From Cadbury to Kingfisher

Had a good night's sleep and set off along the Shebdon Embankment. I suppose that we should look at the Shroppie as being a modern canal in terms of canal building. Canals like the Oxford twist and turn, following the contours of the land. The Shroppie, however, has many embankments and cuttings making it a more direct route from place to place.

One of the major players who benefited from this direct line of travel was Cadburys. 

Here is their old depot, with factory behind, and the wharf was used for the processing of locally collected milk products and shipment of chocolate crumb.

The sign tells us that it was used between 1911 and 1961 for their goods being taken to Cadbury Ltd at Bournville.

The views from the embankments are stunning.

We now enter a deep rock cutting near Woodseaves. The rock was, as I've said before, cut entirely by men without powered machines.

And yet another High Bridge. Shortly after this we had to pass a boat coming the other way. They obviously didn't want to scratch the paintwork so they jumped off and pulled their boat into the side. 

Here are the cottages at the top of Tyrley Locks. But, just before we got to the locks we actually saw a Kingfisher. Usually I shout out 'Kingfisher' and all we see is a flash of blue disappearing into the distance. But today it sat on a branch while we sailed past. I was so busy looking that I didn't get a photo. Never mind.

Here she comes. I'm working the locks today.

Warning notice and the dreaded cill marker. The cill is a raised piece of stone or concrete at the back of the lock that supports the gate in resisting the massive water pressure that can build up. Unfortunately, your boat can get caught up on the cill and you could capsize. So, we keep well forward of the cill marker. 

At the other end of the lock is an outfow of excess water bypassing the lock when the gates are closed.

We actually got stuck coming out of the lock because the force of water pushed us hard against the opposite wall and there we stopped. The only way out was to back into the lock entrance as far as I could and then charge out at full speed and hope for the best. It worked!

And here we are to prove it.

A creative welcome as we came into Market Drayton. 

Hoping to meet up with more friends tomorrow for coffee and natter.