Monday 7th September - Cox Bank to Market Drayton
A new week and we have decided to move on so we are in Market Drayton for Dave’s birthday on Tuesday. The canal passes through the Cheshire Plains renowned for its dairy farming, we were amazed at the number of cows in this field, not something we see around Worcester!
Approaching Adderley Locks with the Visitor Moorings in the background, out in open countryside but somewhere we have never stopped so we’ve added it to the list.
Moored up in Market Drayton and went for a walk into the town to get some essentials before walking back to the boat. We passed Grove School and their enormous playing fields and spotted a robot painting the lines for the rugby pitch - how up to date is that?
5 miles, 7 locks, 3hrs 6mins
Tuesday 8th September - Market Drayton
Today is Dave’s birthday - Happy Birthday! The two boys sitting together during our walk.
We celebrated with a walk up the canal to the Tyrley Locks - a favourite of Dave’s that he used to do on a regular basis when we lived in Market Drayton.
Love the dappled shade as you approach the locks through a deep atmospheric red sandstone cutting. We have a very similar framed photo on the wall in our apartment in Worcester.
The walk took us past The Four Alls pub which unfortunately was closed and according to a lady we met, has been for some time. Such a shame, as it was always a decent stop for a drink whilst out walking. We spotted this pretty looking donkey in a field further down the road.
Toby stopped for a paddle and a drink in the River Tern as it flows through the town, it was a favourite stop for him as a puppy. We then made our way round to The Red Lion where we had a birthday lunch/dinner before heading back to the boat for the evening.
Wednesday 9th September - Market Drayton to Cheswardine
Leaving Market Drayton with a roof covered in pine needles, waiting for the wind to blow them off! Heading for the first of the Tyrley Locks, not another boat in sight apart from passing one in this rather narrow channel. We stopped at the top of the locks to put on water then continued on our way to Cheswardine.
The Wharf Inn at Cheswardine, unfortunately it isn’t a dog friendly establishment so we don’t tend to visit here. It has a very large caravan park attached to it so it is always busy.
We walked along the canal following a footpath through the woods but it was too overgrown to get through even though we could see the footpath signs through the brambles. Toby had a good time running through the wood so he got his exercise. There is a smart glamping site in the wood with these futuristic looking tents so that might explain why the footpath has been neglected!
3.5 miles, 5 locks, 2hrs 36mins
Thursday 10th September - Cheswardine to Norbury Junction
Today we leave Cheswardine and head for Norbury Junction. On the way we passed The Wrekin in the distance. We used to climb this little hill a lot, one time in a blizzard with high winds at the top. Toby was still quite small and I thought he would get blown off the top!
We’ve seen plenty of grey heron on this canal and I was fortunate to get this one as it took off, flying past the boat still quite close to the ground.
This photo is taken on Shebdon Embankment, and among the trees is a farm just below the canal. We’ve discovered that the farm was there before the canal and had uninterrupted views across the landscape all around the farm. That was until Telford built the canal and suddenly the view was blocked by this enormous structure. I don’t suppose they were very happy about it!
Embankments are followed by deep cuttings and this cutting has this unusual double arch with a telegraph pole in the top arch. In 1861, the United Kingdom Electric Telegraph Company ran cables down the canal and mounted a telegraph pole right inside this small strainer arch.
7.5 miles, 0 locks, 3hrs 12mins
Friday 11th September - Norbury Junction to Brewood
Today we move on to Brewood and hopefully find a mooring near the Christmas Tree! On the way we passed a boatyard with this boat out of the water. It is a Joule’s boat, the pub we went to in Market Drayton was the Joule’s tap where they brew the beers.
This is the aqueduct over the Fosse Way, a busy road but nice and quiet above it.
We found our mooring and once we were safely tied up we went for a walk into Brewood. Hoping to go to the butcher and greengrocers we were disappointed to see that they were both closed down. Even the bakers was shut, so it was a bit sad.
Speedwell Castle was paid for by proceeds won from betting on 'Speedwell', a horse owned by the Duke of Bolton. It is thought to have been built in around 1750 by William Rock, and was built in the Gothic style. Between about 1896 and 1936 the building was used as a shop and was later converted into flats.
10.25 miles, 1 lock, 4hrs 54mins
Saturday 12th September
The Christmas Tree we remember from many years ago, our mooring was just in front of the tree with open views across the farmland.
Ella looking neat and tidy on our mooring. We spent the day quietly onboard and then met friends Anne and Steve in the Bridge Inn for lunch. Many thanks to them for coming out to meet us, it was an enjoyable lunch!
Sunday 13th September - Brewood to Compton
Today we are moving on, leaving the Shropshire Union behind and turning right onto the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal. We have heard that the Wolverhampton 21 locks are open at weekends only with a maximum of 8 boats each day. So we have booked a passage up the locks on 26th September and we are going to spend the time until then cruising along this canal.
A tree down across the canal, but fortunately we could squeeze past as the top of the tree was just little branches with leaves.
Autherley Junction where we turn right after going through a stop lock of 6 inches. There are usually loads of hire boats moored up here, but apparently the gentleman moving a boat said they were all out - all 17 of them! Whilst waiting for the lock, a boat turned into bridge hole ahead of me and I had nowhere to go. We had to wait for him to back off so we could get clear of the junction, a manoeuvre which proved to be quite difficult so it took quite a while.
The Fingerpost post pointing the way we wanted to go, it goes as far as Stourport and then down onto the River Severn, but we won't be going that far.
There was no space above the lock in Compton so we went through the lock and moored below it. Unfortunately it must be a black spot for WiFi as we had no signal strong enough to do anything, hence this blog being posted on Monday instead of Sunday!
We walked along the disused railway track and found the abandoned station now called Cupcake Lane, evidence of the platforms visible among the trees. A lovely walk and a quiet evening on the boat reading and crocheting!
7.75 miles, 2 locks, 3hrs 18mins
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