Woodseaves Landslips and Turley Locks

 Tuesday 25th June 2024 at Market Drayton.

We set of on an overcast morning but cheery "Sid" is guaranteed to raise a smile. He acquires more decorations each year and now has a Commando abseiling down his fishing line!

We pass many herons along the canals. Some are brave and stand and watch us pass but most take flight like this one. They look so ungainly as they scramble for height.

Before Market Drayton, the canal passes through a deep cutting. This bit of the cutting is through rock and it is a wonder that the foxgloves (very small in the photo, but they are there!) can find any purchase on the sheer rock face.

Later on, the sides of the cutting are soft red soil and there is always a danger of landslips. This year we saw so many completely blocking the towpath - a testament to a lack of maintenance as well as the amount of rain that we have had. The towpath was universally just either pure mud inches deep or so overgrown that it may as well not have been there at all. In fact, the towpath had been closed off for long stretches.

It was a relief to be back out into the open again at the top of Tyrley Locks, with its historic buildings that have benn used for every imaginable purpose over the years.

This view of the third of the five locks could be a painting or a picture postcard!

The weather had gradually brightened up throughout the day and soon after, we arrived at Market Drayton, where we moored up in the shade of a large tree to shelter from the unaccustomed heat and strong sunshine.

Today: 7 miles, 5 locks and 3.0 hours.

Trip: 63 miles, 40 locks and 34.7 hours.