Towpath troubles  

Sunday 28^th April; Black  Flat bridge to Market Drayton

Yesterday there was heavy rain forecast till lunchtime, then maybe not quite as heavy, but though it rained overnight and during breakfast, by the time we left at 9 it was dry.  There were a few light showers but the main problem was the cold and wind, right in our faces across the open countryside. Very unpleasant, but there were compensations.

It’s the first time I have managed to get half-way decent photos of a heron in flight.  This one obligingly kept landing a bit further along the cut and I had 4 opportunities for a photo before it finally wheeled round to go back behind us.

Once we entered Woodseaves Cutting we were sheltered from the wind.  At the first access point to the cutting was a CRT notice saying the towpath was completely closed and it certainly was, though  to start with it was just its usual wet and muddy self.  There are two ‘High Bridges’ along the Shroppie, one with the telegraph pole in (see yesterday’s photos) and this one in Woodseaves.

Very high bridge

After this point we lost count of the number of rock and mud slides, probably around 10.  The first, on the offside, had brought down a rock at least as big as a car.

Most consisted of wet mud and trees.  You could have picked your way round them if you were careful, and had stout waterproof footwear.

This one on the offside

Then we came to the blocked bit.  If you were prepared to sink into the mud and possibly start another slide, you might have picked your way round.

Then we were surprised to see another,, which was much more serious.  I wouldn’t have wanted to climb past this, bearing in mind it's soft mud and not firm earth.

I wonder how they will manage to clear it, they will probably have to close the canal as the cutting is often only wide enough for one boat.  Maybe it will be left for things to stabilise and dry out a bit.  At some points in the cutting there are stone-filed gabions between the towpath and the slope, but as they are only about three feet high I don’t think they would be up to the job here.  As we approached Tyrley locks, the boat that had been a long way ahead of us was just entering the lock.  We found out later that the leakage from the bottom gates is so bad you need all three paddles up on the top gate to be able to open it

The owner of the house has wanted to have the winding hole closed for ages as he had moored his boat there.  I don’t know its legal status but he seems fairly sure its closed as he has strung a rope across it, which you can see to the left of the stern.  I just checked on the stoppages notices and the winding holes either side are given as Goldstone Wharf and Market Drayton, so I guess it's now closed.  A CRT employee was clearing debris from the water at the top lock and gave us a hand down.  There was a boat approaching behind us, so three were on their way down and three were coming up too.  You don’t see a boat all morning, and then ……

Strong bywash below lock 4

It is well known that the bywashes at locks 4 and 5 are difficult, but we didn’t always know this and it’s the sort of thing you learn by experience.  Once, years ago, we were coming up these locks in the summer when there were long queues, and people were being nagged to leave a lock as soon as they could, so the person behind can ascend.  But if you get too close to lock 4 on your way up, unless you can go straight into the empty lock, the bywash pushes you onto the rocks opposite.  We weren’t the only ones – apparently someone was stuck for 40 minutes this morning.  Luckily a volunteer had arrived and went ahead to ready the bottom lock for us so we had no problems, and he urged me to get back on the boat before we descended.

Looking back at the bottom lock’s bywash

We passed the funny stump-man soon after the locks.  We have seen him before but had forgotten all about him, it’s so long since we’ve been north of Norbury Junction.

Sid’s Nook. Sorry about chopping your blue fish in half Sid!

There was room for us on the Market Drayton embankment just past the aqueduct, where we arrived in sunshine, in time for an early lunch before walking down the steps and into town.  It was further than we remembered so Dave took Jessie back to the boat, as he had a football match to watch.  As it was Sunday the best option for shopping was Morrison’s.  I wished I had taken my trolley.  I did spend a bit of time taking a diversion along the High Street, so I could take a photo of a one of the half-timbered buildings.

Black and White

… where I was amused to be asked directions to somewhere I'd not heard of.  I wasn't too surprised, as my strategy if I need directions is to ask a woman carrying shopping (a man will do but there are not generally so many of them about, unless they are boaters of course).  I was tempted to call in here for a pint and sample their wares …

Filtered through Drayton’s red sandstone

But although I was by now rather hot and tired I didn’t.  At the aqueduct I waited for people to finish walking up the very steep steps, and to give my arms a rest.  I had a heavy rucksack too!

Stairway to Heaven, aka a nice hot cup of tea

I got back to find a sad and frustrated Dave watching Spurs get tonked by arch-enemies Arsenal.  A roast chicken dinner soon made him feel better (well, a bit better!)

5 locks, 6½ miles, steep stone steps and a long hot trudge from town