Due South 28th and 29th April

The final break made with our landlords at Nantwich marina, spare keys handed back, refund off the electric meter, and away. No rain but a cold north easterly wind, and 14 locks to get through.
 

As is our usual practice, we take turns, 7 locks each.  The cooler temperature made lock working quite pleasant,  but standing at the tiller can get chilly. The  wind also gave Andrew pause for thought when stopping at Overwater Marina to take on diesel and pump out our black water tank .. an expensive but necessary call.. So after 5 hours cruising we were glad to stop by a sheltering hedge at Cox Bank above Audlem for the night.

Wednesday morning, still windy but much  milder with a completely blue sky. We had seen steam tug Tixall and dumb barge (no engine) Kessel go by the previous evening and soon caught  up with them at Adderley locks.  Tixall had gone up the flight of 5 and were bowhauling Kessel.. a slow process.
Another boat caught up behind us
But at top of the flight they stopped for lunch and to get Tixall's engine warmed up again, so we were able to carry on to Market Drayton. No need for shopping, no money left anyway after 117 litres of diesel! Telly and lamb burgers, with a splash of red wine, and a perfect evening outside 

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