In May 2008 "Maria" was horse-drawn to Huddersfield, along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

This included the boat being legged through Standedge Tunnel. Maria was previously legged through Standedge Tunnel in 2006, when she was the first boat to have been legged through for around 60 years.

Local Oldham East and Saddleworth MP (and Defra Minister) Phil Woolas travelled aboard the boat from Uppermill to Diggle, where an enthusiastic crowd turned out in spite of heavy rain.

Ashton-under-Lyne MP David Heyes, in whose constituency the boat is based, joined the boat at Diggle and helped to leg through the tunnel.