Adderley Tuesday 26 September 2017

Last night while checking the engine I realised that the oil and filter change were over due, also topping up the batteries. I do these every 250 hours and now we were just short of 300, so a job for today.

As we were moored opposite The Wharf Tavern we went there to eat last night, to say they are not stingy with their portion size would be and under statement, starter and sweet were not required. They had 3 beers on the pumps, Doom Bar, Joules and one I didn't know but it was an IPA and tasted OK.

This morning we set of in sunshine at quarter to ten and had a good run down to Market Drayton where we stopped to sort the engine/batteries and Diana did a bit of shopping.

The house at the top of the Tyrley Locks looked very attractive in
the sun shine. A boater there who was taking water, the water point is right by the top lock, kindly opened the top gate for us so we could go straight in. The houses by the lock as well as having some interesting herbs right beside the lock also has the wagon on the front lawn.

We were soon down the flight with Diana setting ahead and me closing up, we were able to leave the bottom lock open as a boat approached just as we were getting ready to leave. As I said we stopped on the visitor moorings in Market Drayton, the moorings run all the way along the tow path opposite these herring bone long term moorings.One of the boats on the long term moorings has a notice on the bow asking people not to moor opposite. CRT took these moorings over a couple of years ago and have done a lot of work improving them with new surface on the pontoons, electricity points at each one and even dredging them out.

Just to the other side on Market Drayton is Victoria Wharf and the back ends of a couple of boats there caught my eye. The first was fitted with an Axiom Propeller which are supposed to improve the handling and stopping power of the boat, the other was another steel boat that had no rear swim at all, just a square profile and an electric outboard mounted on the rudder. All a bit chalk and cheese I thought.

When we arrived at Adderley Locks there was a boat just about to enter the top lock so I stopped on the lock mooring to let Diana off and lend a hand with the lock. When it was our turn to enter the lock the bows of Harnser was hard aground on something. I took full power in reverse, me rocking the boat from side to side and Diana plus the couple off the boat behind pushing the bows to get us off. We followed the other boat down, I was able to back set the second lock but after that I couldn't see far enough ahead to turn locks. Once at the bottom we moored on the 2 Day moorings for the night.
The lock moorings below the locks flight are still fenced off, its not plastic mesh but wire on wooden posts, I know it was like this the last two times we have been this way so I do wonder how long it has been like it and when its likely to get fixed.

Today's Journey 7¼ miles, 10 locks in 3¾ hours