The guaranteed mooring

We let the 9am’ers go on their merry way north and south this morning knowing that we had a really good guaranteed mooring for Monday evening.

In fact there was predictably little southward traffic after the initial burst of boat that moored between locks two and three on the Audlem flight. Even more predictably as we set off there was a flurry of boats coming north. After the lovely Adderley flight it was a steady cruise into Market Drayton. I’d forgotten how nice the stretch was .... even in the rain.

We motored on through a very full Market Drayton to the Tyrley flight. Not an easy flight due to the by-washes, the first lock’s by-wash has been tamed in sorts by a baffle to force more of the water down the side rather than across the canal. The rock wall on the far side attests to many a failed (slow) entrance into the lock. Speed as well as angled alignment into the by-wash’s current with a last minute realignment saw Percy safely into the chambers.

I have a photo of me and Leia on this bench taken when she was a pup.... I’ll find it out and compare it to the one we took as we passed through. For now yours truly and Rachel enjoying the day.

There was a fella single handing behind us and despite him having two boats behind him they were not offering any help. He’d obviously done the flight before and was aware how hard it is to moor up then try and beat the by- washes from a standing start from the lock landings so was holding the boat in the previous lock then walking up next draining it ( nothing was coming down) opening the gates then walking back to his boat. I spotted this at the first lock and then held Percy on the upper gate and emptied the lock and opened the gates for him. I did this until a boat came down to enable him to swap the chambers... simple. Having single handed you do get an appreciation of the small things that help a lot !

This lovely row of cottages always appeals ... tempted by the one for sale at the end..... 

C&RT have their work cut out in Woodseaves, it looks like a lot of work will be needed t keep it stable. 

Very remote and atmospheric. I held for a few minutes to make it easier for a hire boater to exit the cutting then went in ! 

We spotted right in the distance a boat holding and it must have waited a good 20 minutes for us to come out....there are passing places. When we exited there was a boat behind the waiting boat that then overtook him as we came out.... I did tell him there was a boat following and I think the look on the ladies face said it all. There are spaces in there to hold to pass .... some people maybe just don’t fancy it.  He could still be there now ! 

Soon We were on home ground passing the winding hole we use then the home straight and ploughed our way onto our mooring. 

A celebratory double for those who cannot be with us in person but were on our shoulders enjoying the trip with us.