We left just after 9. I'd have been happy to stay in bed a bit longer but John was up and about so it seemed easier to go along with it. The weather has been really good for cruising today, nice and warm but with some breeze making it pleasant.
We got to Audlem and found that it was even more busy than expected, there were signs everywhere saying not to moor as there was going to be the working boats show next weekend. What we ended up doing was mooring up quickly, running up to the Co-op and getting supplies then getting back and moving on up the locks.
This is the well known view of Audlem with the Shroppie Fly in the foreground and the Mill beyond it.
We had a good system going for the first few locks as there were as many coming down as us going up. About a third of the way up (there are 15 locks altogether) the ones coming down seemed to thin out somewhat and we found quite a few locks that needed emptying. My main problem was the fact that there was a lot of water in the canal and the by-wash was really strong. Memories of Llangollan came to mind, but at least I was able to get in all the locks, although I'll admit to quite a few knocks. John will be out with the black paint when we get back.
I tried to get a shot of the locks spreading out in front of us, but it doesn't really express that. Anyway for those who aren't boaters, it might give you an idea.
Along the way the boat behind us was waiting for us to come out and the lady who was doing the locks came up and was getting instructions from John as to how to work the locks. A few locks later she came up and said her other half was shouting at her and saying she was doing it wrong (they were on a hire boat) She smiled and said "Four hours, seventeen years......mmm I wonder which is right?" She went on doing it as John had told her and I felt very proud of both of them. Much later they came past where we were moored and she was doing the locks like an old hand and the chap on the boat wasn't moaning any more!
This was the last lock we did today so I took the shot as a good luck token, hoping against hope that there'd be a mooring when we came out of it.
You can get an idea of the by-wash here, the white water in front of the lock is in fact a strong current rushing across the front of the lock gates caused by water coming around the lock to keep the canal at the correct level. There was a LOT of it. This one was particularly difficult but we lived to tell the tale.
We have lost some of the fasteners from the base of the cratch cover, and we know that Tony Saunders, who does really good repairs is just along the canal, so we are hoping to see him on Monday so that he can do a repair for us.
When we were moored safely I took Paddy for a walk up to the next lock and discovered some young cattle who were on the other side had broken part of their fence. One of them had got through and was enjoying the grass (obviously greener) on the other side and I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be able to get back, because the bank was narrow and it was right above the by-wash so if it fell in it wouldn't be able to find it's feet for a good while and there was no-where for it to climb us. I couldn't find any number to ring but a boat that came down later on said that there was a man there and the cow had got itself back.
We were sat outside a bit later and the sun was shining brightly and then it started raining, quite gently, but there was hardly a cloud in the sky and it was definitely rain, we could see it falling in the canal! There was no rainbow to be seen either. No lovely evening sky today and I've got no idea what tomorrow holds, but we don't want to go far so it shouldn't matter too much.
Last night when I finished writing my blog I approved the proof for my book to be available on Print on Demand from Amazon. So for anyone who wants to read it in 'real' form rather than as an e-book. It's called 'Persi and the Dream Necklace' and is written for 10+ year olds but my friends who've written it so far seem to have enjoyed it. I loved writing it in any case, and am now writing the sequel.
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