Wrenbury

Saturday 11th July

Another early start to allow Andrew plenty of time to visit Bristol (for a new mobile phone) on his way back to Devizes. In addition, he offered to take us to Sainsburys in Nantwich before finally leaving us.

The remainder of the Middlewich Branch was completed a few minutes ahead of our schedule and we moored just after Barbridge Junction at much the same spot as at the outset of his fortnight! Shopping for the next few days was duly completed.

Finally, we were left to ourselves and set off for Hurleston Junction, wondering how much of a queue there would be. In fact, only one boat was waiting ahead of us, but woth slowish boats coming down there was a little delay of about half an hour. Boats were being helped by a friendly lock keeper who told Christine that she had been doing the job, seasonally, for the past five years.

Above the first flight of four locks we stopped at the services before moving a few metres along the bank for a lunch stop.

By now we were well into the Llangollen Canal - a very pleasant rural cruise with locks spread out across the journey. Despite its popularity, this first section did not prove to be too busy but we met a boat coming down at most locks.

After the efforts of the three previous days we felt we deserved an earlier night stop. We had previously checked with A Church near You and found that Wrenbury looked a sensible place to stop. The lock keeper at Hurleston had given us a copy of a leaflet from the Shropshire Union Canal Society which lists their moorings - the well-mounted rings make mooring just that bit easier than hammering in spikes or risking stinging nettles as one finds the place for piling clips.

After preparing fish pie for the eveing meal (yes, with potato on top for Christine's benefit) Mike walked over to the village from Bridge 19, one of the scenic lift bridges. No sooner had he reached there but it started to rain - now quite wet, but not the soaking variety!