It is all downhill on the Shroppie

Saturday, 20 March 2010 14:13

If you like locking down, go north on the Shropshire Union Canal!

From Autherley to Ellesmere Port, it is a down hill cruise. Yesterday we came down the Adderley flight of 5 locks and then 2 of the Audlem locks to moor above lock 3.

Adderley top lock through Adderley Wharf Bridge (69)

The Adderley flight is a pretty flight, but there are still no real signs of spring around. I keep looking for lambs but to date have not seen any despite seeing plenty of sheep!

Leaving Adderley bottom lock

Below the locks there are some good visitor moorings but we decided to tackle two of the Audlem locks before mooring. There are also moorings in the cutting above the Audlem flight.

Audlem top lock has a cottage beside it and there was a small bonfire on the off side just by the ground paddle. I wondered if it was meant to be a deterrent because it certainly was not very pleasant working the lock!

Leaving Audlem top lock behind

Audlem welcomes narrowboaters though,  it also says goodbye to them. Depending on which way you are going, there is a message for you above Lock 2.

Welcome and goodbye notices

There are 48 hour moorings below Lock 2 and we joined the three other narrowboats on these for the night. As you will have gathered from yesterday's blog, the our internet connection was diabolical!

Typically, it improved once I went to bed and John was able to get some things done on his laptop! However, I have made a note on our Nicholson map that the connection was bad and I suspect we will avoid mooring there in the future!

Shropshire Union Canal, Market Drayton to above Audlem Lock 3

3 hours 31 minutes, 5.15 miles, 7 locks