Wow! That was a full day!

So in keeping with the notion of upping the pace, we kinda went a bit bonkers today! Not only did we do about 11½ miles but we managed to fit in some 22 locks as well!

We got to Market Drayton, but the place was a bit rammed with boats. We ended up on the overnight moorings right on the far edge of the town – opposite a set of CRT moorings. Not all that great to be honest.

The plan was to make an early start and walk into the town and get some provisions from the ASDA. In the end, I woke early (for my standards) and decided to take the dog for a long walk as she is having trouble doing her business. It’s something she has had since we got her – we think she is a bit timid about making her mark so to speak, especially when there are lots of other dog smells around.

That turned out to be of limited success, but it meant we are all up before 08:00! Unheard of!! So I said, as it was Sunday and ASDA was not going to be open until quite late, we should just press on.

Press on we did – and then some! First we hit the locks at Adderley. There are five of them, and they are not too bad, fairly shallow and you quite often get boats going the other way which saves a bit of time.

After Adderley there are the fifteen locks at Audlem. Just before you hit the bottom of the locks, at lock 12, is the The Shroppie Fly, which is a pub and restaurant – and we stopped there for some Sunday nosh. I had the topside of beef with all the trimmings – and it was absolutely awesome! I think the doom bar helped, but the food there is what I’d call really honest to goodness, solid pub grub – not too fancy but very tasty and delicious.

So from here, we have heatbreak hill and the harecastle tunnel to navigate before finally arriving back in Stone. So a full few days of sailing. But tomorrow (Monday, 14th) we are going to have a good look around Nantwich before setting off to get back to the Trent and Mersey.