Thursday 6 June 2019 Day 41: Audlem to Market Drayton

True to my word, I was up at 6.00am and ready to cast off at 6.45am. At 7.30am as I walked up to set the lock (a single hander already having left ahead of us) Lawrence set about casting off - but first he had to deal with my tying up technique - even more frenetic since we were cast adrift!

Here he comes

The bywashes below the locks were fairly fierce requiring some proactive steering by L to bring A.B. into the lock unscathed

We had 12 locks to do to complete the Audlem flight. Because we were following a single hander up the flight the locks were set against us and the going was slow - and very enjoyable.

Looking up the flight with the single hander in the next lock

The barrel roofed  building  beside lock 10 was used by stonemasons, blacksmiths and carpenters engaged in maintaining the flight

Am trying to get a decent photo of the locks up the flight, but I'm afraid my little camera just can't cope.

A.B. on the pound between Locks 10 and 9

After the 8th lock of the morning we started to meet boats coming down which meant a whole lot less work and lots of chat.

We had a boat on our heels the whole way

Locks 2 and 1 on the flight were spread out and the scenery, on this sunny morning was enchanting

The bywash at the bottom of Lock 1 (or in our case the last of the Audlem flights) was really fierce and L had to come screaming into the lock using a lot of rudder to avoid being pushed into the side.

On the way up I had been told about the stall and honesty box at the top of the Audlem Flight. Diving into the boat while it was still rising in the last lock I grabbed my purse and checked out the stall. The Lemon Drizzle Cake was to die for and we ate it as we cruised along the long pound and enjoyed the outlook

This part of  canal is on an embankment. Thomas Telford was a firm believer in embankments, cut and fill, and cuttings.

so we were afforded

extra good views

Lemon drizzle cake finished, it was time to get ready for the Adderley Flight

Mmm, seems to be quite a bit of activity up ahead

Five locks to get through..

While waiting for our turn I soaked up some sun (in short supply this trip) and looked around.

More ubiquitous Canada Geese, these with well grown young at heel

This is a big dairy farm complex. Don't know how they are surviving - the supermarkets have been screwing them for a lot longer than they have ours.

Lawrence hovered awaiting our turn

Glorious Shropshire. Oh yes, at the top of the Audlem locks, we departed Cheshire and entered Shropshire.

Once it was our turn, we flew up the locks as we crossed with a boat coming down in every pound meaning that I didn't have to close the top gate of the lock A.B. was exiting and the next lock was already set in our favour with the bottom gates left open. Easy peasy.

The man of this boat told L about the farm stall at the top of the Adderley flight, selling the best Pork Pies ever!!!!   He called this grass haired head his happy plant pot.

Looking back down the flight

Crossing a convenient bridge just behind the lock (normally have to walk back across the front gate) to close the other bottom gate

Reaching the top of the flight, L of course wanted a pork pie, so once again I dove down into the rising A.B. to retrieve my wallet and purchase what felt like a lead wait covered in impermeable pastry!


The 17 locks done for the day, I settled back to enjoy the rest of our cruise to Market Drayton.

After bridge 66, we entered the first of Telford's cuttings , Betton Cutting; not very dramatic by Telford standards.

but  still attractive and supposedly haunted by a shrieking spectre!

The long line of linear long term moorings on the outskirts of Market Drayton, time to throttle down to tickover.

Ewes and lambs taking life easy

We definitely haven't seen anywhere near as many swans as on previous trips. So two see a pair of swans with 9 cygnets this size was a real joy.

 Looking back the way we'd come

Orwell's Boat Yard - doesn't inspire confidence

The original basin has now been re developed into new housing and more permanent moorings

Old cornmill

Presumably once stabling for barge horse, it now looks in need of some tender, loving care

At 12.45 we moored up on the other side of Market Drayton, on the embankment leading to the aqueduct over the River Tern.

The available moorings behind us soon started to fill up as the sky turned ominous

Which I failed to notice, being busy washing tea towels, socks, trackie dacks and a pair of jeans - to take advantage of the sun ha ha (so we are now slowly broiling with the heater on in an attempt to get everything dry).

Have been watching lots of fish in the canal, feeding madly after the rain.

7 miles, 17 locks, 5 1/4 hours