Best Days.
Yesterday was possibly one of the best days we’ve had since setting out on this big adventure. It helped that the sun came out & stayed out but what really gladdened the heart were the magical surroundings.
The Shropshire Union is beautiful & breathtaking, a canal of contrasts that never fails to dazzle the senses. One minute we are plunging through cuttings as deep as caverns, so narrow you wonder if theres room to paddle a canoe let alone sail a 19 tonne boat through. The next minute cruising along embankments as high as a kite with birds eye views of the lush farmlands below.
Pastures as green as a Caroline Lucas manifesto, ploughed furrows brown as Nick Clegg’s nose, mile after scintillating mile of Rape so golden it hurts the naked eye.
We stopped in the town of Market Drayton, a more charming English town you couldn’t wish to encounter. But in the centre every second shop was shut down or boarded up, it had the feel of a ghost town. And around the edge Morrison’s, Asda, Lidl, sucking the life out of the heart of the town. Full of people, & I admit we went into Morrison’s to buy cheap provisions.
Such a crying shame.
This morning we were up early to set about the 15 locks at Audlem before the heavens opened. We are moored up now, sheltering from the heavy downpours & driving winds. When/if it clears up we will be off again, Nantwich is our next destination & hopefully Chester by Wednesday night.
David is needed in Btn for the weekend & next Tuesday I will be headed southwards, I have a weeks work at the golf club, be good to catch up with all our friends & enjoy the luxury of central heating & scalding baths.
I can’t wait :-)
