Since leaving Llangollen I haven’t had an internet signal
again so here’s another catch-up post.
Thursday 4th February:
It’s was a longer stay than I had intended at Llangollen but
I have to say it was very enjoyable, having the services nearby and free
electricity was a blessing, the town was very pleasant and had sufficient
facilities to prevent me running short of anything. I now have to leave that
behind and head back to the internet and phone shy area that is part of
Shropshire.
The bridge repairs took longing than scheduled and finally
opened on Tuesday evening (the 2nd of Feb, they were due to finish
on the 29th Jan). I decided to stay Wednesday to allow the water
levels to come back up to normal and leave early today to avoid meeting any
boats at the narrows, things began well, it was dry and not too cold when I
cast off at 8:30 and headed for the basin to wind, my neighbour who had
followed me down to Llangollen had moved his boat into the basin the day before
and seeing me arrive he came out of his boat to wave goodbye, a nice chap, I
never got his name but his boat was N.b Enchantress.
It was then back through the bridge and heading for the
first of 3 narrows, the first narrow section is immediately after the bridge
and not too bad, you could fairly easily reverse back if you met another boat
(or they could), the second section is 500 metres long and you cannot see the
end at all, this was the section I was most concerned about and as I approached
it a boat appeared heading towards me, timing was good and I was able to give
way easily but we were both surprised to see each other but obviously both had
the same idea of leaving early, as he passed he said ‘don’t you just hate the
rush hour’.
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| The Lift Bridge after the second narrow section. |
Looking back the bridge is just out of sight
immediately after the bend.
No traffic through this 300 metre section though as I
retraced my route down, the Pontcysyllte aqueduct was a bit blowy but soon
across that and up to the next lift bridge (28W), having passed through it and
about to lower it when two walkers asked a few questions and I was distracted
talking to them whilst lowering it, having boarded and set off again I noticed
a woman walking along the towpath with windlass in hand, I called ‘sorry I
didn’t see you’, she laughed and said ‘I was waving to get your attention but
you were busy chatting’, she was ok and no real harm done.
Continuing back through Whitehouses tunnel and then Chirk
Tunnel and Chirk aqueduct before being greeted by this sign.
I moored up just past bridge 21W and went for a walk back
into Wales and around Chirk, detouring slightly to look at the Aqueduct and
Viaduct first.
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| Shame about the trees they spoil what would be a good picture! |
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| Foreground is the Viaduct, background Aqueduct and River Ceiriog below. |
Then it was a uphill slog following the road to reach the
village. I think they have let things slide, after winning 4 years running
nothing since 2012 J
A nice small village really though, here’s a few pics.
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| St. Mary's Church |
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| Tea Rooms in the High Street |
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| Mock Tudor with take-away's |
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| The Council offices |
One thing I did not photograph was the Hot Chocolate
factory, formerly Cadbury’s but now Mondelez which along with the Kronospan
timber factory dominate the area and the air, the smell of hot chocolate is
nice, for a few minutes, but would you want it assailing your nostrils 24/7.
My return route to the boat took me down the footpath, or I
think it should be called a foot-hill, it was very steep and muddy and not a very
nice walk!
Back on the towpath between the bridge and my mooring was
this pleasant little canal inspired display.
Totals Today: 9 miles : 2 Lift Bridges : 2 Tunnels : 2
Aqueducts
Friday 5th February
I left Chirk bright and early just after 8am, it was a
lovely day for this time of year, no sun but no rain either and not too cold.
It was an uneventful start but just after bridge 17W and
Lion Quays hotel I spotted this small green boat moored up.
In a weird co-incidence sort of way when looking at fuel boat N.b. Mountbatten’s Facebook page later to find out where he was I saw that he had posted a link to a Dan Brown video that shows him cruising the section Chirk to where I saw him moored, here’s a LINK .
I was moored just after the boat Little Plum at 8:20minutes in the video, probably the day after Dan had passed by, a shame, it would have been nice to have seen Quinquireme on his video.
The sun tried desperately to break through the dark clouds
but they weren’t letting it.
Approaching the water point just before the 2 New Marton
Locks I decided a quick top up would be easily done there so I stopped, that
turned out to be a good decision, having finished the first boat I had seen
moving so far was just coming out of the first lock so they left the top gate
open for me.
Approaching the second lock and heading for the landing when
a lady waved me on, she was coming up with her husband but the lock was in my
favour so she opened the top gate and in I went, she then told me to stay on
board and she locked me through, lovely, neither of those bits of good fortune
would have happened had I not stopped for water J
and they were two of only three boats I saw on the move, timing is everything
sometimes.
I carried on enjoying a lovely peaceful calm cruise, although
it was blowy in some of the exposed areas, with a flask of coffee to hand along
with some homemade cheese straws retracing my route back to Ellesmere, mooring
up down the arm by 12:30. A quick shop in Tesco, followed by a trip to the
launderette and then an electrical store finished of the day.
I have moved my radio from the bedroom to the main cabin,
although there are speakers in both rooms I found it a pain having to walk
along to the bedroom to use it, it was also necessary as part of my plan for
redesigning the bedroom and bathroom, a bit of a project, or two, which will be
ongoing as time and enthusiasm allow. I also need a new radio and will fit it properly when I buy it!
Only the two pictures today as I am on a return trip.
Totals today: 10 miles : 2 locks
Today: 9th February:
After a mostly wet and windy stay at Ellesmere I was pleased
to arrange for fuel boat Mountbatten to stop and fill me up and take on board
another 6 bags of smokeless and having stocked up with provisions at the very
convenient Tesco at the end of the arm I was all fit to go again and so I set
off this morning about 9:30.
It was a beautiful bright morning and I was soon entering
Ellesmere tunnel again.
Pootling along in the sunshine today with a flask of coffee, a sandwich and a slice of homemade fruitcake, well it was going to be a longer run today J
Of course the only boat
I passed on the move was as usual at a narrow section with moored boats, it
always seem to happen that way.
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| Pssing by Bettisford |
The straight leading to Prees Junction.
Just after the Junction came the first of 5 Lift bridges,
all went as they should with none of the ‘frozen’ problems I encountered on my
journey down and I was back at my mooring at Whitchurch by about 2pm and settled in for the
night, Internet again, TV signal, but very weak phone signal.
Totals Today: 12.5 miles : 1 Tunnel : 5 Lift bridges
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