It was a wonderful, bright, warm sunny day as we awoke and made ready to set off. Above us we could see on the hilltop the remains of Castell Dinas (not to be confused with Castle an Dinas which is Cornwall!)
We continued the last part of the canal into Llangollen. Two sections are signed as narrow and wide enough for only one boat at a time, Boaters are advised to have a lookout going ahead to make sure no-one attempts to come into the section from the other end. Mind you, on the way back we were almost through this section when a boat insisted on coming through despite only being metres after the sign. Fortunately we met at a place where it is just possible to squeeze past, although they found themselves very much in the offside shrubbery. By now we were really feeling the effect of the water flow.
Gradually the houses of Llangollen came into the distant view.
We stopped first at the service point - there are overnight visitor moorings either side and there were just a few vacancies. We then continued to the mooring basin where we had plenty of choice and Mike turned and reversed onto a berth whilst Christine found out about where to buy a mooring ticket. At this stage our plan became one of stopping here for the night.
As soon as we were tied up, Alice explored the area and found an interesting small pond where some of the first tadpoles of the season were beginning to hatch. She also saw a frog.
We locked up and then walked across the bridge over the River Dee into the small, busy town centre, devoted very much to visitors although there was also a good selection of small food shops.
On the way down Alice counted the number of different wild flowers in a small patch of grass beside the pathway. There were at least seven - here is just one.
On an older building of the secondary school (which has since been very much extended with more modern structures) we saw this sign - how long since science, arts and crafts were all bundled together?
Just before the bridge, one shop belongs to a taxidermist who displays samples of his work in the shop window.
We found the rather more mundane items we needed - enough to make the rucksack quite heavy! As we came back over the bridge we had a good look at the river as well as the steam railway station.
We returned to the boat and had a good lunch before setting off to walk along the towpath to the Horseshoe Falls. Only the horsedrawn boat is allowed to go further than the basin - it can go either way which is just as well as there is not place for turning a boat after the basin entrance.
The horsedrawn boat stops at the Chain Bridge Hotel (allowing its passengers time to take in the view) and only canoes manage the final part.
Finally we arrived at the very end - or, if you prefer, the origin of the Llangollen and Shropshire Union Canals.
Immediately beyond the metering station, which regulates the amount of water sent down the canal, is the place where the flow is diverted from the river. An information board explained that a fine filter is used to prevent river fish, especially salmon, from entering the canal where they will not thrive.
The Horseshoe Falls is the name for the shaped weir which was constructed at the same time as the canal. Today it was also a popular picnic, paddling and swimming place.
OK, so it was easy getting over the crest of the weir but how is she going to get back again?
There was no stopping Alice from joining in the water activity and she spent some time cooling her feet. Until, that is, she eventually slipped and developed a rather soggy front!
On the way back we called at the hotel for ice creams and a chance to walk across the newly restored Chain Bridge. Different bridges have been here over the past couple of centuries but the previous one was closed in the 1980's, only re-built last year.
Just before we left a steam train arrived and stopped at the nearby station before completing its return trip back to Llangollen.
As it was such a lovely evening and also so that we could recharge the boat batteries and hot water, we decided in the end to leave our mooring in the basin - now almost full, so we will have done a favour to one of the late arrivals!
Going past Llangollen Wharf we saw the horses being settled into their stables for the night having completed their duties for today.
With the water flow now in our favour, we made over 3 mph where barely 2 was possible on the way up. We retraced our steps back to a rural mooring that Christine remembered from our journey here. Apart from being a pleasant spot it also provided us with a distance view of the aqueduct. The photo was much better when, later in he evening, the sun caught it.
6.5 Miles - 0 Locks
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