Sunshine

We came down the Audlem 15 yesterday and are now moored below bridge 79.  The wharf moorings outside The Shroppy Fly at Audlam were full when we arrived, so we carried on through two more locks. To be honest, it`s really nice where we are and only a couple of hundred meters from the Wharf.

The weather is still absolutely stunning with cloudless blue sky and temperatures up to 25 degrees. Audlem village is one of the nicest we`ve visited so far this trip and the surrounding countryside is very picturesque. 

Audlem has won prizes over the years for being `best village`, or whatever, and that`s no surprise when you see it. In the village centre there`s a monument to a much admired local doctor (19th Century); the old County Constabulary building (now a private residence) still stands, proudly displaying its history above the front door; the original fire station building is now a private garage but still has the old red doors, which are just big enough to get a horse and mobile fire bucket through;  and there are flowers and Union flags everywhere.  And there`s a Co-op.

We met a boat in Market Drayton called Edward that was crewed by a very nice couple, Maxine and Frank.  We followed them down the locks to Audlem - Frank, a working boatman, filled the locks ahead of us when he could, which was a great help.  They moored close to us when we arrived.  Edward`s 1930`s built two-cylinder Fowler deisel had developed a problem on the way down - a pulley that drove the alternator had come adrift from its drive shaft.  It used a type of interference fit that had a brass sleeve between the pulley centre and the shaft.  The sleeve was US, so we tried to fabricate a new one from an aluminium can (chopped tomatos in basil, with a hint of pepper).  It didn`t work.  The following day Frank called out RCR (River and Canal Rescue) and they fixed it - by using our can, and the bits salvaged from the old sleeve.  "I wondered if they`d try that", I said.  "I was going to suggest it, myself", said Frank.

Apart from that its been the usual - walks, books and rescueing mice from the canal with Vera`s dinner bowl.

Locks are sociable occasions - Sue chats with the crew of a boat waiting to come up, as M drops in one of the Audlem 15

A mass of lock gates ahead - M descends the Audlem 15

Sue scans the river valley below M with her bins - mooring at Audlem

Mill house on the river Weaver, near  Audlem 

Bikes and Boats AND they're next to the pub -  Heaven!  Outside the Shroppy Fly, Audlem

Frank and Maxine`s Edward. 

Edward`s 1930s two cylinder Fowler deisel  




"Where's my Dad?"

 

Simon enjoying himself

V cools off in the Weaver



Audlem church & old covered Butter Market



Collection of 'Best Kept Village' awards

Indian Summer

Oh what a perfect day............

Can't believe that we're sitting here after 6 in the evening in shorts & T-shirt! It looks like it's going to stay this way for a few days too. Great!

The day started off well with 2 Treecreepers in the trees beside M. We didn't set off until 9 as we weren't going far. We stopped to water up before leaving Market Drayton & that took ages as the water pressure was low to say the least. Still, we're in no hurry so we just had another brew!

Vera supervises the watering up at Drayton Wharf

We recognised this section from the last time we did the 4 Counties ring on a hire boat about 8 years ago. I'd made a mistake when I set the alarm, so we were up at 5am & cruising by 6! It was actually loveley & peaceful at that time of day, but we don't plan to repeat it.

A beautiful blue sky!

We've been though 7 locks today. For the first time since we set off there was a chance for some canalside shopping. A lady by one of the locks was selling farm produce & cakes so we indulged in a large slab of sponge cake for lunch. Then, just like with buses, a few locks later there was another lady selling cakes. Couldn't resist so bought some chocolate  fridge cake for tomorrow & some rocket which she went and cut from the greenhouse. We were eating some of that in a butty within 20 mins.....talk about fresh!

We're now moored near Audlem in Cheshire. This is one of the nicest morrings we've had, & we've had some lovely ones. The views across the countryside are fab & I guess the sunshine just makes it all even better! We haven't been idle though, I've cleaned the 5 windows & hoppers on the bank side whilst Simon did some more chrome polishing & a bit of T-cutting & polishing on the stern.

Muriel maintenance at magnificent mooring!

An old workboat  (Saturn) went by towing a butty (the canal equivalent of a trailer). The butty has to be man-handled through the locks. It looked a bit like hard work.....



One man-power.....



Took V for a lovely evening wander down some of the Audlem locks & it's now time to relax!

Audlem locks, to be tackled tomorrow

Market Drayton

We`ve spent the day moored at Market Drayton and had a brief explore of the town.  It`s called a market town by all the posters and information boards jotted around and, true to the image these created, it was quiet pleasant.  By market, though, we`ve assumed they call it that because its got Morrisons, Homebase and Poundstretcher stores.  There`s plenty going on all around us with boat movements, fisherman and some wildlife - ducks and swans are ever present on the canals but this morning we had an excellent view of a Kingfisher living up to its name. Unfortunatley & very unusually we didnt have a camera with us, a great shame as it sat about 20 feet away on a rotary washing line having just dropped a fish. Sue didnt even have her bins with her, which is a first as she normally takes them everywhere. And its getting warmer.

Drayton Wharf

Swans are always present, usually nibbling the algae on M`s hull

Drayton Wharf - and a bollard

The canal network was heavily fortified during WWII

On the Shropshire Union - (not today!)

Signal - at last.

We arrived in a wet Market Drayton this morning (Sun 25/9) having spent the last week trying in vain to get a decent 3G signal, one strong enough to upload to the blog.  Since Tixall we`ve rescued V from the drink (nothing to do with her alchohol consumption, which is minimal by anyones standard - a small sherry at Christmas at most); had a cover welded over the fuel cap (to stop anyone coming along and filling us up when we`re not looking); and had our domestic batteries tested (they`re OK - but only just).

We joined the Shropshire Union at Autherley Junction and from there it was a lock free passage (except for one at Wheaton Aston) all the way through Norbury Junction to Tyrley.  We stopped for two nights at Brewood, where the moorings are within easy reach of the town, and had a night at Norbury Junction. Sue wanted to visit a floating bog - despite the fact we already had one - close to bridge 40 (Norbury village), which is a place to find interesting plants & bugs.  It was a very pleasant nature reserve (Loynton Moss), so we spent a night moored there before moving to a mooring with rings near Nighton Wood (bridge 47).  We spent last night above Tyrley locks (five) and came down this morning - in rapid time due to lock-key weilding, "I do it for the excercise" local. (Sue called him the 'Lock Fairy' but I don't think he took offence).

Modern tractors in a ploughing competition beside the canal, vintage tractors had their own competition on the other bank a little further along.



Sue relaxes on the Staffs & Worcs



Vera supervises a lock near Gailey, still on the Staffs & Worcester.

The site of Vera's unauthorised swim which caused panic - except with Vera, who quite enjoyed it.



Soggy V following rescue. Good thing Simon has long arms. The bank was sheer rock & he could only just reach.



V modeling her now compulsory canal-wear. A bit late, but it was hard dragging her out by the scruff! Now in search of a V sized life jacket in case there's a next time.

During our 2 days at Brewood (Shropshire Union) we came across a nice little reserve developed in an old sand quarry - (Barnfield Sandbanks)




Heron beside the boat at Brewood

 

                                                                       



First tunnel of the trip, the 81 yard Cowley Tunnel

Our mooring at Norbury Junction, up the old Newport Branch. Had our electrics investigated here due to problems charging the batteries.

Bridge just N of Norbury Junction

Loynton Moss nature reserve

2 sheds & a Bentley!

A definate Autumnal feel....

Woodseaves Cutting, bit tight! I hung on to V!

'going down' at Tyrley Lock

Interesting geology through Tyrley locks





...and a Little Grebe. Haven't seen many of them on the canals

Tixall and Shugborough



Our morning walk took us into the Shugborough estate


We are having a day at Tixall Wide (Fri) and decided to walk into Shugborough estate - with its hall that dates back to the 17th Century (and prices that date back to the 21st century - £37.50 for a family to get in!!!).  Apparently the original house was owned by the Bishops of Litchfield until the Dissolution of the Monasteries.  There are inscriptions on the Shepherds monument (found in the grounds of the estate) that are thought to be a cipher text that has been associated with the Holy Grail, the knights Templar and UFOs.  The estate has been visited by experts from Bletchley Park.

Simon explains our proposed route through Shugborough - follow the twig on the right, turn left at the leaf ...

Shugborough Hall - built late 17C it looks like somewhere Jane Austen might have visited

One of Shugborough`s many follys, arches and towers, created by James Athenian Stuart

A lodge on the estate



Monuments are all over the place.




We looked for JA but with no luck, unfortunately



Our route took us back through Great Haywood

We finished up at Great Haywood and walked back to M along the towpath.  It was a nice circular walk - towpath to Tixall Bridge, turn left along the road for a short walk to the entrance to Shugborough estate and then back in the park to Great Haywood. 

There`s lots of activity at the junction at Great Haywood  (where the Staffs and Worc and the Trent and Mersey meet) and plenty to see. In its day - the Staffs and Worc canal was completed in 1772 - Great Haywood was a busy, working junction.  In many ways it still is but now for the leisure industry, with a hire fleet, a marina, boat builders and moorings.

A  fisherman displays a 17 pound pike caught at Tixall



Old and new - Sheppard, boat builder at Great Haywood




Anglo Welsh hire fleet getting ready for the weekend