An unexpectent encounter at Tyrley Locks.

Blooming 'eck, retired late to bed after a good evening of laughter and chat and then, lying half awake, I became aware of the fridge cutting in and out rather more than normal. In fact, it would start and stop, become a constant hum, switch off and 10 seconds later the whole thing would start all over again. So shaking Ian awake (why can he fall asleep immediately whereas I seem to take forever?) he deduced that the battery volts must be low. So he turned the fridge right down with the hope that would resolve the problem. And it did as no more noise came our way.  Then almost asleep and the phone rings! For goodness sake who could be phoning at this time of the night? Turns out it was our daughter in law who was at a party in Poland and, unbeknown to her, the phone had connected to the last number dialled. Oh well...who needs sleep anyway...overrated if you ask me!!

This morning the mist had cleared and a bright sunny morning greeted us. Today we wanted to make for Market Drayton, mostly a cruising day apart from the 5 Tyrley locks. Going up this flight can be difficult as those bywashes are vicious, pushing the boat against the wall when trying to enter the bottom locks. But going down was so much easier. But before getting to the locks we had to negotiate the long long rows of moored boats (at least a mile of them) and those long narrow cuttings, dark and dank without any sunlight making it feel cold and oppressive.

Top Tyrley lock

Slippage at  the bottom lock

Seen at the bottom lock

Made it to Market Drayton and no TV signal. Moved a few feet and still no TV signal. Moved once more beyond the bridge to the water point and at last, we could get a few channels. But those channels were what I call ''dross channels' so we decided to watch a film from Netflix instead.

And as for my heading,

Between 3 and 4 of Tyreleylocks and we were stopped in our tracks by this Kingfisher

  
And on route,

Strange phenomenom

Not a bad meal last night although somewhat pricey. Would recommend going, though, if it was a special occasion. Back on Merlin and the reflections of the Anchor pub was well worth taking a photo for.

A very misty morning greeted us as we got up and deciding to wait for it to lift before setting off, but gave up when it was still as bad by 9.30am. The headlight was needed through the long narrow section and thank goodness we didn't meet another boat as visibility was down to a few yards. No photos as I was concentrating on keeping Merlin in the middle without hitting the sides.
 

The Anchor Inn this morning.

 By the time we had reached Autherley junction at least I could see where to do the turn into the Shroppie although I did have to hover midstream waiting for a boat to exit the lock.

The colours of the cut on the first section of the Shroppie.

Over the A5 and Stretton aqueduct

And a very well known boat was spied at Stretton boatyard. Hmmm, not quite sure how this dog managed to get onto the back deck though as the back doors were closed.

As we neared bridge 21 an eerie feeling came over us. The temperature dropped dramatically and this milky mist appeared through the bridge 'ole. It was made even weirder when bridge 23 looked to as if only the top part of the arch was navigable.

In the distance bridge 23

 Relieve all round when we emerged into clear conditions. Felt warmer immediately and I cant think when we have ever experienced the like before. Took several more hours before we reached Gnosall, arriving well after 3.30pm. The mist had begun to fall again and would have stopped earlier but a discussion took place as to where a second meal out would likely to be, discovered that The Boat at Gnosall was the last place where it would be feasible to stop. We will be stopping at the Shroppie Fly on Christmas day but for pre-dinner drinks only rather than partaking of a very expensive Christmas meal at the Restaurant.

On route today,

Couldn't it stop in time?

Oh dear, watching the Chase on ITV when suddenly the screen went blank. Seconds later and the picture returned. Atmospherics perhaps??? But no...within minutes the screen went this lovely wavy psychedelic orange and yellow and then bang! Nothing! Even Ian 'my man that can' couldn't coax it back to life. I was mortified. The run up to Christmas and not a program could be watched. Having the computer helped as I managed to get onto TV through the Wi-Fi so at least we could watch last nights telly. How much of our 3 allowances was being used I hate to guess. Anyway, the consensus of opinion was phone Anglo-Welsh in the morning to see if they have a spare TV. 

View from Merlins stern this morning looking back at Stafford boat club.

9 am and Ian was speaking to Mike from the Great Hayward yard. No problem at all, although not a spare set was to be had in the yard. But he agreed to meet us at Midland Chandlers at Teddersley lock and would purchase a brand spanking new one as a replacement. True to his word an hour later and he was waiting. He even got the lock set for us and while Merlin was ascending, removed the defunct TV and fixed the new one in its place.

Thats Mike with the old TV on the towpath.

 Barely15 minutes had passed which meant the holdup I had assumed didn't happen. What a star and a big thanks go to the staff of Anglo-Welsh. As Ian told Mike, it saved him from a continual earache with my moaning about not being able to watch my Christmas programs.

What I found bizarre about today was the pockets of mist lying across the canal in places. Must have hot spots otherwise why not along the whole stretch of water? Seemed to be at bridge 'oles and lock approaches.

 Most of the journey to The Anchor at Slade Heath was uneventful. We watered up at Penkridge (surprising how much is used with three people on board) and onwards toward our destination. At Brick Kiln lock a notice was pinned to the top lock beam.

Reckon a boat didnt stop in time or thought the gate was open.

The last lock of the day was Gailey lock. Most of the Gailey boats were tucked up on their moorings narrowing the canal to a boat width only. This time of year the chances of meeting an oncoming boat is pretty slim and this we found to be the case.  Another 40 minutes and we made it to the Anchor Inn (used to be the Fox and Anchor) where a decision was made to eat out. Ian walked to book a table only to be told the restaurant was full. But if we manage to find a table in the public bar area we were welcome to have a meal. With the time only 3.30pm this was a bit early so we are going to try for around 5ish and hope for the best. If not it will be me to cook again tonight!

Not much in the way of wildlife today. Did see a tree creeper but it must have been camera shy as it hopped around the trunk a bit sharpish. Only a squirrel posed for me.

Well never seen the prop shaft quite like that!

Well didn't we chose the right week to move Merlin. With temperatures predicted to be in double figures I was beginning to wonder if I should have packed shorts and T shirts. Okay maybe that's going a bit too far but those thermal undies taking pride of place in my bag should most probably have stayed in FS's bedroom drawers.  Anyway managed to pack all my the clothes in one small holdall, (just about closed the zip)and I thought I had packed light until Ian showed me up when his same size holdall was only half empty!

Left Langley Mill early as first port of call was to Leicester to collect Pat. Made  better time than we thought as hardly any traffic on the road. Holidays started already maybe? By 10am we were once again on the road and by midday we drove into the Anglo Welsh yard at Great Hayward.  Merlin had been moved to the Anglo Welsh service point next to the facilities, and facing in the wrong direction I might add, seeing as how we wanted to go Shroppie way rather than the T&M.  She did look pretty good having had a complete super structure paint job as well as hull blacked The prop shaft had also been changed. Was a little surprised at this until Kevin the manager showed us the one that had been removed. Flabbergasted we were at what we saw.

A few things were missing from Merlin when we got on board, most noticeable was two of the chairs from the lounge. One lot of bedding was short (they had forgotten that Pat was coming with us) and it wasn't until we had set off that we discovered the lack of any sort of soap, hand towel or washing up liquid. That's the only problem of boat moving after it has been away for servicing. Most of the important stuff had been removed. But thankfully they had provided loo rolls! A chair had been found as a replacement and more bedding put on.

Made our way to Tixal Wide which was completely devoid of any moored boats, up Tixal lock  to eventually stop opposite Stafford Boat Club.

Still ice on the Wide

Pat and Ian

Tixal lock

Silly hats???

 And seen on route.