Back to Nantwich, 3rd to 7th May

A lie in was duly had. AJS went to have a shower at the services block, but water pressure so pathetic it was cold and unusable. On our way towards the end of the morning, with home made soup and sarnies for lunch on the way. Back past the interminable line of moored boats, to find Goldstone Wharf, the next water point and decent moorings, full. We carried on our merry way therefore, to the top of Tyrley locks, where we had such a pretty mooring we decided to stay for the next day.
We didn't stay put on the boat though, but walked into the next town: Market day at Market Drayton. Had a properly good nosey round, dropped in at the museum, went to Morrisons for some bits, and then to Joules brewery Taphouse for lunch.  AJ's small ham egg and chips was definitely a bargain! From there walked back down the towpath (legs complaining somewhat by this time), pausing only to ring the pub having realised that we had walked out without paying. Settled up by phone which was better than walking all the way back! 9.6km walked all told, not bad.

Next morning, a procession of boats including some who were at the Norbury Festival gave us the hint that we should move. First though, we unpeeled the full length of the hosepipe to clean and unkink it and put it back properly,  and filled the water tank. A smooth passage down Tyrley locks, the only excitement a (perhaps deep drafted) very shiny boat staying bang in the centre channel leaving us awful close to a submerged tree.  So we passed him a bare couple of inches away and were amused to see him utterly misjudge the bywash at the entry to his lock.

A number of attempts at mooring on the approach to Market Drayton, seeking to combine sunshine on our solar panels and a bit of bank with no underwater obstruction.  At length, achieved a compromise and onward from a leisurely lunch Alison went back into town for the heavier shopping. She is setting up a tiny garden, have the pots and now need compost.

Later in the afternoon, Andrew washed down the towpath side of the boat. The other side will have to wait until the towpath changes side near the Adderley flight. Dinner on board, pork chops, veg, apple sauce and mustard. Not a bad caff all told.

An early start next day, to get down the locks and find a mooring spot at Audlem.  The weather warm and with sunny intervals, quite blustery at times. We didn't pass a moving boat for the first 1 1/2 hours so no queues at the locks, hurray! All set against us, boo! But volly lockies on duty at Audlem flight, hurray!

To explain: volunteer lock keepers keep an eye on boat movements on the flight, and set locks for approaching boats as required, to smooth the process and minimise water usage. With their supervision we had a couple of times where we passed a boat in the other direction, each with the next lock ready and gates open. It does make life much easier. Alison's turn at the tiller today,getting some much needed practice.
(Andrew walking ahead to set the next lock at the top of Adderley flight)

The lockie was able to tell us where there were spaces so we got ourselves into a fairly tight but gorgeous spot, just above town and opposite a nature reserve. 
Andrew booked us in for dinner at the Lord Combermere, an excellent pub with all gluten free menu! Pizza 🍕night it is.
Saturday we spent moored up.  A shopping foray or two for a bucket, sponge, groceries, checking the charity shop and also the newly re-opened Shroppie Fly. Andrew scrubbed the outside of the boat and Alison swept the inside 

Tiny garden update: seeds in, Tom's sprouting fast!
All that before lunch. A good book is in order, I think.
And on Sunday, 7th, losing track already, we completed the trip to Nantwich. We started around 10.30 am, down the remaining 4 locks at Audlem with Andrew at the helm, then Alison took over, and took us in to Overwater Marina for a pump out. Marinas are always breezy places, with big open spaces that can find you pushed sideways in moments. However the wind was kind today so AJs manoeuvres went smoothly. Then the final two locks and AD took over for the long reverse up the basin to our mooring spot. It's too tight an angle to simply turn in, and the alternative is to go on a mile or so to the next winding hole, and back. At 3mph that's a major pain, but so is bashing into our neighbours' boats while reversing.. the direction the boat goes in appears pretty random so it's a stressful exercise. 
But turned in like a boss, tied up and lunched. Then the clouds rolled away and it turned into a glorious afternoon. Nice to be back at base.
A busy week coming up dashing about in cars .. how strange!

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