A couple of hire boats ahead of us, but going in the opposite direction, got going at 06:30 but after that there was nothing until 09:00 and we were off soon after.
No.1 daughter got her hand on the tiller and hadn't forgotten anything.
Cheshire is cattle country, especially diary I think. I also think that these may be Jersey cows rather than Guernsey cows. They are good looking with their alluring eyes. (Did I really write that for all to read?)
There was a boat going up ahead of us at Hack Green bottom lock but no real delays. There were a few spots of rain but it didn't amount to much.
Entering the top lock.
The Shropshire Union's mile posts.
We got moored near the Weaver Aqueduct at the foot of the Audlem Locks. There was a floating market going on as Helen and Amy wandered up to the village whilst did some jobs aboard. The view was pretty good, but I git a few things done rather than stare off into the distance. They arrived back with an ice cream for me and a pizza from the pizza boat for lunch.
The girls wanted to get their steps in so I was left on the back deck. There was quite a good footfall heading to and fro to the floating market and we could occasionally here the mike testing at the mini festival at the Party in the Park.
We topped up with water just before the third lock and dumped the rubbish before pressing on. Thedre is a tap just by the carne but being stared at by the punters at the table didn't appeal. Iy was 1974 when the old warehouse was converted to a pub, and it has had some ups and downs since then. It was closed for a time and twice we have come passed and gone for a pint, but the atmosphere, and beer, were so poor that we moved on. It is good to see that it seems to be doing better at the moment. Beyond the Shroppie Fly is Audlem Mill that is a canal and book stall. The owners are looking to retire and selling up, so if you are interested in that sort of thing give them a call.
The old toll house, lock cottage is looking the other way and seems in great repair.
There were very few boats coming down but we were behind one going up. You get quite an impression of the next 8 or 9 locks in the flight from this photo.
About half way up this stretch of locks there is a bridge that gives you a good view of the hard working lock crew.
The other team that were hard at it keeping ahead of us. It seems that they had hired the boat for three days and had chosen to climb the Audlem and Adderley locks, and then come back down them!
The last few locks and the countryside opens out. It looks like it is raining here, but it really didn't.
At the top lock there is a little shed with goodies to purchase. Helen duly did. I only noticed as I passed that this cottage must have been the same as at the bottom seen earlier in the blog. The lady said that some of it was falling down so they were hard pressed to save any of it. In fact the Council suggested that they knock it all down and rebuild new!
We went on a little further to moor up out of the trees, with a view, and a sunset if there was to be one., but somebody was in my spot. We tried a couple of other spots but couldn't get in until nearly at Bridge 73 again with a slight view.
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