entrance to the original, Brindley tunnel can be seen as the smaller, white arch on the right and is now disused due to subsidence. At 2,926 yards the Harecastle Tunnel is one of the longest on the system. Owing to its restricted width, passage through the tunnel is only permitted when the tunnel is manned usually, in conveys of about eight boats. In effect this means the tunnel operates alternately north and south bound for about an hour each way. Opening times vary so it's worth checking waterscape.com or calling BW on 01782 785703. The water in the canal around these parts is a rich ocher or rust colour caused by ironstone being constantly leeched from the inside of the tunnel. I remember thinking at the time that the guy (on the maroon coloured boat) who had just told me this was his last day and he was on his way back to the Black Prince Base at Etruria had made a complete dogs breakfast of his turn into the tunnel, but it was only when editing this footage together that I realised just how bad it was. Somewhat redolent of my Wheelock Steerer's Blues video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyrdbk-c-4A) You would think that if it was this dickheads last day on a hired boat he must have been out on the cut for at least a week and have figured out in that time how to steer the bugger. It's fairly straight forwards, the rudder is behind the propeller and for the boat to turn there has to be water from the propeller pushing against the blade of the rudder. Engine in neutral or reverse equals no prop wash equals no ability to steer. Which is a long winded way of saying if the boat is not moving forwards under power then it isn't going to turn. So just watch the guy. He starts well enough, engine slow ahead and tiller pushed over to the right to make the left hand turn. Then he puts the engine in neutral, tiller still hard over but drifts in a straight line towards the towing path. Then he panics, throws the engine into full reverse, franticly hauls at the tiller and drifts gently, still not turning, into the bank. Then he really panics. Throttle fully forwards he dispatches his good lady wife to the pointy end, presumably to push the nose off, but by the time she gets there all this "right hand hard down and full steam ahead treatment" has had the effect of winding the boat around against the bank until it's lined up correctly and off he sails into the stygian gloom. Righty dokey then, having vented me spleen over that lot, I did enjoy watching the BW tunnel keeper counting all the boats in and handing out advice. I can only hope that (to paraphrase Max Hastings) he had a colleague at the other end counting them all out.