Taking it up the TUNNEL | Harecastle by NARROWBOAT
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- čas přidán 13. 12. 2023
- This weeks adventure takes me from Stoke to Redbull. I explore Middleport Pottery and moor over night at Westport Lake before cruising my canal boat to Harecastle Tunnel. You have to book the tunnel this time of year, but luckily we made it just in time to check the weedhatch and do all the safety checks before entering on time. I was in the tunnel for about 40 minutes then carried on to start the Cheshire Locks / Heartbreak Hill. I single handed 3 Canal Locks before mooring at Red Bull.
Want to know more about the woman murdered (Christina Collins) who apparently haunts the tunnel ? • Boat Superstitions | C...
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Thank you so much for watching. If you are new here, I'm Heidi and I live aboard my Narrowboat -The Rum Wench and travel the UK's Canals in search of Adventure. After selling my house to experience an alternative lifestyle I bought a canal boat and a camper van which as a solo female who loves to travel, gives me the best of both worlds. I have recently got myself a new addition to the crew, a fabulous companion - my little rescue dog Bonny who is an absolute joy and the perfect First Mate. I also work full time off grid from my tiny home and trade at canal festivals as The Narrowboat Pirate aboard The Pirate Boat.
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If you want to know more about LIVING ON A BOAT, CANAL RULES or WHAT I DID BEFORE BOAT LIFE then please watch these two videos:
• Live on a NARROWBOAT? ...
• My Narrowboat is batte...
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For more info such as Filming Equipment, FAQ and more: 🏴☠️ thepirateboat.co.uk 🏴☠️
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You can also follow my adventures as the Narrowboat Pirate aboard The Pirate Boat here:
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🟥 Instagram - / thepirateboatuk
⬛️ Website - thepirateboat.co.uk
🟨 Music - heidimanning.bandcamp.com
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🎵 Music 🎹
Stiff Ripples by Heidi Manning
Flow Job by Heidi Manning
The Thrusting Cutlass by Heidi Manning
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#Narrowboat #canalboat #tinyhome #travelvlogger #vanlife #offgrid #solofemaletravel #singlehandedsailing #boatlife
Another wonderful video Heidi, Thank you. I have started binge watching all your videos from the beginning, they put a smile on my face through every episode. It is nice to see Jackie and Nicky appear with you from time to time. I lost my wife of 33 years to cancer in June, so your happy smiling face sort of gives me some comfort and your wonderful sense of humour really helps. Thank you so much.❤️
Heidi gets ruder as you go along Ron, thats why we all love her so much .Welcome to the crew Ahoy Shipmate ☺
Oh bless you. I lost my husband suddenly in March to a heart attack. I agree…I watch Heidi’s vlogs all the time. Take care of yourself 😊
Aww I’m so sorry ❤️
@@anni50ful Ahoy Shipmate ☠️❤️
@@cazzee2302 Thank you.❤️
Top vlog as always Heidi, how you saw anything in front of you in the tunnel is beyond me,let alone not hitting the sides some top handling skills on show fair play, bloody typical the CRT are raising the fees when I'm seriously considering doing what you are they definitely are trying to keep the number of boater's down ,and I agree 💯 they need to sort out all the service points for what they are charging people 👍Nick 🏴 x
We were told to slow down a bit as we entered the Harecastle Tunnel, which we did and the CRT guy said that was an ok speed. When we got to the very low section the boat wedged on the side and we couldn’t get it back on track easily. Obviously the pram cover was down and the cratch was undone and tucked in. The low roof caused a rip in the pram cover and took each corner of the roof at the front. Never again, we feel that if we’d been going a little faster, the momentum would have helped us stay on track. I personally found Heartbreak Hill easy even with some locks closed off. The worst for me so far has been The Bosley flight on the Macc, some of those were so hard to open the paddles.
Oh eck I hope you got it fixed …. I hate single handing Bosley as all the lock landings are collapsed so I have to leave the boat in the lock and go set the next one then come back for it …. Hard work so bravo for you doing it … it took me all day last time I single handed it because I couldn’t use lock landings 😩😩
@@TheNarrowboatPirate I think all you singlehanded ladies deserve medals. ❤️
We know this route so well, having lived in Sandbach when we first began our boating adventures in 1992. Well done Heidi for such authentic accounts of boating life
Thank you 😃🏴☠️
Nice, David from Cruising the Cut always calls this tunnel the scarecastle tunnel.
But it’s alway a joy to see how you handle the challenges of Boat life. Looking forward to
Future videos.
Ben from Australia 🇦🇺
Bonny safely stowed down below, best way. Just imagine legging it in the olden days (not so long ago eh). My 3rd gt grandfather was a narrowboat owner on the Erewash and Grand Union out of Sawley and Long Eaton, name of Samuel England (late 1700s and into the mid to later 1800s). I discovered the England family seemed to run the town certainly in the 1800's, one was a policeman, another a coal merchant, several shops were run by various other England families, cousins I expect. Great videos Heidi, thank you so much. Take care you two, all best wishes, Frank the smuggler (mind you that was actually in the early 1700's, t'was my 5th cousin David!).
Hahahaha 'massive shaft'😂 love the history of the Potteries and the bottle kilns still standing ❤ Scarecastle Tunnel looked rather moist 😂 so many innuendos tonight, i know its the mind it falls on 😂 stay safe ❤🌈
😂😂
Harecastle always was a "WET TUNNEL". Remember getting really nice fish and chips in Stoke. If you asked me for an inuendo, i'd give you one.
🤣🤣
a particularly innuendo packed episode, loving it😊
Carry on boating 😂
@@thoughtsonnarrowboatingwit3882 oh matron !
@@garry9999 😃
The history of the canals is fascinating. Hope you make it home for Christmas. I am looking forward to watching you and Bonnie trekking around Europe. Rums up to you.
Thank you
I live in New England in Connecticut. We have a lot of the same type of old mill building here too. Many have been converted to apartment or condominium buildings. They keep a lot of the old brick-work and huge wooden beams whenever they can. i think I enjoy these videos more, because Connecticut has most of it's town named after English towns. It is funny, how things did not change that much when the people from old England made New England. Same mill towns, and now same mill towns that lost all the mills. We don't seem to have dogging. One old England tradition that we don't seem to have.
I don’t know if you actually read the comments but just wanted to say that you’re a blast to watch. Keep them coming!
Thank you 😃🏴☠️
Well, I really enjoyed this one. Westport lake, where I used to sail my boat and just along from Johnsons tiles, who my Father supplied coal gas to from the colliery where he was the methane drainage officer, (I think this was a first, certainly in Stoke-on-trent, and made more money than coal towards the end of the era of the pit). The Harecastle tunnel, where as a young child in the 60s we went on a field trip to learn about the history of the canels at the Northern portal, and years later where I led a crew from the local fire stn at the southern portal in training to use the CRT boat to rescue boats crews trapped by fire in the tunnel, after an earlier incident where tunnel workmen became trapped when plant caught fire deep into the tunnel and had to be rescued; and Red Bull, where you talked about the lack of facilities, where 50 odd yrs ago, as a young teenager, a school friend introduced me to bottle collecting just yards from where you were standing because the canal had been dredged and the spoil was dumped on the towpath for removal later. The spoil was full of old bottles of all types, including many Codds bottles (the ones with the glass marbles to seal the neck), which I still have today. So your vlog was a pleasure to watch and allowed me to think back over the years of my connection with the "cut". And now, from my back garden I look down into the valley where the feeder to the Cauldon canal runs, and where I taught my dog as a pup to not be afraid of water and spent many hours playing with him in the gentle flowing water.
The history of the canals is fascinating, and the scale of the network is truly amazing, not least because it was dug by hand, and especially when these days, we can't even manage to complete a railway with all of the modern equipment. Take care, Cheers, 👋
Aww thanks for sharing 😃🏴☠️❤️
What crappy weather to boat in but you keep smiling. Have fun riding your bike on the cobbles and don’t go down too far. You’ll hurt your neck.
As always a great vlog Heidi ❤ thankyou
Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !"
Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam ."
Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!"
Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window ? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..."
Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!"
Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky."
Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction."
Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?"
Eh?
@@TheNarrowboatPirate THESE EGGS LOOK LIKE YOU LAID THEM !
Love it when I'm on the home straight. =-) Pleased that you and Nikki are sharing the work hopefully makes the task less of a drag, Take care as always =-)
The day started out bum, but it sure turned out nice. Really like your videos of historic places whether they've been restored or are still "old". I too suspect the old stuff will outlive the new stuff. Funny, my head has been ducking lower and lower as I watch your video going through the tunnel. I'm sitting here at my computer but my head is almost on my desk! ha! 🙂 I have a photo of my great-grandmother legging through a canal in England, with her "friend" also legging along with her (also a woman). Thank you for everything, Heidi, thank you. Cheers!
Wow very strong women 😄🏴☠️❤️
Your videos are so professional. I lived aboard for 10years so watching them brings back lots of memories. But you have such a great way of narrating your travels, it is delightful ❤
Hello Heidi .. Bonny ... and Nikki --- that was one LONG tunnel. I am happy for you that you have a motor on your narrowboat ... single handing would not work
going through that tunnel if you had to leg it. I am totally loving the history and travel experiences you are sharing with us. I am glad you have a washing machine .. it would be a real bother trying to keep clothing clean if you had to rely on service areas. Here in the US we are experiencing rising costs and reduction of services as well... I am having Victorian Earl Grey tea with you while you have your rum so Cheers! Save my spot on board the Rum Wench for next week, I will be there. Hugs and love to you and Bonny from Gramma Lainee ... praying for peace ....
Thank you Gramma Lainee and see you next week, enjoy your tea xxx
@@TheNarrowboatPirateGramma lainie, I think I love you, have a great Christmas/ happy holidays from the UK, big hugs to everyone, this has been a tough year for everybody around the world, 🙏🙏🚺, stop that, don't be!!!, please wish Nikki a wonderful Christmas from me, I know that she doesn't have a CZcams thingie, but she deserves respect at Christmas, please wish her all the best wishes for Christmas and the New Year 😊
Now I'm hoping you don't run out of coal. I do enjoy your videos and the travels.
Whew, innuedo heavy, had to cool off on back deck au natural, scared the neighbor lady again.
Dear Misses Manning.
👍👌👏 2) I find this long tunnel terrifying. Nevertheless: It was quite an enormous "undertaking" to build this waterway in the old days.
Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing.
Best regards luck and especially health to all involved people and animals.
Thank you 😄🏴☠️❤️
Love you’ve swapped the name Heidi xx ❤ don’t forget do some rum wench stickers. Just how she is on your boat lol xx
I love your channel, yes i do,,,,BUTTTT WHEEEEEW,IM GLAD TO GET THROUGH THE TUNNEL 😳SCARED ME SHYTLESS😂😂,BUT THANKS HEIDI FOR SHARING THE KNOWLEDGE AND ADVENTURES,THE POTTERY WAS BEAUTIFUL ❤#NORTHCAROLINA
Welcome back to UK. what an interesting adventure, we have enjoyed every video.
Pete & Lorraine
Thank you! 😃
Loved the pottery, lot of history there, well you have a Merry Xmas from North Queensland Australia.
Great video, boat sounds great, we did the four counties ring in May when we hired a boat, cute dog as well
Possibly watching this out of sequence but all good stuff. Love your journeys.
If you click the playlist all the videos are in order there 😄
@@TheNarrowboatPirate Thank you will follow it all in order now.
How funny, as you went through the first weedy patch I wondered "How often does she have to get her hand in that hatch of hers?" Then, you answered my question, and you didn't even take your watch off, oohh.
I absolutely love seeing the old brick buildings, If I could I would live in either the Black County Living Museum or Iron Bridge Museum at Blists Hill it would be a dream come true.
I see the CART are doing a top job of making things lush and suitable for all canal users, crystal clear waters, a bin every 100 yards, and fully upgraded service points with complimentary cups of coffee for the lovely canal folk, It is well worth the money you pay to be able to live on the water.
I see you are "taking it up the tunnel", and avoiding being (over)taking from behind (by your friend). Sorry to hear about your the big shaft (on your boat) being a problem. 😉
Great
Great video yet again. Not gonna lie, the tunnel creeped me out a bit. 45 minutes would have done me in and you do all of that by yourself. Amazing!!! Keep up the great work. Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎄❤️🏴☠️
Thank you, you too 😃🏴☠️
Hi Heidi hope you and Bonny are well very interesting vlog full of interesting facts I hope you both have a fantastic Xmas and love to you both and of course stay safe
Moving the boat on rotten weather days is tough but you got through the moist bits fine.
I am craving the warmth of Lanzarote after being there for a week nearly two weeks ago. It was bliss to cycle in shorts and t-shirt compared to the double thermals and goretex I need here.
The potteries area is jammed with industrial history. It's great that bits of it have been preserved.
Another great video, thank you Heidi.
Awesome adventure! Stay warm!
Awesome adventure.
Stay safe and dry Heidi
i liked the red bull when we use to do boating not far to stagger home then take the dogs out
Leaky old Harecastle, know it well. Travel safely.
You’re so brave to go through the tunnel. Love your adventures!
Good day Heidi, love your music Flow Job
Great to see you on home waters as a Volunteer on the Weaver and T&M canal team. I think you might like to know that Red Bull services were all repaired 👍then vandalised 😡😡 hope to catch up at some point on the cut. when you get to your Mum & Dads I know you will have a great time. Looking forward to the Motor home adventure with you and Bonny😊
That awful 😩😩 why would people do that …. Such a shame after all the hard work you volunteers do as well ❤️❤️
Badges arrived today, most pleased, many thanks.
Aww I’m so glad they have arrived safely 😄❤️🏴☠️
Thank you,❤
Cheer’s Heidi, fantastic video. Thank you.
Surprise rain gear yahoo, your inunos are to much fun. happy trails
Two nuns riding their bicycles down a cobbled street.
"I've never come this way before."
"Haven't you dear?"
😂😂😂
good vid cranking it on the cut keep up the cool vid thanks lee
Love your videos dear
Thar she blows! Bless you Heidi and all who sail in you!❤
A very merry Christmas to you Heidi and thank you for all the entertainment you have provided over the last year hope there will be as much next year
fantastic vlog cya next week
love it Heidi as i always do x
Thank you 😄🏴☠️
Another very enjoyable experience with you Heidi looking forward to seeing you again 😂😊
Happy Christmas Heidi!!!!!!! Hope your holiday season is just fantabulous!! Big hugs from Kenny Ohio USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow that was a big-un lol 😅 glad that your on the home stretch now xx
Another entertaining, and a great insight of your alternative but lovely lifestyle choice, cheers Heidi, hurry up with the next video ❤
Hello Heidi mick from Hull another lovely episode I really enjoyed it and hope you and bonny are very well and I will look forward to your next episode xx 😊😊😊
I love all the history on our canals Mrs. I always feel for the workers with back breaking work. Looking forward to meeting Bonnie. Lost my voice so not seeing anybody at the mo. I better go my voice is hurting..😒
Awww bless you … I’ve just watched you turn round and you give your mate a good rubbing 🤣🤣 get well soon xxx
It's a real life on your beautiful narrow boat. Have lots of fun and giggles with Bonnie. Have a lovely Christmas. ❤
i could see you were amused about your propeller and shaft🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Another great video.
Just wonderful, you are a treasure.
Thank you! 😊
Heidi, you are a breath of fresh air sweetheart. I look forward to your vlogs all the time and they brighten up the dullest days. Long May they continue.❤️😘😂👍🎄xx
Thoroughly enjoyed that vid Heidi, thank you 😊...just love the canal history and the way you share it with us.....yet more awesome helmsmanship negotiating Harecastle and videoing whilst chatting and concentrating 👍....take great care on the homeward stretch and 🤞the old girl's smoking was nowt to worry about. See you next time.😊
Bonnie is such a doll baby.
Your humor is a crack up .HE HE HE
I’m glad you are going to be home for Christmas Heidi, have a good holiday luv!
Thank you! You too!
What a woman for 1 woman happy Christmas to you and your family 💯💯💯
Same to you!
Great vlog, Heidi have alovely Christmas 🎄 with family. 🎉
Thank you! You too!
06:19 what beautiful pottery!!
Love your channel.
Thank you 😃🏴☠️
its good to see the bad weather days and issues with feesand servicesas well as allthose blissful hot summers days.
Giggles accomplished:) Thanks, Heidi!
Thank you
I find myself ducking, too
Merry Christmas to you and Bonny and the Pirate Crew 🎉
Thank you and Merry Christmas to you too
Another great, get on with it, no fuss video. Cheers.
Your are my Thursday lunch treat. Well done in the tunnel and safe travels to you and Bonny as you head home for Christmas! Cheers from California.
Thank you 😃🏴☠️
Although most tunnels, you did 'leg' through, Telfords Harecastle was one of the few that had a towpath, though I don't know what the horses thought of it!! The towpath was progressively collapsing into the tunnel and I think it was removed completely about 20 years ago. If you look back at the tunnel mouth as you are coming out, you can see the towpath blocked off on the left hand side.
I was told that towpath was put in years later and wouldn’t fit a horse
You're a treat Heidi, love your humor. I could easily spend all day in places like the Pottery Works. Endlessly interesting.
😃🏴☠️
Thanks!
Thank you
I can’t believe you put your hands in that water without gloves! It must be so cold and it looked horrible!! So pleased you’re ’nearly home’ - good luck with the last stretch through all those locks.
Looks a good one! See this episode and you for a Rum on Saturday!😉👍
Thanks for sharing your adventures, humor and Bonnie with us. Your positivity is as infectious as your laugh!
Hope to see you get in that van and head south a bit for winter….
Thank you 😃🏴☠️
Ahoy there Heidi, thanks for another great video. I love your attitude and your bawdy humor makes me giggle.🤣 Good luck on your journey home, thanks for keeping it Merry ! ❤️🎄❤️
Thanks so much! 😊
Oh my, the scarecastle tunnel, you're brave! I have seen from other blogs that the low roof line is caused by subsidence, which has caused nasty injuries and even deaths over the years, hence how it's got it nickname! Safe travels now you're heading home for Christmas x
Loved this episode. Hi from California.
Thank you
Mighty brave going through those tunnels, which I could never do. Very claustrophobic. Glad your heading home to family and friends. May you all have a wonderful Christmas and safe Holidays coming up. Take care . Stay safe.
Thank you, you too 😃🏴☠️
😊Thanks!
Thank you 😄🥃🏴☠️
Hope you enjoyed the Christmas party in the Lone star state, you should have invited some of us subscribers lol Happy Christmas x x x
Danke für dein interessantes Video. 🇦🇹 🤗
Thank you 😄🏴☠️
I always enjoy your videos. You are fun and funny. I've never been on a narrowboat nor English canal, but I get a sense of the life from your videos. I'd love to see more of the social life within the narrowboat community. You have nice and fun friends, and I'd love to see more of you and them socializing.
Thank you, watch the earlier videos especially last winter on the Llangollen canal as there was lots of that
It’s almost Xmas happy Xmas xx
Same to you 😄🏴☠️
Nice one Bab, stay safe..x
Thank you 😄🏴☠️
Really enjoyed this vlog as all your other vlogs…have a lovely Christmas and New year 😊
Thank you! You too!
Thanks Lovely Heidi and Bonny for taking us along to see the old Stoke potteries and through the "Scarecastle Tunnel", it was brilliant, I'd like to do it. I'm glad that you are getting close to home now and I hope that you will have a lovely Christmas. Take care and all the best. Stevie
Thanks Steve, you too xx
Cracking video as always, Heidi! Bought a Coalcage on the back of your video and let Wayne know it was on your recco (you never know, you might get some commission!😁). Love watching the progress your making with Bonnie. I adopted Chip, a Bulgarian Corgi-X street dog around the same time, and he's (very!) reactive too - we're on our second behaviourist now, after the first gave up on us, but we'll keep soldiering nevertheless! Merry Christmas to Bonnie and yourself! Phil
Aww fabulous 😄🏴☠️❤️
Watched for a long time now ,first comment from me !! . Vids are always amazing ,love the sense of humour you bring ! , full of historical content and brilliant music 💯 Luv ya .All the very best Phil 👏
Aww thank you Phil 😃❤️🏴☠️
Hey hey, it’s nice to see you’re on the homestretch, getting closer to family for Christmas.
I like your blue raincoat, looks a goodun 🙂.
Safe travels to yourself and Nikki.
Happy Christmas.
All my best to your mum and dad.🎄
Keep warm and take care.
🙂🐿🌈❤️
Thank you! You too! Merry Christmas 😃🏴☠️