Tryley Locks in the evening sun

Top to Bottom of Tryley Locks, Shropshire Union Canal, 1 mile 5 locks

Chill out day yesterday moored at the top of the locks, and today we went into Market Drayton to have a look around.  It could have been better, the buildings are very medieval looking, but it still seems like a clone town.  Apparently the Council “Could do more” as one resident told me.. “For instance” she went on.. “At the carnival there was only two floats, and the council didn’t care.. the council have ruined this town” Harsh words from one of the locals.

I didn’t think it was THAT bad, there is no covered shopping mall, but lots of the streets are narrow, and the shops are spread well throughout the town, making a visit worthwhile.  Market Drayton of course, is the home of the gingerbread man!

So late in the day today we left our 48 hour mooring to drop down the 5 Tyrley Locks..

The late sunshine sending dappled patterns on the rock at the sides of the cutting where the locks are.  Yet again a beautiful part of the Shroppie.. all cut out of the rock once more.  I really am in awe how all those years ago navvies could do this work of cutting this huge cavern like cutting and building up the embankments elsewhere.. no machinery either.  Even today a job like this would take a long time..

Above, Chas and Ann (Moore2Life), having already gone through this flight, helping us through the last of the 5 locks. We were joined by a couple of beautiful buzzards as we descended as well .. there are a lot of those in this area too..

The last couple of days have been the same pattern, cloudy during the day with the evenings bursting into sunshine.. we certainly had the best of the day on the move late on.

I sure am enjoying this narrowboat now the prop has been changed, even dropping down these few locks has been totally different.. it was just soooooo easy and unstressful with more power seemingly at my disposal, no more struggling to make No Problem go where I want her to.. just have to ask nicely now!

Dunno about tomorrow.. moving for sure, but no idea how far or where to yet.. wonderful way of cruising innit?