As promised few rambling from our trip along the Shroppie a few weeks ago. It turns out to be a pub report rather than a cruise report but they do go hand in hand. Also a few piccies as we went along, some good, some bad, some “I cant remember taking that” and some “why did I take a picture of that”. Hope you enjoy, comments, opinions and critism welcome.

http://s1001.photobucket.com/albums/af1 ... =slideshow

The Boat

The boat at best could be described as adequate and was showing signs of many years as a hire boat. Given the external weather temperature the heating system was reduced to the status of “as much use as a one legged man at an arse kicking party”. But not for the first time, especially for my wife Vicky (Vic) the biggest disappointment was in the bed department.
“It’s only ¾ size” she said “not even full! I’ve got used to a kings sized one over the years”

“You’ve been spoiled girl” I replied.

“I haven’t had a ¾ one for years” was her reply.

I was dejected to find that she had had a ¾ one at all.

The first night trying of it out not only was it ¾ size we also found that it had gone saggy in the middle. This rendered the first 5-6 inches on either side useless, due to the rolling together effect, so we are now down to single.

As my wife said, the length was fine, it was just the width. I reassured her that if the same problem arose when we get our own boat I would consult a specialist and get a pull out extension fitted. Sorry for descending into Carry on mode.


Other than that the only other minor problem was that on the throttle there was no discernable neutral between forward and reverse so more care than usual had to be taken, especially in locks, to make sure the prop had stopped turning.

All in all the boat was worth what we paid.

The Canal

Compared with the other canals we have cruised, since our first hire three years ago, the Shroppie, in my opinion, is in the best condition of them all. I hasten to add, considering the breaches over the past couple of years, I am talking above the water line. The locks gates were easily opened, Vic only struggled with Audlem No1, and they didn’t leak as much as many we have seen. The paddles seemed easy to wind from my position on the back of the boat. We normally share narrow locks but due to the vagaries of the throttle Vic was not confident controlling this boat.

The bridges were mostly in good condition and not showing the scars of too many collisions.

Good moorings are plentiful, many on rings, perhaps due to the good work of the SU Canal Society. Some of the moorings, miles from anywhere, would be a joy to stay on out of winter or on a warmer boat but on this occasion we gave them a miss.

Much of the canal is piled or concrete block, both on and off side, so towpath erosion is not much of a problem. All in all the canal seems in good shape.

The Cruise

Bunbury – Nantwich (1st night etc) – Market Drayton- Norbury Junction - Market Drayton – Audlem – Barbridge Junction – Beeston (last night) – Bunbury.

63 miles. 64 locks. 9 pubs. Far too much real ale and Bacardi.

I would like to report that we met plenty of interesting people and had countless exciting incidents while cruising but unfortunately we didn’t. It was perhaps the most relaxing trip we have done; there was no plan and no sense of trying to get cruising time in to wring every bit of value out of the trip. The canal, even for the time of year, was absolutely dead. I can only put this down to it being perishing, at times very misty and in the main, gloomy. We passed only 15 boats coming in the opposite direction all trip and in doing the Audlem 15 we only crossed over with one boat each way. This isn’t too much of a problem for me but Vic likes a chin wag at the locks and there was nobody for her to natter with. Having said that, even with no distractions, we managed to leave a paddle up, for the first time since our first hire 3 years ago, when trying to go up the second lock. When I say we I mean not me.

I find the Shroppie a bit of a Curate’s omelette of a canal. Parts of it such as the three main lock flights at Audlem, Adderley and Tyrley and, in fairness, the majority of the canal I don’t think I could ever get tired of, but some parts I find tedious and just want to get through them. Perhaps it is the time of year we have cruised these sections but the cuttings between Tyrley and Norbury Junction are dank, dismal places and it wouldn’t bother me if I never had to go along the long straight tree lined Shebdon Embankment again. Unfortunately I found my mind wandering to strange places whilst going along Shebdon (see rather disturbing letter “B” thread in Over the Stable Door). I could perhaps get the Big Chief I-spy book on trees, moss and foliage to relieve the boredom next time. Having said that it is a small price to pay to cruise the rest of the canal.

The Pubs & moorings

Saturday - Black Lion – Nantwich.

Not canal side but only a 10 min walk towards the town centre. Plenty of good moorings along the embankment.

We have used this pub before and were delighted when we booked the boat to find that we could pick it up at 12.30 so we would quite easily make Nantwich for the first night and revisit the Black Lion.

HORROR of HORRORS. The pub has been taken over “done up”. Not only has been “done up” it has been poncified and so has the clientele. It was like meeting an old girlfriend who had had a bad experience with Botox. Before it used to be full of local characters who all seemed to own a dog apiece and within ten minutes of sitting down you would be talking to them like long lost friends. The last time we had been in some of the regulars had been on TVs Eggheads and that was the main topic of conversation amongst others.

Anyway we got a drink and in fairness the beer, from the local Weetwood brewery, was good, and Bacardi is Bacardi wherever you go, so we decided we would stay till about 8 and then get some fish & chips on the way back to the boat. It got to 7.30 and the guy behind the bar asked if we would mind moving table as ours was reserved for someone to dine at so we decided to call it a draw and go to the chippy. It seems to be more of an eatery which serve drinks now rather then the good traditional pub it was before.

Sunday - Wetherspoons – Market Drayton.

Plenty of good moorings as the canal passes through the outskirts of town. 10 min walk into town.

Normally when we are in Market Drayton we have used the Talbot which is very good and more or less canal side but on this occasion we decided to walk into town and see what was available and keep the Talbot in reserve.

We stumbled across a Spoons which had opened since our last visit. People seem to love or hate Spoons. Personally I love ,em. I think they are the best thing that has happened to town centre drinking and cheap eating in decades. The beer quality is usually very good and plenty of choice and if I am not mistaken they have more CAMRA Good Beer guide entries than any other pub chain. O.K. they are never going to get in Egon Ronay,s guide for good food but if you take it for what it is I regard it as good value. Plus Vic loves the cappuccino.

On this visit, with it being a Sunday, I had a dabble at the shoulder of lamb for £7 and Vic had the roast beef at £6 both coming with a free drink, so it made the meals £5 and £4 approx. There were a few beer’s on offer from the Shardlow brewery to commemorate the start of the Six Nations rugby which were excellent but probably a bit to strong, or, I had too many. Whichever it was I managed to negotiate the walk back to the boat despite my normally reliable trainers having been mysteriously changed into wobbly trainers.

Monday – Junction Inn – Norbury Junction.

The only plan I had in mind for this trip was to spend a night in the Anchor at High Offley. I should have done some homework on this, but I didn’t. Had I done it would have revealed that the pub does not open during the week in winter. Buggar!

Luckily we found out early enough from another boater and were able to get to the Junction Inn at Norbury Junction. Again plenty of good moorings.

The Junction Inn is canal side in a lovely setting and the area has a good “feel” about it. The pub itself was nice as was the beer plus it had a roaring real fire; I had the Junction bitter brewed by the Coach House brewery. The food was O.K. Vic had the lasagne which she said was very good. I plumped for the “Famous Junction Steak Pie”. Now I am not quite sure why it is famous or even if it is that famous at all. Coming from Lancashire I am pretty well up on all things pie related but I had never heard off the “Famous Junction Steak Pie”. I think perhaps it is famous for being rather large and having more pastry than filling. None the less it was edible, so I ate it.

Tuesday – Wetherspoons- Market Drayton.

Finding ourselves in Market Drayton mid afternoon we decided to moor here once again and take advantage of Spoon,s Tuesday steak night rather than cruise on and find ourselves in the middle of nowhere.

2 large mixed grills were the order. Steak, gammon, pork steak, 2 very small lamb chops, 2 sausage, egg, mushroom, tomato, onion rings, chips and peas for £7.50 each again with a free drink. At £15 this was a similar price for what we had paid for last nights food only order, without free drink, and tonight’s meal was more enjoyable in my case and equally enjoyable in Vic’s case than last nights offering. It’s when doing this sort of comparison, that, in my opinion show what good value Spoon,s are.

The same beers that were on offer on Sunday were still available tonight so once again the walk back to the boat was a rather unsteady one. If you imagine a new born giraffe on ice you will get the picture. I do enjoy a night in the pub once or twice a week but I think I am developing a bit of a problem on this trip.

Wedenesday – The Bridge – Audlem.

Again plenty of good moorings.

Arriving in Audlem mid afternoon we had a wander around the village and very nice it is too. On walking past the Bridge we had a look at the menu and decided we would eat there tonight.

Before going to the Bridge we called in the Shroppie Fly and the Lord Combermere for a couple of drinks which both served well kept Timothy Taylor,s Landlord, one of my many favourite beers.

The Bridge has been refurbished since our last visit to Audlem. Unlike the Black Lion at Nantwich there was nothing to be lost by revamping this pub so it was a big improvement on our last visit. We both decided to go for something off the 2 course for £7.50 menu. Tomato soup and fish and chips were my choice and Vic went for the same soup and once again the lasagne. As I am not keen on lasagne we tend not to eat it at home so whenever we go out for a meal Vic tends to take the opportunity to have it.

I have previously stated that I am pretty well up on all things pie related but the one subject I can profess to be a true expert in is the art eating of fish, chips and mushy peas. In the past, in many pubs, I have fell for the claims on the “specials” boards stating “freshly battered haddock” or in the menus claiming “freshly caught cod in chefs own recipe crispy batter” only to served up with one of Icelands buy one get one free offerings. This is notthe case in the Bridge. The fish and chips were excellent in fact I would say the best I have had in a pub. The fish was moist, the batter was crispy and proper chips.

Therefore the Bridge gets the No6 award for pub food of the trip. The only downside is that it only sold Marstons real ale, not one of my favourites. Oh! Vic said the lasagne was good and she is going to put it in her Good Lasagne Guide of Canalside Pubs.

Thursday – Jolly Tar – Barbridge Junction/Wardle.

Moorings are plentiful but it is probably best to tie up somewhere before the junction, if heading from Nantwich, as I would imagine that noise from the adjacent busy main road could be a problem on mooring after it.

“Never, ever drink in a pub with a flat roof. The beer will be keg crap and you will end up in a fight” is the old real ale drinker’s adage. Thankfully the Jolly Tar bucks this trend and is well worth a visit both for its beer and food.

On entering the pub the main big room was going to be used for a live band later in evening and most of the tables were reserved. The landlady said we could use one of the tables until the reserved time or she would light the fire in the small room and we could eat in there. We chose the small room.

The beer, again, was excellent from the Weetwood brewery but my kidneys are starting to ache now.

We both went for the rib-eye steaks which were about £8-9 I can’t remember exactly but they were very good. I don’t think they did lasagne. Had it not been for last night meal tonight’s meal would have been the best of the trip but it came a good second. As we left the pub it was packed to the rafters to see, according to some of the locals, a very good band. We like a good live band but as we were both tired we gave it a miss. This boating and boozing is very tiring.

Friday – Beeston Castle – Beeston.

There are good mooring all through Beeston but they are a bit close to the nearby train line. We didn’t notice the trains at night maybe they stop running early but in the morning we were woken about 6.30 as one thundered past. As we had to get up early to return the boat this was not a bad thing.

The last night of a boating holiday is a sombre affair but not to worry my kidneys are in need a rest. The Beeston Castle Hotel looks a big rambling place from the outside but inside it is quite cosy with more than enough decorative plates and ornaments attached to the wall which must be a cleaner’s nightmare.

Once again I found myself on Weetwoods beers which again were very good. Food wise I had an acceptable chilli ½ and ½ and if anyone can guess what Vic had I will send you a signed copy of her lasagne guide when it is in print.

Summary.

Once again we have had another super trip in what were the coldest conditions we have encountered so far. The scenery in the main was picturesque, when we could see it through the mist, despite my moanings about the cuttings etc. The few boaters we did meet were, as is the norm, a friendly bunch and the pubs were excellent. All in all a good do. I keep thinking after our past few hires that each one would be our last hire before buying our own boat but Easter is coming up so who knows.

Very good report. You name of our favourite places there, and glad your trip was so good. Hope you get the 3/4 size problem sorted for next time, it can lead to much disappointment I suspect........

Thw description of your boat should be read in the style of Frankie Howard - with all the added 'OOH...ERRRR...Missus'

Glad you had a good time and can concur about the fish and chips at the Bridge at Audlem. Not eaten at the Beeston Castle, but the Shady Oak is putting out some decent meals.

Brill

Your description of your boat reminds of the canaltime's we use to hire, except that they had a wonderful, kingsize bed. But everything else was really quite shabby and the seating area was awful. (The fixed bar seating arrangement).

But after hiring for a lot of years, it did make us aware of what we required when we bought a boat (space for a comfy sofa!)

Maybe the menu at Norbury wasn't implying that their steak pies were famous, merely that the junction (or maybe the Junction) was famous.