Shropshire Union September 2014 Day 5

Wednesday morning we had a bit of a lie in before I made Gill get up and make me a nice breakfast. With no more visitors planned and the boat pointing in the Audlem direction we headed off that way, again. As can be seen it was another sunny September day.

Sunny September Day.

At Hack Green locks we encountered a radio controlled boat called Victoria Plum which pushes a small butty before it called Victoria Plums Garage! The owner looks to be slightly disabled and has the remote round his neck whilst he does the gates, he appeared to be a single hander.

Remote control round his neck for the boat behind him.

Centurion goes away as the boat is operated by radio control, the bow thruster's
also operated by radio control

Safely steered in by remote control.

Mooring at Audlem bottom lock we walked up to the village and the Audlem Mill craft centre for Gills crafty fix, before popping in to the BCBM office who now manage our Centurion syndicate.

Shroppie Fly and Audlem Mill.

Former Audlem Lock Keeeprs cottage..

St James Church - Audlem

Audlem seems a nice little town, but it is blighted by traffic, chelsea tractors everywhere and the new co-op seems to have had an affect on some of the local shops we have used before on previous visits, looks as though the bakers, and Fruit and Veg shop have shut down.
Walking back down the locks we saw FMC Dove working down the locks. I like to see traditional boats and this guy was doing it the traditional way, paddles dropped with hands on the shafts to control. bow up on the gates with engine in gear, pulling the gates open with a rope and engine in reverse, then pulling shut the gate shut behind the boat, where the rope then falls away and is retrieved whilst his partner lock wheeled ahead. Good to see, but I forgot to take photos of the rope work.

FMC Dove

FMC Dove in Audlem lock 13.

A couple more traditional Boats.

We had a late lunch back at the boat before setting off back to Nantwich, firstly calling in at the large Overwater marina for ice cream from the cafe, then on through Hack Green, across Nantwich Aquaduct, past Hurleston Junction before mooring opposite the Barbridge Inn.

Overwater Marina.

Barbridge Inn Mooring.