Retirement with No Problem

Monday – Audlem to Market Drayton, Shropshire Union Canal, 7 miles 20 locks
Weekend – Moored Audlem
Friday – Nantwich to Audlem, 5.5 miles 2 locks

I wasn’t in the mood for shopping on Friday when we went into Crewe, I was feeling really poorly.  I woke up very tired, and my muscles were aching, I knew something was wrong.  But I don’t do ‘being ill’ so it was get on with it and stop moaning..

Pure minimum in Crewe then, getting what we wanted, although I picked up the wrong varnish in my haste to get out of the shop, and got a matt finish instead of a gloss one that I wanted, no worry, I’ll just change it next time I find a Wilkinsons.. the jobs will just have to wait..

I hadn’t checked the computer in the morning and missed a message from Kevin (Ketro) that he could see NP on the webcam of Empress Holidays.. then a phone call from friend Kevin who described what he saw on the webcam.. Kevin took a screenshot of NP while I was choosing varnish!..

On the end of the 48hr moorings.. but we didn’t stay 48 hours, we pulled the pins on Friday afternoon to move to the much quieter spot on the River Weaver aqueduct just below the 15 Audlem Locks.  It was really quiet there, and the views were fantastic both sides of the boat.  We arrived quiet late, and after tea out with the girls Lucy and Meg this is why we moved to Audlem on Friday…

And when that rain came it never stopped the whole weekend.  I felt so sorry for the holiday makers about to tackle the 15 locks at Audlem.. some looked completely bedraggled as they ended their day mooring below the locks after a days worth of thorough soaking.. By Saturday morning I felt fine again.. so I dunno what caused me to feel so ill.. but it went as quickly as it came..

This morning was fine although the wind was cold, but pins pulled and onward up the locks.. These locks are very pretty, but it is a nightmare going uphill with the vicious side weirs shooting narrowboats across the canal just before entering the lock jaw.. bang, crash, cringe.. .  At one, down came the one or two spice jars that are just resting on the shelf along with a pot of dried parsley… all over the floor.. ..

It’s OK for him up there, I wished I was on lock duty today..

No real damage though, and we decided not to stop for lunch today.. we do enjoy lunch on the go sometimes and today was one of those days with home made soup in large mugs….

We passed NB No Problem from Braunston “You must be the No Problem who write a blog, everyone is always saying hello to me and saying the enjoy the blog” said the lady crew member!.. Oh dear!   “You’re the best looking No Problem of all No Problems we have seen oh apart from our own” said the guy.. ho hum! .  Yep got to admit, his boat looked gleaming.. but it isn’t a continuous cruiser, our boat shows 365 day a year use!

Pins are in just the other side of Market Drayton.  I like it here on the embankment, it’s not far from Tyrley Locks .. views to left and right again across the valleys…