We had a quiet night at Market Drayton last night. It was so quiet this morning we overslept and woke naturally at 9am!! We decided to delay our departure and have a walk into Market Drayton and was pleased to see it looking a bit more profitable. We had a lovely walk around the Norman church there Saint Marys. A nice lunch at a cafe we've used before when back on the boat I emptied the cassette again so as not to have to take it home full on Wednesday.
The canal was very quiet all morning which has been consistent with our experience on both legs of this trip. 2.30 pm we slipped the ropes and headed for the locks. We met the first boat in the narrows approaching the locks... they held and we passed all fine. A boat coming down the flight saw us coming and opened the gates of the bottom lock so we had no chance to prepare it by the planned opening the top paddles to divert the flow - pleased to say despite an increasing flow of the nasty sideways by-wash I nailed the entry not touching the sides which anyone who knows this lock is an achievement ! A chat with the boat descending who were a bit miffed about the clown who lives in the wharf as they had had to go up the locks to wind to get access to the pump out and ended up having to go to Goldstone to wind and pass the Woodseaves cutting twice.
Rachel nailed the second lock despite the boat coming out hovering as the boat going into lock 5 had grounded on the lock landing - happens a lot I think we've been caught out there also. As we came up lock 4 the boat came out of lock 3 and a couple despite seeing us closed and filled the lock - never mind it didn't get them anywhere as the delay to boats moving due to the grounded boat meant they just sat on the lock landing not helping the crew descending - you do see all sorts.
So I think it was 5 boats we passed approaching or on the flight. The reward was nothing in Woodseaves so we were able to enjoy its majesty. We both shared the same thought about how 'easy' life is and how entitled everyone seems compared to the graft and struggle of the people who cut out such cutting with their bare hands and no doubt were pleased to be employed to do so - not saying that was right but it seems to have gone the other way.... personal view your view may differ.
We left it to fate for our evening mooring, it was either Goldstone if there were free mooring, if not then Knightton Woods if boats were there it would be home at Shebdon. As it turned out there were only two boats at Goldstone so we bobbed in and booked a table for tonight. Since we moored we have got two more boats.
Ran the genny for 45 mins to charge up the Ecoflow. I had it connected to the 12v in the back cabin while cruising the two hours today and got about 15% thats at 6 amps or about 65w. I have been contacted by Giandel who want a video of the inverter overloading when not connected which I've sent - hopefully they will come good with a replacement or repair.
Right beer o'clock !
Interesting repairs on the stone at St Mary's in Market Drayton - something for our cottage maybe
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