Trent & Mersey Canal:Stoke Top Lock

All very straight forward today.  I wanted to be sure of getting  through Harecastle Tunnel so booked the 2pm slot, otherwise there is no guarantee of getting passage in the afternoon, although I suspect the tunnel keepers are good guys and I am sure will be as helpful as possible if traffic is light.  I was wondering how things worked if I arrived in the morning when I had a phone call from the tunnel keeper to say that if I was around, there is no need to wait for the booking time, but just come.  I arrived at 11:30 just in time to see a boat enter the tunnel and no-one waiting.  So I just needed 5 minutes to get the briefing and re-arrange the boat and I was off.  The original plan was to moor for the day at Westport Lake, but I was now early and decided to go for Stoke Top Lock as that is about 1 hour away and would give me my notional 7 hours cruise for the day.  I was tempted to carry on, but Barlaston is the next cosy mooring and that is 3 1/2 hours away.  It does mean that I will have to do all the deep locks myself in the early morning.  I’m glad now that I have stopped.  There have been a couple of heavy rain showers since.  The lovely weather has broken.