Monday, 30 July 2018

Whitchurch

Sunday 29th July

We decided to walk into Whitchurch and explore. There weren't many shops open however there were a lot of lovely old buildings to admire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitchurch,_Shropshire


















Sunday, 29 July 2018

Marbury to Whitchurch

Saturday 28th July

It was very windy today so would be a bit tricky manoeuvering the boat. I set off alone, we would meet at the first lock.


 Here you can see the water being whipped up by the wind, making the canal more like a river.




 It was quite tricky going past boats coming the other way as the wind wanted to blow me into their side!

 I had to go through this narrow passage banked by reeds. 
You can see how windy it was in this video.


I arrived at the first lock and waited for John and Dex. I had time for coffee and biscuits! 
 We went through the first lock without any issues. 

 I was wearing my pink baseball cap when a huge gust of wind took it clean off my head and into the canal behind. We couldn't retrieve it as it would be impossible to reverse in this wind. I expect I will see a duck nesting in it on our return journey!!

 On to the next lock. My turn to be lock keeper. 
 I had left John in charge of the boat. I heard a shout as the boat was taken by the wind and had gone out over the other side of the canal. I ran back to help pull her in.
 We managed to get her into the lock ok. There was a lovely old pub here called Willeymoor Lock Tavern. Avtually it used to be a Lock Keepers house and was only converted to a pub in 1978.


 Dex had spotted something on the bank. 
 Onward again into the countryside. 
 We soon arrived at Povey's lock. There was a boat waiting to come down so I had some help from their young crew.
 I was able to hop on board before we left the lock. 
 We had really struggled to leave the lock even on high revs because the wind was against us. I warned this hire boat driver that he would probably shoot in at 90 miles an hour!



 Quite an impressive floral display on this roof! 
 We arrived at Grindley Brook. It started to rain. 

 I had to wait for a boat to come out of the lock. 
 I was now soaked! John was trying to shelter under a tree as the skies opened! 


 Off to the next lock (there were 3 in total at Grindley Brook and then a set of 3 staircase locks)
 We moored before the bridge at the start of the staircase locks and John went to inform the volunteers as they controlled the flight. Usually they had 3 boats going up and then let 3 down.

 Soon it was my turn to enter the first lock. 
 There was a nice looking lockside cafe here. 

 As I entered the second lock another boat had entered the lock behind me. 



 We were soon at the top. A quick stop to get rid of the rubbish and we were on our way again.



 It was really busy with lots of hire boats. 


 You can really see the dramatic stormy sky in this photo! More rain ahead.. 
 Our Skipper was taking it all in! 


 We arrived in Whitchurch and found a nice spot just before the lift bridge. 

 Later the sun came out, time for wine! 
 Dex decided it was time for bed! 😃