Tyrley Wharf to Goldstone Wharf (Shropshire Union Canal)

Coming to Woodeaves Cutting

Into the Cutting we go

We are moving a couple of miles today to Goldstone Wharf where there is a really nice pub called the Wharf Tavern and we are meeting our friends from Audlem Sheila and Tony there for lunch on Wednesday, so looking forward to that.

It was really dull and overcast as we set off and spitting with rain.  We chugged on along the canal and soon came to Woodeaves Cutting.

Woodseaves Cutting which is about 70ft deep and a mile long and was cut out from the rock entirely by men without powered machines.  

Breathe In!

Tall Bridges here

Solid Rock Sides

Coming to the end of the cutting

It is lovely and really impressive but is very narrow in places and the sides are very rocky so not ideal to meet another boat coming the other way.  There are also a couple of really high bridges.  We saw a kingfisher while we were chugging through but he was too quick for a photo!

Milestone Marker

We met one boat coming the other way, but fortunately we had room to pass so we went on our way and soon we were out of the cutting and then came to Goldstone Wharf where we moored up opposite the pub.

Community Shop

We had lunch then went out for a walk along the towpath as there were a few caches along there and then we walked up over the bridge and up into the village of Cheswardine.    There is a mile stone in the village and also a Community Shop and a nice Church.

Church in Cheswardine

Wharf Tavern

We walked up by the Church and into the nearby woods to find our last cache of the day and we were lucky with this one, we found it after a bit of a search.  We then walked  back down the road and unfortunately for us it started raining, the spitty stuff but it did ease off and then we were back at Goldstone Wharf and the boat, it was a nice circular walk about 3 miles.

We are staying here tonight and also tomorrow to meet Sheila and Tony in the pub for our lunch and then we will move on Thursday.

Moored at Goldstone Wharf

Market Drayton to Tyrley Wharf (Shropshire Union Canal)

We had a nice weekend in Market Drayton just chilling out and having a walk around the shops but today we are moving on.

And off we go

Coming to Tyrley Locks

Coming into Tyrley Bottom Lock

Passing a Boat in the locks

We left our mooring and headed under the bridge leaving Market Drayton behind us.  There are quite a few boats still around and most of them are hire boats but I suppose that is because it is half term.  We headed along a very wooded bit with lots of leaves in the water and on the towpath and after about a mile, we came to Tyrley locks which is a set of five.

Coming into Tyrley Top Lock

The first one was set for us, so I went up and opened the gates and Kev brought the boat in, these locks have quite fierce by washes so Kev gave it a bit of welly and came into the lock okay.

And on up the locks we go

We worked our way up the locks, they are in a lovely setting and there were a few boats coming down so that made our life easy.

We got to the top lock and there were three boats waiting to come down, they all seem to be going the opposite way to us today.  At the top of the locks is Tyrley Wharf and we moored in the visitor moorings there.

Tyrley Top Lock and Wharf

Sign on House at Tyrley Wharf

We had our lunch then went out for a walk as there are a few caches on the locks so we walked down and managed to find all three. One of them was actually in the lock beam and there was a boat coming through, so we helped in open the gates and I quickly found it, signed the log and replaced it while Kev kept the man talking.

Church in the Woods

Cute Little Boat

We then walked back up the locks and out onto the lane as there was a cache up there by the very small church in the woods which is apparently only used on the fourth Sunday of the month, it looked a bit run down so not sure it is used at all now. 

Heron under the Bridge

The cache was in a wood by the church and apparently the new owner doesn’t want people on his property so he has put up barbed wire and private property notices, there is a public footpath going through his property but doesn’t go the way of the cache so we didn’t want to risk being shouted at or even shot, so we gave that one a miss and walked up to the main road where there is a pub, but unfortunately we didn’t take any money with us, so we will save that one for another day.

We walked back to the boat and did another cache the other way along the towpath but couldn’t find that one.  There is a cute little narrowboat in the long term moorings, compact and bijou!

We are staying here tonight then off again in the morning unless the forecast is correct with the heavy rain and then we shall stay put and move on Wednesday, we shall see! 

Moored at Tyrley Wharf

Adderley (Bottom of Locks) to Market Drayton (Shropshire Union Canal)

Leaving our mooring at Adderley

It had been raining in the night but thankfully by the time we were ready to go, it had stopped but no sun, very overcast and a bit chilly and wet underfoot.

Coming to Adderley Bottom Lock

Working up the Adderley Flight

We have five locks to go up today, Adderley locks.  We weren’t moored far from the locks so I walked to the bottom lock and opened the gates and Kev brought the boat in.  These locks aren’t very deep so don’t take long to fill.

The next two weren’t in our favour, so I had to empty them first but it didn’t take too long and these locks are in lovely countryside. 

Passing the Hotel Butty Duchess

We met the hotel boat Duchess coming down, it is a butty so has no engine and they were pulling it in and out of the locks.  They had left the motor boat at the top of the locks so had to take the butty down first then go back for the motor boat.  Their trips were finished now and they were taking the boats back to their base so there was only two of them.

In Adderley Top Lock

Farm at the top of the flight

Autumn Morning on the Canal

Craning the lock gates off the lorry

We were soon at the top of the flight  where the farm and farm shop is and then chugged on along the canal and moored up in Market Drayton.  We moored opposite Talbot Wharf where there was CRT work boats and they were loading lock gates and beams onto the boats ready for the works they will be carrying out over the Winter. Some were going to Audlem locks and some to Tyrley locks, we knew that as they were all marked up.

And onto the Work Boat

We had lunch then walked up into the town and did a bit of shopping.  We also walked up to The Tin Shed which is an outlet factory, it was really good, it had designer, M&S, Next clothes, it is worth a walk up to it. Also next door was the Supermarket Factory Outlet which sold furniture.

We walked back to the boat and then a while later, Kev trotted off to the Chinese takeaway for our tea.  When we were at Audlem, we had Chinese from this takeaway with our friends and it was really good, so we had to try it again and we weren’t disappointed, it was delicious.

We are staying here now until Monday as tomorrow Storm Brian is coming and so we will batten down the hatches and sit by the fire! 

Moored at Market Drayton

Cox Bank to Adderley (Bottom of Locks) (Shropshire Union Canal)

Coming into Lock No. 2

We are on the move again today just a couple of miles and we have two locks to do, the last two locks in the Audlem flight of 15 locks.

Coming under the Bridge

In Audlem Top Lock

There was no sun today but it was dry as we set off from our mooring to the first lock.  There was a boat in front of us, so we waited for them to go out of the lock and as there was not boat coming the other way, I emptied it and then Kev brought the boat in.

These locks are not very deep, so they don’t take long to fill and soon we were up the lock.  I left Kev to close the gate and I walked to the next one which is very close.  The boat in front of us were just going out the lock and again no boat was coming the other way, so I emptied the lock and Kev came in and up we went.  By this lock is a stall selling home-made cakes, we didn’t buy any today as we had some yesterday.

Cake Stall at the Top Lock

We went on along the canal which is very quiet, we only met one boat.  There was a heron on the towpath which kept flying off as we got close and then landing on the towpath again a little further up, they are always lovely to see on the canal.

Grey Morning Today

We went under a couple of bridges and then moored in the visitor moorings below Adderley locks.

Heron on the Towpath

And Off He Goes!

At the top of the Adderley five locks is a farm which sells produce and in the Summer time they have a stall on the lock. There wasn’t anything there, so we walked into the farm yard and the lady came out and said she had a few things in the freezer so we went to see what she had.

We bought some sausages, chicken breasts, a lovely joint of pork and a tray of eggs, well we asked for a dozen which were £2 but as she had a lot of eggs, she said we could have a whole tray for £2.50, well we couldn’t turn that down!

As we were walking back down the locks to the boat, it started raining but not very heavy, but when we got back to the boat it got quite heavy and rained most of the afternoon.

We are staying here tonight then off to Market Drayton tomorrow a few miles away.

Audlem (by Shroppie Fly) to Cox Bank (Between Locks 3 and 2)

Leaving our Mooring

We are on the move today after a week in Audlem, although we are going up 11 locks, we will still be in Audlem for one more night.  There are fifteen locks in the Audlem flight but we did two on Sunday and are going to moor before the last two.

In Lock by Shroppie Fly Pub

Here He Comes

It was dry as we set off, but very overcast, no sun today.  We went through the lock by the Shroppie Fly pub which was set in our favour and I left Kev to shut the gate and walked onto the next one.  

This one was empty as well so I opened the gates and as I was waiting for Kev to bring the boat in, a Volunteer lock keeper appeared so that was handy and he helped us through the next few locks.

Coming into the Lock

One Out, One In

There was a few boats coming down, so the volunteer left us to help them and on up we went. It was really good as with these boats coming down, it meant that all the locks were in our favour and only after an hour and a half we were at our last lock for the day and a CRT work boat was coming down so one of the chaps on that boat helped me with the lock, so we had a really easy passage today.

Working up the Flight

Kingfisher with his Lunch!

We moored in the visitor moorings between the lock we had just come through and the next one.

Sitting on the Mooring Bollard

We had lunch then went for a walk along the canal up the last two locks.  As we got to one of the locks a Kingfisher was sitting on the fence and he dived down in the water and got a fish.  When he saw us, he flew on and then sat on the mooring bollard at the last lock.  I did try to take a couple of pictures but as soon as we got close enough, he flew off, but it was great to see him as usually you only see a flash of blue as they whizz along the canal.

There is a stall at the top lock which sells home-made cake, so we bought some Bakewell Tart for our afternoon tea and then walked back to the boat.

It was quite chilly today, so we lit the fire and made it all cosy.  We are staying here tonight then moving on tomorrow.

Moored at Cox Bank (Between Locks 3 & 2)