Day 13 - Gnosall to Market Drayton

We got off early, planning to stop at Norbury Junction, where the branch from Newport used to meet the Shropshire Union, to fill up - water, diesel, breakfast - and throw out - rubbish, Elsan.  It turned out to be a disappointment, rather tawdry and disorganised so after a quick bite to eat at the cafe and a wait for the water point we went on.  The next section is particularly beautiful, through deep and densely wooded cuttings filled with dog roses, wild honeysuckle and the scent of elderflowers alternating with views over open countryside.

Dog roses and rolling countryside

The Kathleen Mary, with interesting cabin and gold-leaf figurehead!

At Newport Road Bridge is a former chocolate factory, alas no longer producing, but once sending chocolate via canal to Bournville.  Outside are moored two venerable working boats.

The old chocolate factory, with an ex-working boat

We saw a kingfisher sitting completely still on a branch, about 10' from the boat and level with the deck.  The next day, we saw another, also sitting perfectly still.  Normally they fly rapidly off as soon as anything approaches; they are obviously very used to boats here.

A few miles farther was the 1-mile long Woodseaves cutting, which the guide says is "very narrow, there is not always room to pass another craft".  The "not always" was alarming… what would happen if we met another craft at one of those places!  However, a couple who'd come through the other way assured us that we'd be able to see oncoming boats and there were regular passing places.  It IS definitely narrow, with the towpath on our left and the red rock face often coming right down to the water on our right.  It's also a lovely place, cool and green with bridges towering above.

It's narrow!  Woodseaves Cutting

We saw two boats coming the other way and with enough of a view, were able to find slightly wider places to stop while they passed.

Careful steering

Soon after leaving Woodseaves are the five locks at Tyrley, again cut into the rock and with fierce bywashes flowing into the small pounds between each lock.  At number 2, we saw a man winding something and assumed another boat was coming up but he turned out to be fishing for windlasses with a huge magnet on a string so he could sell them for £4 each.

Emerging from the last lock at Tyrley