Live Boating

 Friday 24^th March                                                 

High Offley to Market Drayton

We set out at our usual time and passed through several Shroppie cuttings and embankments before arriving at Tyrley Locks. 

Woodseaves Cutting

Tyrley Top Lock

This is a flight of 5 locks which were quickly done as a boat was just coming out of the top lock so we could go straight in and another oncoming boat had seen us coming and had helpfully left top gates open on the next two locks. We moored up opposite the Halfords’ house at Talbot Wharf, had lunch and then went to explore Market Drayton.

In the evening we joined John and Jan, and Cath and John Forshaw for a meal before retiring back to our boat for the night.

Today’s miles and locks – 8.75 miles    5 locks      

Total miles and locks – 93.50 miles     38 locks

 

Saturday 25^th March

Still at Market Drayton. Steve attended a BCF committee meeting during the day. I walked around the town with Mary Litchfield before doing some shopping and then going back to the boat.

In the evening, the local Indian restaurant was invaded by 14 BCF members.

 

Sunday 26^th March

Market Drayton

We left Market Drayton at 10.30 after attending an early morning service at St Mary’s. It wasn’t actually that early (9.00), but felt earlier because the clocks had gone forward.

We were following another boat, so we thought it would be quite slow going down the five Adderley Locks, but the boat in front of us had four crew members and they were very generous in helping us (and the boat in front of them), so the five locks didn’t take long at all.

We had intended only doing 2 locks of the Audlem flight, but as the weather was dry and it was only early afternoon, we decided to carry on and do a few more. In the end, we did 11 of the 15. Quite tiring, but fewer locks to do tomorrow!

Today’s miles and locks – 6.00 miles    16 locks      

Total miles and locks – 99.50 miles  54 locks