BASKETTCASE

I last blogged when the others had gone to find food for the BBQ.  Inevitably they also found a canal-side pub where we had a sandwich and beer, and where Steve looked over the bridge and realised that our next manoevre was a left handed, right-angle bend into the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union Canal.  To make matters worse the water top up ;point was almost at the bend, and the canal sent immediately under a bridge and into a lock.  And there was a queue.  So what looked like a nive striaghtforward day suddenly looked very tricky.  It all worked out in the end though and we made it to Church Minshall in good time for our BBQ.

Yesterday was  15 miles and 17 locks day, but 13 of the locks were at the end of the day in Audlem.  By the time we got there we were all shattered so we abandoned the plan and had scampi and chips at the Shroppie Fly, leaving 9 of yesterdays locks to do this morning before starting on our scheuled 20 miles and 12 locks.  As I write we are moored up in Market Drayton, filling up with water yet again.  We have been moving since 8 0'clcock and are doing pretty well, so hopefully we shall make it to Gnosall this evening and be back on track to meet up with Joe and Sal in Penkridge tomorrow.