It was raining when we got up this morning,but it didnt prevent us setting off at 9:15. Within an hour we had cruised over the mighty Shelmore Embankment, 1 mile long and about as high as the tops of the trees in the surrounding countryside. Problems with its construction meant that it was not completed until 5 years after the death of the engineer of the Shropshire Union Canal, Thomas Telford. After Shelmore we passed through the busy boating centre of Norbury Junction where there are many useful facilities including a chandlery, sanitary station and a boatyard. Also there are extensive permanent moorings, some provided in the stub of the abandoned canal to Newport and Shrewsbury.
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| Waitkng to descend Tyrley Top Lock |
Beyond Norbury the canal took us through the impressive Grub Street Cutting, over the second great embankment of the day at Shebdon, similar in size to Shelmore, and then through Woodseaves Cutting. This was cut through solid rock and is very deep and narrow, barely wide enough for two boats to pass during much of its length. There followed the descent through the 5 Tyrley Locks and the short journey to Market Drayton where we moored at 3pm.
Soon after we arrived the light rain which had continued on and off all day became a downpour. However it didnt spoil our journey on what must be one of the most impressive sections of the canal system. An spectacular achievement considering it was built around 1830 by an army of navies working with pickaxes, gunpowder and shovels.
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