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.
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| 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 |
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| A mass of lock gates ahead - M descends the Audlem 15 |
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| Sue scans the river valley below M with her bins - mooring at Audlem |
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| Mill house on the river Weaver, near Audlem |
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| Bikes and Boats AND they're next to the pub - Heaven! Outside the Shroppy Fly, Audlem |
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| Frank and Maxine`s Edward. |
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| Edward`s 1930s two cylinder Fowler deisel |
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| "Where's my Dad?" |
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| Simon enjoying himself |
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V cools off in the Weaver |
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| Audlem church & old covered Butter Market |
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| Collection of 'Best Kept Village' awards |
