After a few days at the nice village of Market Drayton we resume cruising. Lawrance is at the tiller (beautiful day, hardly any wind, lots of sunshine). After the five Tyrley Locks, which are heavy, and unpredictable, we have to lower our speed: road works in Woodseaves Cutting.
Woodseaves Cutting reminds us of a tropical rain forest. The canal is narrow and cut through solid rock, overgrown with ferns and other greens. It must look great when there are leaves on the trees, and when some flowers break the green scenery.
And as Pearson’s Canal Guide says: the high bridges span the canal to the mysterious chasms of another world.
It takes us three hours to get to Goldstone Wharf, where the Wharf Tavern just forces us to stop and have lunch. A Ploughman’s Lunch for Lawrance and a SMALL Ploughman’s Lunch for me.
Two hours later we get back to the boat, look at the time and decide: we might as well stay here for the night. We move to the front of the 48 hour mooring, top up with water, and get the seats out of the top box.
What a horrible life.