Market Drayton to Audlem (And the Shroppie Fly)

10 October 2019

The weather gods smiled on us today. Mostly! The UK has very fickle weather and today was no different, but mostly it was fine and we mostly stayed dry.

Everything looked so pretty in the sunlight.

We had long stretches through the countryside which provided lots of photographic opportunities.

After very few locks yesterday, we were kept busy today with two flights.

The Adderley Flight consisted of five locks dropping us 31 feet ( 9 1/2 metres). Long John Silver was at the helm and negotiated the locks in style.

The second flight, the Audlem locks, consisted of fifteen locks, dropping us 93 feet (28 metres) in a distance of 1 1/2 miles (2.4 kms).

Needless to say we were kept very busy.

Acting Admiral Judi was now at the helm. She has well and truely earned her stripes and should the plan to mutiny ever proceed, Judi is ready to step into the role of Long Judi Silver at a moments notice.

After descending 12 of the 15 locks, we moored nearby to our destination for tonight. The infamous “Shroppie Fly”.

We had arrived in Audlem early enough to go for a bit of an explore, top up our pantry, and visit the local church.

Audlem was all dressed up, flags a-flying and was looking mighty fine.

We checked out the pub menus at The Boat Inn and The Lord Combermere before settling on the fare at The Shroppie Fly . Not only did we like the menu, we loved the name!! (Did I mention we are in Shropshire? )

Visiting three watering holes in the space of a few hours provided three opportunities for me to lose something! Imagine my chagrin once we arrived home, and I was nice and snug in bed to realise I was now without beanie!!!

GRAHAME!!!!!!!!!

Bless him!