Audlem to Adderley

Monday 23rd November

We were up fairly early and I took Dudley out whilst James finished off setting up his workshop and was ready to start work by 8:30am. When I got back I was busy in the kitchen, lasagne for dinner along with banoffee pie (to use up the bananas) and millionaires shortbread to go with coffee later, between us we had a really productive morning.

LJ at Audlem

After an early lunch we set off at 12:15pm and tackled the remaining 12 locks up the Audlem flight. A boat must have set off from the next visitor moorings as the first lock was empty but the next few full and no one had past us this morning, these locks really leak so they would have been empty. We passed a hire boat coming down, a couple from New Zealand out for two weeks and really enjoying it, this meant the next few locks would be empty too. A couple out for a walk (with a windlass) set two of the full locks for us so that really helped us along and then the final two and we were at the top. We continued on and moored at the bottom of Adderley locks.

Looking quite wintery now

Moored at Adderley - no cows for Dudley to watch this time

2.5 miles and 12 locks

688 miles and 544 locks

Nantwich to Audlem

We have had a bit of a lack of signal as is usual for us on the Shroppie so although I had actually written the blogs I couldn't post them, therefore, as seems to be usual for me they are a couple of days behind.

Sunday 22nd November

On Thursday we went down to Nantwich Basin where Tim and Hazel from Cratch Covers and Canopies fitted our pram cover. Unfortunately, for them, it did start to rain but at least it wasn’t windy. They gave us a demonstration of how to put up and collapse it and left us with the cover we had asked for to protect the material from doggy claws when travelling, Dudley does love to sit on the roof and say hello to peoples and doggies when we are on the move. He also has made very good use of the little doggie windows we have had fitted in the sides.

The frame work in place

Fitting in progress

On Saturday it was bitterly cold, there had been some snow flurries overnight but all traces had disappeared in Nantwich but from our elevated position up on the embankment we could see the white Peaks in the distance. We walked to Argos and picked up our many packages, James went to the Ebay collection counter, which was unmanned but an assistant on the other counter said he could use any now, James asked him of he really wanted to serve him as he had a number of packages to collect, the Assistant replied - are you Mr Ward by any chance!! There were several packages to collect but luckily all but two were very small and they were all light weight.

Dudley relaxing in front of the fire

This morning we collapsed the pram cover and secured it neatly in its cover and set off in the winter sunshine. It soon clouded over but in a away we were pleased as the sun was shining right in our eyes making it difficult to see, we went up the two locks at Hack Green and passed our favourite mooring spot at the bottom of Audlem locks, there were only three boats there today. We tackled the first three locks of the 15 Audlem ones and moored up opposite the Bridge Inn. We popped in for a drink but unfortunately we were a bit late for food as the kitchen closes early on a Sunday, so after a drink we went along to the takeaway and headed back with it to LJ.

Ready for the off, complete with protective cover

We managed to get it back up again!

Moored in Audlem

6.5 miles and 5 locks

TOTAL 685.5 miles and 532 locks

Brewood to Audlem

We only stay one night at Brewood then continued our journey onto Norbury Junction where we stopped a couple of nights.

Moored at Norbury

It was a lovely sunny, but chilly, autumn day when we made the journey to Market Drayton (26th October), James was catching up with getting pens prepared so I actually did most of the steering. James set up his work bench at the front in the bow this time so he could get sawing up the pieces of historic wood ready for turning. We topped up with water at the top of Tyrley locks where i searched the length of hose to check for kinks or a leak only to realise that it was the slowest water tap ever and was just dribbling so needless to say the tank wasn't completely full when we left and headed down the five locks into Market Drayton.

Lovely colour

Great view on a lovely sunny day

Although quite chilly

Tyrley Locks looking beautiful

Moored in Market Drayton

The visitor moorings in Market Drayton have large trees shading the sun and as we intended staying a couple of days we wanted to be able to make use of the lovely sunny weather we were having so we continued on past the water point and bridge and stopped just before the off side pontoon moorings. The moorings here are a bit strange the signs say overnight mooring only, except on market day and pre-market day when daytime mooring is permitted. Well we arrived late afternoon on Monday so that was OK and as luck would have it market day was Wednesday and pre-market day Tuesday so we were fine there for our couple of days.

We then did the short journey to Adderley Locks where we bought a few bits from the Farm Shop stall at the top lock before dropping down and mooring up at the bottom.  We had a brief lunch stop here earlier in the year and thought it would be a great place to spend a day or so. Dudley loved sitting in the bow watching the cows, it kept him occupied for hours. The weather had really changed and we had downpours, any passing boats just seemed to go through on full power even though we were a couple of boat lengths from the lock landing, they were either full forward to full reverse with us being shoved around.

Bottom of Adderley, Dudley loves watching the cows

As the weather was horrid we stayed put and I had a sort out of the kitchen cupboards, whilst scrabbling around on the floor a boat past by, I caught a glimpse through the window and it was an Anglo Welsh hire boat, James and I both commented that it had been the first boat to pass us at a reasonable speed, a few minutes later there was a knock at the back door and I was surprised to see Irene Free Spirit there with Ian securing Merlin their hire boat they were moving for Anglo Welsh. As they were on a bit of a mission there wasn't time to stop for coffee, but lovely of them to call in and say hello.

When the weather was a bit better we continued on journey and made our way down the Audlem Locks, we dropped down 12 of them then moored up, I wanted to have a look in at the craft shop in the Mill and as we were right outside The Bridge Inn it would have been rude not to pop in for lunch. When we got back to LJ she was listing as the water level had dropped and she was caught a little on the shelf, we immediately pulled pins to continue down the three locks and moored in one of my favourite spots at the bottom of the flight.

Moored outside The Bridge Inn

29 miles and 26 locks

TOTAL 653 miles and 515 locks

Nantwich to Birmingham

After not having a good enough internet signal for ages I'm trying to catch up with where we are now so this is where we stopped heading for Birmingham.

Nantwich to Audlem 5.5 miles and 2 locks

We stopped for a few days at one of our favourite spots with a lovely view. While we were here James' phone decided to jump from his hand and try a swim in the canal, it wasn't successful and sunk! James then spent an hour or so and somehow successfully retrieve it. It was left to dry for a few days and then when switched back on it appeared to work, which was great news as we use that for our internet as mine is limited to 1GB. The problem is that he can't make or receive calls!! Texting and internet are ok though and we've always got mine for the calls, so all is well again on Lois Jane.

One of my favourite mooring spots

View from my kitchen window, looks much nicer in the sun

Very wet and muddy phone after an attempted swim

We went for a walk through the lovely Cheshire countryside, crossing the fields on footpaths we made sure they were cow free, cows seem very interested in Dudley. One particular field appeared cow free until we were half way across when we spotted a line of cows making their way back from milking, on sighting us the first couple made a run to see us, we managed to stop them by waving our arms and making funny noises, and made it safely to the other side. 

We came across this old mill

The old mill from the front

Dudley was very tired after his adventure

Audlem to Market Drayton 6.5 miles and 20 locks

We arrived at Market Drayton on a Monday and there had been a floating market at the weekend, most of the traders were still around and we had a lovely towpath get together Monday evening, Cosmo, Daquiri and Patch said hello to Dudley but didn't want to play and poor George wouldn't go near him after Dudley wouldn't leave him alone at the Burton market, Dudley found a new girlfriend though and spent a few hours running up and down the towpath with Doris a lovely 2 year old German Shepherd. Sadly I didn't get any photos of the get-together.

Moored up at Market Drayton

Market Drayton to High Offley 8.5 miles and 5 locks

It was a really hot day, we left Market Drayton early to get through the five locks before it got too hot, we met up again with Sandra and Ray and Lesley joined us in the afternoon. In the evening we strolled up to The Anchor pub with Sandra where Dudley had another try at playing with Cosmo and Daquiri.

Very interesting bridges on this section

The old Cadbury Wharf where goods used to be carried to and from Bournville

High Offley to Coven (bridge 8) 15 miles and 1 lock
We intended on stopping at Brewood, but the visitor moorings were full and there really isn't anywhere else to moor as it's too shallow to get to the edge, so we continued on to the moorings between bridges 8 and 7 where again we just stayed the night.

And through one of the most photographed bridges

The short Cowley Tunnel

Looking back through the cutting to the tunnel

Coven to Wolverhampton 5.5 miles and 22 locks

We had the one stop lock at Autherley Junction where we turned right for a short time on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal before turning left onto the Birmingham Mainline and up the 'Wolverhampton 21'. A boat entered the bottom lock just before us and it turned out to be fellow traders Jenine and Bill on Witchcraft. We made good time up the flight as the boat behind us had three locking crew so one was ahead getting the lock ready meaning they were closing the gate as James left, so I was able to do the same for Jenine. We stopped at the top on the moorings opposite Broad Street facilities. There is no access to the moorings apart from by boat so Dudley was able to enjoy a bit of freedom. That night there were terrific thunderstorms it was amazing to watch the lightening,

Moored in Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton to Birmingham 13 miles and 3 locks

We continued on the Birmingham Level/New Main Line into Birmingham. There was a race along the towpath and the runners were passing us all the way into Birmingham, the finish line for them was by Brindley Place, as we have done this section of canal several times James disappeared inside after we'd got through the Tipton Factory Locks to get on with some more work.

It was quite weedy in some places, Dudley was very interested

Moored up outside the NIA - now names the Barclaycard Arena

TOTALS  321.5 miles and 302 locks

Audlem to Nantwich

After a wander back to Audlem and the Old Mill to view the canal scene art exhibition we decided it was time to leave our wonderful view and head off to Nantwich, it was an easy run and wonderfully warm and sunny with only two locks to do. At the first lock as LJ was on her way down a guy on his own moored on the lock landing and said for me to go onto the next lock and he would finish off there, very kind I thought so on leaving the second lock, as there was nothing coming the other way I open the paddles to fill it again for him before setting off on our way again. We approached the first visitor moorings in Nantwich and decided to moor up and check the others closer to town, good job we did as the all the others were full. Shortly after the boat after us at the locks passed and shouted out that he was grateful for us filling the last lock for him. 

At the first lock (with the helpful guy approaching)

First visitor moorings in Nantwich

The next day we moved off onto the Aqueduct visitor moorings and headed off to town.

Nantwich is a small town but again lots of history, on the road from the canal to town (Welsh Row) there are 96 Grade II listed properties on it alone. 

We popped into Aldi here and topped up the cupboards, with a few bits for Easter from Morrisons this morning before we head off tomorrow. 

This lovely building is a book shop/cafe on the main square

Last night we headed off to have a curry, which was really good, we went to the one right next to the station and had their five course meal for £9.95 each. Nantwich Marina is just along the canal so this morning we popped into the chandlers and managed to get an air filter, which we have had problems getting. 

7 miles and 2 locks

Total 82.7 miles and 75 locks

Market Dayton to Audlem

After a final visit into Market Drayton yesterday to pick up a few bits and bobs we were off, we were going to stop for water but with two boats already there we decided not to, we still had plenty left it was just a top up. There were a few moored boats around town so we were going quite slow and it wasn't long before one of the boats had left the water point and had taken a liking to our rear end! On the nice long stretch with permanent moorings on the offside the idiot decided to overtake us. Once we had passed the line of moored boats we were up to normal speed which was about the same as them, it was a couple of miles to the locks and at every bridge hole they virtually stopped, but continued normal speed by any moored boats, whereas we were slowing down by the moored boats so we got to the locks a minute or so behind them, why is it that some people just have to be in front?

The Adderley Locks

One of the many farms

We did the five locks in the Adderley flight and called it a day at the top of the Audlem locks.

Overnight mooring at the top of Audlem Locks

This morning we took a wander down the flight to see where would be best to moor as we want to stay for a few days and the stretch below the bottom lock looked lovely.

So we set off in glorious sunshine and did the fifteen locks, stopping off at the Shroppie Fly, unfortunately just for water at the point outside, we'll head back there for a drink sometime as its only a short walk away. 

The Audlem flight of 15 locks

Northwards we go, only 7 miles to Nantwich

Work boat stopped for lunch, took them nearly all day to go down the flight

This little hut is right by the lock

I stopped for a rest, but the fire wasn't alight

A bit further down and the old stable block

Spring has arrived, lovely blossom in the sun

Just stopped for a water top up this time, we'll be back!

Loved this old water pump,  you can just imagine the work boats filling up the Buckby cans

We're now moored in a lovely rural stretch with a view over Cheshire farmland with fields of cows with their calves and a pond with proper geese, as well as the Canadian ones.

And finally moored up for a few days

With a lovely view from the side hatch

7 miles and 20 locks

Total 75.7 miles and 73 locks