Thursday 30 September 2010

September Cruise - Day 14

A complete change from yesterday: we woke up to a lovely sunny morning, although it was quite cold.  We set off straight up the Adderley Locks, crossing with three boats on the way.  Two hot air balloons were making the most of the weather.


At Market Drayton, we filled with water then moved through the bridge to the moorings, and walked into town for a few bits of shopping.  Then we checked emails, as there was no signal at Adderley, and Norbury never has one either.

We set off again after lunch, and found ourselves as the middle boat of three going up the Tyrley Locks.  The boat ahead lifted a paddle each time they left a lock, and I did the same for the boat behind.

It always seems a long slow journey back to Norbury, partly because of the miles of moored boats on the way.  It's moderately interesting to look at them the first couple of times, but after that the novelty wears off.



We moored on the visitor moorings just short of the basin, leaving ourselves a couple of hundred yards to do tomorrow.  We then had a go at washing the outside of the boat, but whether we made it better or worse was a matter of some debate.  It began raining shortly afterwards anyway, so it won't have made much difference.

15 miles, 10 locks  (152 miles, 112 locks)

2 comments:

Simon said...

The boat ahead lifted a paddle each time they left a lock, and I did the same for the boat behind.

why doesn't that happen more often? the times I've struggled up behind an overcrewed boat, wishing just one of them would think of it. I've done it when I know there's someone behind and no-one coming down, although it does rely on the boat being out of the lock and secure, a slowing factor when single handed...

Anonymous said...

Gentle Hereford looking at you looking at her/him! What a superb photo.
Sue