Goldstone to Market Drayton - Shropshire Union Canal

Friday 26^th to Sunday 28^th April

Mandarin Duck on the towpath

Friday – We met our friend’s Sheila and Tony and their lovely dog Brock and had an excellent lunch in The Wharf Tavern and a lovely afternoon when they came back to our boat for a cup of tea catching up and having lots of laughs.  It was great to see them and we will catch up with them again soon when we get to Audlem.

Saturday – It was a washout and very windy so we were confined to barracks.

Coming to Woodseaves Cutting

Woodseaves Cutting

Today (Sunday) we are on the move a few miles to Market Drayton and we have the five locks at Tyrley to do.

Lots of Rock

Still in the Cutting

We set off along the canal, it was dry but overcast and quite chilly.  We soon came to Woodseaves Cutting, a deep rock cutting.  It is very impressive as it was cut out entirely by men without powered machines.  It is less than a mile this section but you can only pass boats in certain places, we were lucky today as the canal was quiet and we got through there without seeing a boat.  You can see how deep the cutting is by how tall the bridges are.

Very High Bridges

Tyrley Top Lock

We chugged on and soon came to Tyrley Wharf where the buildings there date around 1840.

We got rid of rubbish we had in the bins provided and I filled the top lock and opened the gate.  This is the Tyrley flight of five locks.

One out, one in

Waiting for the next lock

We were soon through the first one and a boat was coming up so I left the gates open and Kev waited for them to come out the lock then we went onto the next lock.

Going down another lock

These are nice locks in lovely countryside but quite a lot of trees and they are not very deep so don't take too long to get through.  There was another boat coming up so we did the same again and when they came out the lock Kev went in and they went on to the lock we had just come out of.

Coming to another one

Fierce side wash today

There weren’t any more boats coming up, so Kev sorted out lock four and I went down to the last lock to set that as this last pound is very rocky and you can't get into the sides to get off.  I then walked back to the lock Kev was in, opened the gates and he went on to the last lock while I shut the gates on this one.

Tyrley Bottom Lock

We were soon through the last lock and on our way, a couple of boats passed us and then we were at Market Drayton and moored up in the visitor moorings before Bridge 62.

Now that is a tiny boat!

The town is quite a walk from the canal, but we needed some food shopping, so we walked up into the town.  There are quite a few shops including a small Asda,  a Morrison’s and a Lidl. We got all our supplies and then headed back to the boat.

We are staying here a few days now as on Tuesday we are off to Shrewsbury for a day out and Wednesday is market day in Market Drayton so we shall stay for that, then off we go again getting ever nearer to Audlem!

Moored at Market Drayton

Bridge 47 to Goldstone - Shropshire Union Canal

It was dry when we got up and rain wasn't forecast until late morning so we decided to move on a few miles to Goldstone.

Are You Looking at Me!!

Before we left I looked out the window and right outside on the towpath was a squirrel and there was a sweet corn kernel on the towpath, not sure where it came from, maybe he brought it with him as he was taking pieces off and burying them in the grass.  He stood up on his hind legs just staring at us like he was saying “you looking at me!”, it was quite funny.

Coming to another Bridge

We set off along the canal, under a few bridges and past some moored boats.  We passed a few boats coming the other way but the canal has gone quiet after being busy over the Easter holidays.

Boat coming the other way

Bluebells on the side of the canal

After a few miles, we were approaching Goldstone and moored up in the visitor moorings opposite The Wharf Tavern.  We had a few heavy showers during the morning.

Calm Morning but no sun today

We decided to go and have lunch in the pub so when the sun came out, we went over.  This is a great place and the food and service is always good and today was no exception, we had a lovely meal. 

Our Lunch

While we were eating, the sky went black and it started thundering and really heavy rain, the showers didn't last for too long but there were several while we were eating.

The Wharf Tavern

We waited for a gap in the showers and we headed back to the boat.  We then just chilled out for the rest of the afternoon.  In the evening, I made a Bara brith.

We are staying here for a couple of days and tomorrow we are meeting our friend’s Sheila and Tony for lunch at the pub, they live in Audlem which is not far away and they will be bringing their lovely dog Brock so we are looking forward to seeing them.

Then at the weekend, we will move on.

Moored at Goldstone

A few days at The Anchor and then moving onto Bridge 47 - Shropshire Union Canal

Monday 22^nd to Wednesday 24^th April

High Offley Church

Monday – We did a few jobs in the morning then went out for a walk up to the church, it’s up a hill and the views are great from the church yard.

Lovely views from up here

The church was open, so we went inside. It’s quite small but very nice and has pews which is always nice to see as these days a lot of churches have chairs so they can use the space for other activities.

Inside the Church

We then walked back down another lane which brought us back to canal not far from where we are moored.  We walked up to see if the pub was still open and it was so we got a Cider and sat in the garden in the sunshine.

Bethsaida Covers

Heron on opposite bank

Chaffinch on the feeder

Tuesday – We stayed put again and walked up to Shebdon Wharf where Bethsaida Covers is located.  We are thinking of getting new covers for our boat as the ones we have are nine years old now and need replacing.  We went over to see if Tony was there and he was, so we had a chat with him and got a price and he also showed us the different fabrics he uses.  His wife came out and offered us a cold drink so that was nice.  We then walked back to our boat armed with a piece of fabric so we could see what it would look like as we are thinking of going for black covers this time.

Passing Martyn & The Anchor pub

Going by the many moored boats

Today (Wednesday) we are on the move just a couple of miles.  Before we set off a Heron came on the bank opposite, he was really big but didn't catch any fish.

Stop Gate At beginning of Shebdon Embankment

We set off along the canal, past the many moored boats and came to Shebdon Embankment which has stop gates at both ends. 

More moored boats

Chugging along Shebdon Embankment

Passing Bethsaida Covers

We passed Bethsaida Covers and on we went along the embankment.  At the end is the old Cadburys factory where they used to make chocolate crumb for the Bournville factory and transport it by narrow boat.  It is now owned by Knighton Foods and they make many dried milk products including Birds custard powder, Cadbury Highlights, Hartley’s jelly sachets and Angel Delight to name a few. 

Two more bridges

The old Cadbury Factory

Moorhen babies

We chugged on past there under a couple more bridges and moored up just past bridge 47 in some visitor moorings provided by the Shropshire Union Canal Society.

Mum & Babies

We haven't been near any shops for a few days and don't have any bread so we made some and it turned out okay and it was edible which was good considering we haven't made bread for quite some time.

Opposite the boat there was a family of moorhens and I managed to get a few pictures although the babies kept going into the under growth.

We are staying here tonight and moving on tomorrow unless it is raining hard as the forecast says, then we will stay out and move on Friday.

Moored at Bridge 47

Norbury Junction to The Anchor, High Offley - Shropshire Union Canal

Sunday 21^st April

Another glorious day when we got up, Kev took Smugs for his last morning walk with us, we will miss him when he goes home today and there will be something missing in the chair on the boat!

Passing Junction Inn

Long Eared Owl

Beautiful Barn Owl

On we go

We had a leisurely start and I cooked us all breakfast, then they got their things together and we walked up to the car with them.   It was quite sad knowing Smugs was going home, we have had him four weeks and he has been a model guest, and it will be strange without him for a while. We will miss him but we will see him again soon when John and Sharon are out on their Summer cruise, our paths will cross I am sure.  It was nice having John and Sharon to stay over as well, we always have a good time together.

When we got back to the boat, we got things ready and headed off to the water point.  When the tank was full, we set off along the canal past the pub and café and on we went.

Coming to High Bridge

Grub Street Cutting

We went past the long term moorings and went past the boat with the owls, the long eared owl was in his house at the back hiding from the sun I think and today the barn owl was outside, such a lovely bird.

The next section we chugged along is Grub Street cutting and it is shallow and rocky at the sides.  This is where we walked the other day and soon we were passing under High bridge with the telegraph pole in the middle. 

Small bar in the pub

Bar in The Anchor

We passed a few boats but didn't get stuck on the side but we passed a hire boat who was stuck but they said they would get off okay Kev just gave them a bit of advice of how to do it and we went on our way. They obviously got off okay as Kev saw them behind us, they turned at the winding hole and went back the way they had come.

Bar with old tables

We chugged on and moored up at High Offley by the Anchor pub.  It is a lovely rural spot and the pub is great.  It’s a small very old family run pub which has been in the same family for over 150 years and has changed very little in all that time. In the bar there are original settles and scrubbed tables and have been used by narrow boat people since the 1830s.

Mum and many ducklings

The Anchor Inn

As it was such a lovely sunny hot afternoon, we walked up to see if the pub was still open, our friend Martyn was moored near the pub and he was sat outside painting (he is an artist), we had a chat to him and while we were talking a mother duck came by with many ducklings, the first ones we have seen this year. The pub was open, so we got a Cider and sat in the garden.  The pub usually closes at 3pm but if it’s busy they stay open longer and it was busy which was good for us as it was after 3pm when we got there.  

We are staying here for a couple of days then going on about further.

Moored at the Anchor, High Offley