Ellesmere

Today's Canal - Llangollen

We awoke to yet another glorious day and so it remained until evening. The place we moored was especially attractive - Christine placed in the top three of places we have moored (Devils Garden on the River Weaver is hard to beat!) - although we forgot to take a good morning view across the river!

It was busy before we set off and well into the afternoon there seemed to be an almost continuous stream of boats heading to Llangollen. For the first section, until we turned at Trevor, that was the only thing they could do but few had come out so what they will all do tonight . . . We did hear from one boat that it was completely full last night. We made a good decision to leave and seek the quieter rural pastures.

It was still fairly narrow although boats could pass each in most places. Some parts were open and others leafy glades.

One final shot of the bridge that marks the start of the narrow feeder canal to Llangollen - originally the canal had been intended to head north (the right of the photo) to link up with the Mersey at what then became known as Ellesmere Port. Economics and competition changed the plans and only half a mile was actually built.

Alice and Mike had intended to walk across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct as they rode across on the way up. However, CaRT and Police staff were on duty as the towpath had been closed following an overnight incident. Fortunately we could cross by boat but with strict instruction not to get off. After the crowds before it seemed strange to see no-one walking across.

Once across we were delayed because a boat had moored opposite the water point and, whilst a boat was re-filling, the navigatuion was reduced to one way. A stream of about five boats came non-stop and there was almost grid lock as boats behind us backed up to the aqueduct. Any more and it really would have been a problem!

After getting through Mike and Alice alighted to go ahead to open the lift bridge. Of course, we then had to wait for the queue to clear before we could lower the bridge. Someone from the other direction even tried to argue that we should leave it up as there were so many boats coming along. (The bridge carries an access road) A boat with a large tender then set off right in front of Christine as she came thorough the bridge and - well let us say that chaos ensued as boats seemed to think that pressing ahead into a confined space was the best way to make fastest progress! Pleasantly, a man watching the scene, not knowing that Mike 'belonged' remarked that the lady on the boat coming through had remarkable boat handling skills!

Shortly afterwards we could look back at a distant view of the aqueduct.

On then to Chirk. On the way up we had remarked that although the map told us that there are two large factories close to the canal, we could see no sign of them. (Joanna had seen them from the road and reported that they are quite sizeable). This time we did catch a brief glimpse, before returning to the wooded glade leading up to Chirk Tunnel.

It was remarkable, given the amount of traffic that we managed to follow another boat straight through Chirk tunnel and across the aqueduct.

This time we spotted a quite ornate finish to the last main pillar of the raileay viaduct.

We paused for lunch at the visitor mooring just before the A5 at Lion Quays. We took a look to see if we could collect a newspaper from the nearby petrol station but it was across the busy road that looked less than safe for pedestrians.

A short queue had built up at the first of the two New Marton locks but as the sky and sun were so brilliant, no-one minded the wait.

Not sure if this is a way of avoiding paying mooring fees!

At Frankton Junction we caught up with this boat that proceeded at a speed that was often less than our tickover rate. He obviously knew that we were there but offered no opportunity for us to pass. We had to continue like this until we arrived at Ellesmere, an hour later.

Mike dropped Christine and Alice just before the junction (slow baot cpontinued on round the bend) leaving Mike to take our boat across to the service point on the opposite side.

By the time Christine rang to report that there were spaces on the arm, Mike had already reversed back to a pleasanter almost rural spot with slightly more space between boats. Since he had also had had a rather tricky time doing this, he was in no mood to try somewhere different. They would just have to walk back! (Only three minutes anyway)

Whilst the meal finished cooking, Alice took advantage of the sunshine and did some violin practice.

15.2 Miles - 2 Locks