Our Summer Cruise - June 2016
Day 1 Overwater Marina to Market Drayton Visitor Moorings 7.5 miles and 20 Locks
This early summer we have been away a lot. Off in our motorvan for walking adventures, stopping over at relatives, staying in Nottingham for Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Having spent time painting the boat up (fortunate with good painting weather), we have got ready and it is time to cast off the ropes and set sail!
The weather has turned with a typical English series of low pressure troughs passing through bringing rain and cloudbursts. Picking the in-between bit, we set off in warm, hazy sunshine and although it rained, it stayed warm.
Graham, our marina friend helped us for the day - so with Chris at the helm and 2 lock-wheelers, we made good time.
Coming through Audlem wharf, we passed nb Towester coal boat pair from Stoke Buerne on their way to the Yarwood boat gathering in Northwich.
Here, Jules helps to bow haul her Town class butty Bideford, a 1936 Harland & Wolf boat
Opposite the 'Shroppie Fly' nb Spey was moored.
Spey is a Clayton boat built at Uxbridge 1937 and is often seen on the Shropshire Union
Les Allen 1977, re-built by John Forth 2000, nb Song of the Waterways with Chris steering
Chris battling past the rapids approaching Lock 12 on the Audlem flight
An original stable for horses on the fly boats
Looking 'uphill' - south
Chris takes our boat up the locks
Boat crew have time for a photo call - Chris and Graham on the gate
An example of the serious amount of water coming down the Shroppie
Here, at the tail of Lock 1, heavy planking is installed to guide boats into the lock!
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