Through the cuttings.

Wednesday is Market Day in Market Drayton and we had a walk into town to have a look. A whole street was full of stalls with some good stuff. The fruit and veg looked great so we availed our selves as that was all we needed. Back to the boat and after a cuppa we were off. It wasn't long until we were in Tyrley Cutting. I reckon that J.R.R. Tolkein could well have been inspired by this place. Mind you just about everywhere seems to be able to state that he had been influenced there.

Tyrley Cutting

Tony modelling the new 'on trend' men's apparel, a slipover or tank top!

Tyrley Bottom Lock is very photogenic and atmospheric.

Everything worked out as it should do as we swapped locks at  every one meaning that we could leave the gates open and steam directly into the next lock. This certainly speed things up and saves the legs. The flight is nice and compact as there isn't much of a hike between them either. Mind you Helen has still managed 11000 steps but that would be mainly there and back into Market Drayton today.

Helen at the bottom of the five lock Tyrley flight.

After Tyrley you pass through Woodsheaves Cutting that is so deep and overgrown the bottom never sees day light. It is constantly having little land slips and is therefore narrow and shallow. Always interesting meeting other boats here! The bridges give you an idea of how deep it is and it must have been a massive undertaking  with a pick and shovel and a wheelbarrow or two.

Bridge 57 in Woodsheaves Cutting.

Apologies for another heron in flight. I promise this will be the last one, at least for a while.

After leaving Woodsheaves we came to Goldstone Wharf. We were just about passing under the bridge when Helen spotted a water point, full astern and hard a'port brought us alongside. This was the second water point that we have passed today that does not appear on the guides. The other was at Tyrley Wharf at the top of the locks but was in the wrong place as it was on the lock landing. We filled up and then moved on. The next spot was Knighton where the Cadbury's Wharf was. They had their own fleet of boats to bring the milk to the factory. Although the wharf is not use now the neigbouring factory is and makes Birds custard powder apparently. As we approached we saw two boats breasted up and fully across the canal. We edged closer and saw that somebody was there and were all ready bringing it alongside. It hadn't been tied up very well and I have noticed that when ever we are passing the many linear moorings in these parts every boat behind seem to catch us up quickly.

Cadbury's Wharf at Knighton. The two errant boats were those under the canopy.

We continued along and stopped at the Anchor pub near High Offley.