Locks 13 to 14 to Overwater Marina, Audlem (Shropshire Union Canal)

Sunday 22^nd June

Hankelow Sign

Our seats at The White Lion!

Hankelow Fete

 We are off to the fete at Hankelow today, a small village a couple of miles from Audlem.  We could walk along the main road to it, but decided to see if we could find another way off the road, Kev found the way and we set off to Mill Lane, then Monks Lane and Longhill Lane and we were in Hankelow, it was a really nice walk, down some small lanes and through a wooded bit.  On the corner of the lane was The White Lion pub, it looked really nice so we went in for a drink, as we do!  There was some child seats in the garden, we thought they would do nicely for us, especially for Kev!! What a nice pub, we decided to come back in the week and try the food as it looked so nice.

We went over to the fete which was now up and running and we had a really nice afternoon, the sun was shining and I won a bottle of wine on the Tombola, we had burgers, then an ice cream and finished off with tea and cake.  There were hundreds of people there, it was a really good fete.  We waited for the raffle to be called, but no luck, so headed back to Audlem and the boat. 

Monday 23^rd June

It was another nice sunny warm day so we moved the boat down through locks 12 and 13 to where we usually moor when we come to Audlem, that was enough exertion for one day, so moored up and chilled out.  Went up to the shop in the afternoon and got an ice cream, then sat on the wall watching the boats going up and down, this is the life!!

Tuesday 24^th June

White Lion Pub, Hankelow

The sun was shining yet again, so we decided to walk to Hankelow and have lunch in The White Lion as at the fete they were giving out leaflets advertising a two or three course lunch which was being served Tuesdays to Thursdays, so off we went, we walked the same way as we had done on Sunday.  We got to the pub and it was in darkness, but we thought perhaps it doesn’t open till 12.30, so we went and sat by the village duck pond for a bit, then went back to the pub, but still closed, then we saw a sign in the window saying the opening times from 1^st June and it is closed Monday and Tuesday lunchtimes, some other people had also come for lunch not knowing it was closed, so it wasn’t only us.  What a blow, never mind, we walked back to Audlem, had a drink in the Lord Combermere, then went to the Shroppie Fly pub which is on the canal and had lunch there as since we came here last time, the pub has been refurbished and they are now concentrating on making it a food pub, so we wanted to try it and it was really good.  We then got an ice cream and sat on the wall watching the boats and the world go by.

Wednesday 25^th June

I know this is getting boring, but the sun was shining again and so we set off for a walk, we went up the tow path to one of the bridges and up Badley lane, then across a field, past our friend Malcolm’s work, and through another field and back to the village.  It was lunch time by then, so we stopped in the Old Priest House coffee shop, it was really good value and very nice.  Then went on another short walk which took us past Moss Hall, across the field and out onto the canal at lock 15, then back up the canal to our boat.  There are some really nice walks in and around Audlem, it is really a lovely place.

Thursday 26th June
 

Coming out of Lock 14

At the bottom of the Audlem Flight, Lock 15

We are going into the marina today, leaving the boat there as we are going to Bridgwater, Somerset for my nephew’s wedding on Saturday, coming back Sunday afternoon.  We set off to lock 14, there was a bit of a queue, a couple of boats in front of us and some coming up, got through there and onto the last lock of the flight, through there and up the canal and into the marina.  It is a really nice marina, very open and well kept.  We checked in and was allocated a berth, got into it okay and moored up.  Chilled out for a bit, then went to the café in the marina for a coffee, then had a walk around the marina and back to the boat.   Chlling out for the rest of the evening and getting things ready for our trip.  We will be back on Sunday evening, staying there the night then back down the canal to the bottom of the locks where we will turn around in the winding hole and moor up there for the rest of the week as there is a music event in Audlem on Saturday 5^th July and and we are staying for that.