First thing, Mike and Jess walked into town to visit Morrisons again, this time with a (short) shopping list. By the time they had found what they wanted on the shelves and walked back to the boat, altogether it took about an hour.
The weather today was quite strange - very frequent changes between very hot and drenching rain. None of the showers lasted very long but sometimes they took us by surprise.
We set off but soon found ourselves behind two other boats so we knew that there would be a queue at the first locks. Just before Hack Green the boat in front started to wave at us, indicating something in the water. As we came closer we could see that it was a cow swimming. By the time we passed it had at least found its feet. We started to look up the name of the local farm and find its phone number when the cow managed itself to scramble out back into the field.
Yes, there was a queue but at least there were none already waiting when our convoy arrived. Also it was a bright spell and Alice and Jess had the chance - there were plenty more later - to explore the towpath.
The upper Hack Green lock used to have a stable where fresh horses would be kept ready, especially for fly boats who made very much the fastest journeys. One f the facts we learnt at the Boat Museum in Ellesmere Port was that the horses had rather better working conditions than the boatmen. Horses could only work a set number of hours before being changed but the boatmen did not get the same rest breaks. Only when it was pitch black at night did they stop!
Close to the locks is the Secret Bunker visitor attraction. One day we will visit but every time we have come this way it seems that we need to keep moving! The information board tells a very interesting story about the site but there is too much to come out well on a blog photo. Anyone wanting more detail, just leave a comment!
And so we arrived at Audlem, the bottom of a flight of 15 locks. We made our way up the first three to the service block where Christine, Jess and Alice made a start on their lunch whilst Mike attended to the servicing. Despite at first only turning the tap on half way, the tank was full before lunch was over! Happily a space became available on the visitor mooring just a few metres ahead so Jess and Mike were able to re-position the boat without even turning on the engine and we completed our lunch in peace. Jess and Alice chatted to a lady that was watching the boats go by, sitting outside the canal pub, The Shroppie Fly.
One of the features of this flight is that there are fierce bywashes and in some cases the flow comes out right at the bottom of the lock, making the steerer's task unusually difficult to bring the boat into the lock without banging into the wall!
The gates here are sooth to operate and both girls were able to open and close them.
In the first three locks Alice and Jess made friends with a girl the same age as Jess who was on the following. They overtook us at lunch time but we were the next up through the flight. As a result all three explored together leaving the rest of us to do the work!
Alas, it seems that this is about the only photo we managed to get of all three of them together! At least we are giving nothing away about their identity!
Towards the top of the flight there is one point where it is possible to see quite a few of the locks stretched out below.
Mike did at least recruit some helpers at one lock!
Alongside the top lock, Dynamo the bull was surrounded by his adoring cows!
The top lock cottage also sell cakes and Jess opted for some Tiffin whilst Alice selected Ginger Cake. alas, we discovered later that Mike left his change jar behind after paying for the cake so it turned out to be more expensive than it should have been.
There then followed a level run during which the Take Five Cafe served Jess and Alice with cakes and diet coke! Much enjoyed.
We may have successfully conquered the Audlem Fifteen but there was still the Adderley flight of five before we could moor for the night. They took rather longer than expected as not only was it still busy but also there were some slow boats both up and down.
Towards the top, the girls bade farewell to Fran, their friend from Myfyrdod - they were pressing on to Market Drayton as they planned to eat out tonight. Both ourselves and the boat that had been following us opted to call it a day as soon we left Adderley top and pulled into the designated moorings. Alas, they suffer from the Shroppie Shelf (this is how it was originally built but in times when few boats moored up between places!) We have a moat to protect us from marauders tonight. let's hope no-one forgets and tries to get off the boat during the night!
9.1 Miles - 22 Locks
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