The Wharf Tavern

Wednesday's cruise was short in distance but involved the 5 locks of Tyrley flight. The canal was cut into the landscape, exposing beautiful swathes of red sandstone covered in moss and ivy. It was really beautiful.

Approaching the lowest lock we saw there was a hire boat on its way down so pulled over and waited. Happily a no nonsense volunteer lockie had put herself in charge of the otherwise confused and disorganised crew of five and it wasn't long before Rainboat was battling the forceful bywash and motoring into the lock.

The volunteer had great coordination skills and luck really was on our side as we met boats emerging from each of the following locks, meaning they were all set and the gates open for us. We were through in no time and had planned to stop but on the lockie's advice we carried on through 'the cutting'. This was a very narrow stretch cut deep into the landscape with tall bridges arching over it. Usually a crew member would walk ahead to warn of oncoming boats but landslips had made the towpath impassable and further narrowed the channel. Months of high rainfall meant new landslides were imminent and we could see the sense in getting through while we still could.

Our hearts were in our mouths, trying to focus on the distance for any oncoming vessels, while gaping, awed by the slicks of bare earth and boulders stretching down the slopes into the water.

Our luck held out; the undercut rock ledges stayed put as we pottered past and we only encountered one boat, who sensibly held back at a point just wide enough to pass with little grounding of the hull.

It was a relief when the cutting suddenly opened up to flat fields. We moored close to The Wharf Tavern - a pub recommended by other boaters. Attached was a caravan site and permanent moorings, which no doubt complemented the Tavern's customer base.

When we visited for lunch we found it to be a light and airy space that had been recently refurbished. It was busier than many other pubs on a midweek lunchtime but didn't feel crowded. It was good to see a waterside pub doing well.Leggi altro