This morning from about 9 am there were a steady stream of boats coming from the Market Drayton direction so we waited until 1030 before setting off, as we expected just as many to be going the other way and queuing at the Tyrley lock flight ahead of us. As it turn out there was only one boat going that way who we followed up the locks until we met a boat at the second from top. The Volockie at the top said Sunday mornings is normally busy with hire boats going down, but none today. Market Drayton seams to welcome boaters but I still can’t
understand the mooring restrictions at the North end where it says overnight only unless its market day and another sign says 48 hrs. I will try and get a photo on the way back.
The mile posts along this canal are very similar to those on the Trent and Mersey canal made of cast iron.
It looks as if some of the storm damage is still to be cleared with this large tree from the off side still half way across the cut.
Just before Tyrley Locks on the off side someone has made this tree stump into a head, last time we were this way he had a fishing rod but some one thought they had more right to it than he did, he has his Easter nest at the moment.
There are signs saying that the towpath is closed through Woods Eves Cutting but that hasn’t stopped
people using it, clambering over the obstructed towpath, they have even flattened the the fencing erected to close the path access off. The channel is also narrowed yo just one boat width due to off side slides.
I hadn’t noticed that the old Cadbury Wharf at Knighton as made of cast concrete with cement board edges and its reaching the stage where it could do wit some love and attention, it looks as if its now home to a boat painter with a floating wet dock.
We stopped for coffee with Wandering Snail on their new moorings before doing another 30 minutes before mooring for the night. Under bridge 44 there is the remains of a stop lock which is supposed to protect Shebdon aqueduct. I hate to think what will happen if its needed.
We were lucky in that there was a gap just large enough for us to moor almost outside the Anchor Pub, directly behind the semi derelict boat that has been here as long as I can remember.
Todays Journey
11½ miles, 5 locks in 5¼ hours
Third section of our journey
1 comment:
The rules on those moorings are odd. We moor "Mintball" on the herringbones opposite, and it's a lot easier to get out when someone isn't moored there, so I'm quite glad they are overnight only for most days when we are likely to go out.
It's a wonderfully old-fashioned rule to do with the market, which (according to locals) isn't anything like the importance it used to be. So I hope they keep it for that reason alone.
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