That Tyrely bottom lock ....

Another lovely warm summer day and we set off quite late for a stop over for lunch in Market Drayton.

We initially stopped opposite Toms moorings a bridge before the services. Only on walking to town did we double check the notice to realise we could only moor overnight or Market days. I expect it is to allow the boats on Toms moorings ( in front of the new houses) to get off their pontoons? It was all very ambiguous. We hopped back on Percy and cruise to the other visitor moorings near the main road into Market Drayton.

We shopped ate and browsed a few shops. How can one town be so different to another only a few miles apart. Market Drayton is struggling compared to Audlam for sure. 

We got back on the boat and set off for the Tyrley locks with a boat nipping out in front of us. We slowed as we knew they would be off up the flight before us but on getting to the lock landing their boat was pinned to the rock face opposite that horrible (now unbaffled) bywash. The fella on the stern was giving the engine everything to try and get off but no avail. Eventually the bywash eased just enough for him to scrape in. Fair to say he and his lady lock wheeler were a bit shaken up. 

I tried to explain to him about the amount of water that can come down this flight and appears out of this one bywash - if one or up to four locks are emptied simultaneously all that water comes out via the one bottom bywash which is a lot of water ! Now when we ascend(ed) I asked Rachel to open one top paddle to put the pound water thru the lock not via the bywash - I explained this to him but I think he was a bit shaken up ( literally) 

It certainly can look benign but in a few seconds becomes a raging torrent. It's a place I'll go to on the bike to do a bit of Gongoozling !

We motored on into Woodseaves cutting and pleasingly did not meet another boat.

I was very surprised to get a mooring at Goldstone Wharf  - in fact there were only three boats there when we arrived. Another lovely quiet mooring. We arrived about 6.30 pm so late and pleased to get a mooring on this limited section of accessible morings between Tyrley and Norbury.

Another lovely cruising day albeit with a bit of excitement !!