Shardlow

At Stenson the locks change from being narrow, only taking one boat at a time, to double width. To save water it’s always best to try and share with another boat so this morning we set off early along with the guy who was moored behind us last night.  The lock beams are twice the size on a wide lock, and also twice the weight!

The top gates of Stenson lock leak really badly and the view if you were entering the lock to go up is quite scary, especially for hire boaters.

Filling an empty wide lock is quite a spectacular sight.

We’re now moored just above Shardlow Lock ready for visitors tomorrow. It’s a long time since we were here so we just had to pay a visit to the Malt Shovel pub, which is one of our old haunts from the days when we used to go cruising with Ann & Richard on ‘Milty’. The pub’s been modernised but I’m pleased to say they’ve kept the tiled floors and the fires, and the draught Pedigree and Merrie Monk mild were pretty good too.

About 50 yards from our mooring is a stable with a mother and baby alpaca inside.