Yes the weather has improved, it couldn’t have got much worse. Yesterday we travelled on our own, meeting up with Rico and Lorraine at our evening moorings. It was interesting entering the Shropshire Union Canal, which had a little stop lock of some 6″ to protect its water from adjoining canals.

We got on the cut first today, leading the way through some very narrow cuttings, alternating with high embankments. Some spectacular bridges and a flight of 5 locks ensured a late lunch at Market Drayton. We just have to decide if we want to move again and moor up to the next flight, it’s a good’un. A flight of 5, then 15 more…..Hazel has bought herself a badge emblazoned with “lock labourer”, nobody seems to appreciate the heavy burden of command the skipper has…..