This obviously delayed us somewhat but we checked the map and spotted somewhere to stop for lunch - as John said there's no hurry and so my offer of popping down to make some sarnies was rejected.
We found the moorings in question but they didn't look too good and there were some more a bit further on so we headed for them....
They were completely full up - mostly of badly moored day boats that took up enough space for 2 boats of a reasonable size. Two of them moored independently, both in large slots. We were a little bit miffed but never mind..... there were some moorings just at the top of the locks so we'd stop there.
Guess what? a bit predictable huh? Yes they were full and so the toast that I'd made half an hour earlier in preparation for having scrambled eggs on was rapidly buttered and eaten while doing the 5 locks down.
Then we were nearly at Market Drayton so I said to John that it might be an idea to grab the first spot we could, just to be on the safe side. Miracle of miracles, there's moorings to be had and we tied up. John checked the TV and all was well, a signal and a picture so we set up for the night.
Now several hours later and just before Downton Abbey is about to start he turns the TV on and low and behold, the rain that we have had has made the trees too wet for the signal to get through so I can't watch the wretched programme. I am not a happy bunny at present.
Our naked boat - never seen her without her cratch cover before!
This is where all the local milk was brought by canal to the Cadbury Wharf where it was turned into chocolate! Unfortunately there is nothing there now and no lingering smell of chocolate to tempt me. Just as well as I don't have any on board in my efforts to lose some weight (which is going well so far).
Another bridge, just because I liked it - tried to catch it with a car going over but I wasn't quick enough!
You see these on all the bridges and they are left from the days when horses pulled the boats - they are metal strips attached to the edges of the bridges to save the stone from getting worn. You can see the niches that the continuous rubbing of the ropes have worn into the metal. Poor old horses! Actually once you get the boat moving it isn't that hard to keep the momentum - it's stopping and starting that are really difficult! Especially when you're a little old lady....
There were places today where the canal became very narrow indeed and the cutting was quite Tolkienesque. It was like floating though the gates of Moria, into the underworld at times. I wouldn't have been surprised to see Gollum or Ents at any given moment.
Rather than meet any mythical creatures we just met a boat coming in the other direction - just what was needed. Turned out to be a bit wider than it looked - at least it was wide enough for us to pass with a bit of breathing in.
We have travelled through Staffordshire into Shropshire today and here is a famous Shropshire landmark - the Wrekin. It actually took ages for me to get this photo as yesterday I could see it but the sun was so bright that I couldn't focus on it and then today, when it was closer - the hedges and distant trees kept getting in the way. John found it hilarious and so I was determined to not only take the blessed photo but put in on the blog, and here it is.
The top of the Tyrley locks, there were 5 of them and apart from the 2 of them being against us, nothing exciting to report, apart from the fact that we seem to be meeting more miserable people up here than we've ever done before. Boat people tend to be friendly and smile and wave as they go past but we've come across some real killjoys. Strange on such a lovely canal.
As stated earlier, we are moored at Market Drayton and will get some groceries in the morning before setting off and have more locks to do tomorrow to get to Audlem, where we are likely to stay, as long as there are moorings! The weather has changed this evening for the worse - hope it isn't the shape of things to come.
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