Mark and Rachel are starting from the junction between the Caldon Canal and the Trent and Mersey canal in Stoke-on-Trent. From there they will head south on the Trent and Mersey for 20 miles until they reach Great Haywood, passing through Trentham, Barlaston, Stone, and many pleasant villages. The canal is paved up until Stone, but can get a bit boggy thereafter!

At Great Haywood they leave the Trent and Mersey and join the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. Early on the canal becomes very wide in a stretch known as the Tixall Wides. After this it skirts Stafford, running through an area known as Weeping Cross. They're planning on taking the road for a short distance...just so they can visiti a pub! After this it's due south to Penkridge...the journey being 33 miles in total.

Meanwhile...Dominic begins his walk on the Birmingham and Fazeley canal in the heart of Birmingham. It's not long though, before he turns onto the main line of the Birmingham Canal Network, taking him through a mixture of urban and rural scenery on the way to Wolverhampton. Unfortunately for him, he will have to endure climbing 21 locks along the way!

At Wolverhampton, he will joining the Staffordshire and Worcester canal, and some much more scenic surroundings. On his march northwards he will pass the entrance to the derelict (and soon to be restored, fingers crossed) Hatherton canal. Somewhere around 8 o'clock both parties should reach Penkridge for a well deserved pint!