For some reason we both woke early this morning - 6.30 am is
really early for us! The forecast was for more wind and rain but it was calm and cloudy. Thinking this was probably the calm before the storm we got up and managed to set off well before 9 am. A record!
The first hurdle to negotiate was Woodseaves cutting. This is the complete opposite of an embankment; in fact Telford used to use the spoil from his cuttings on the embankments. It is a very deep cutting blasted through rock. When the trees are in leaf in some places it is difficult to see the sky.
Woodseaves can feel dank and dark and the rocks are always running with water making the towpath extremely muddy. It can be fun meeting a boat coming the other way as water displacement makes it very shallow, so difficult to pass.
We encountered no problems today and the sun obligingly shone as we reached High Bridge (number 2)! This one has only one arch but I think it is really lovely - a gateway to yet more of the narrow cutting.
We spotted another Buzzard flying in - he settled in the trees and I managed to get a photo.
just!
Tyrley top lock is very attractive
The Wharf buildings are dated 1857 and we saw that the lock cottage occupant is still anti Europe, sporting a "No" on his balcony! The water point here is still out of action, due to a problem with the purification plant, but the other boater facilities are still here.
The five locks are in good repair but the by weirs were fierce as expected. The first two or three are difficult in a wind and it was beginning to blow again. We were not too sure if the cloud ahead would scud past or whether it would drop its load on us.
Lock 2
Lock 4 had an offside paddle that was broken. I tried to learn Welsh as I waited for the lock to fill. The yellow BW aware tape was bilingual!
The view from bottom lock 5 was good!
Just around the corner is Market Drayton and as we came out into the open the wind hit us.
There was a lovely view of St Mary's Church.
We moored just after the aqueduct with difficulty. The wind kept the boat off the moorings and I nearly lost the bow across the canal! It then started to chuck it down as we struggled to tie up! Job done eventually, we retreated below at 11.15 am. What ever next, another record!
We had lunch and I can see blue sky out of the cratch window now. It is still windy, but a walk into Market Drayton for a shop is called for.
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Love the refection of "High Bridge" Fi.