Our first trip across was very windy and it was blowing us to the side without a railing. The edge of the trough is only about a foot above the waterline. It was quite unnerving to be rubbing along a 200 year old cast iron edge. The top of our chimney pot took off like a flying saucer and was last seen heading for the goals at the home end of the football field below.
The next stretch from Trevor is shallow and skinny leading to the town of Llangollen. On some stretches someone needs to walk ahead to check there aren't any on coming boats (Linda). Good idea to take your phone.
Llangollen is the first place we have managed to stay more than one night. Its a picturesque town in Wales with lots of hills and valley's and the worst automotive museum we have seen.
We walked to the ruins of Castell Dinas Bran in the morning and it was fair climb. The views were fantastic but the wind was very cold. Later in the day we walked to Horshoe falls. Which is a weir that diverts some of the water from the River Dee into the Llangollen canal to feed the reservoir at Hurleston.
The return trip across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was more pleasant as there wasn't any wind this time. We even parked up in Froncysllte and walked back across it to the Telford Inn for a beer (we couldn't find our chimney top).
There was bit of excitement the next day when we stopped before the Chirk Tunnel as a hire boat was on fire. The people had put their bbq ashes in the bin and then gone off for a walk. Fortunately some other boaters broke in and extingushed it.
We then went off to visit Chirk Castle which is a well preserved example of a Medieval Castle with later modifications. It has beautiful manicured gardens and a wood filled with bluebells.
Back to Ellesmere for washing day.
Yesterday was a lovely sunny spring day and we just cruised. Sat on the back sipping wine.
Today we left the Llangollen canal and are now cruising up the Shropshire Union Canal. We have stopped at Beeston and have a view of Beeston Castle which reminds us of the castle from Game of Thrones. "The Eyrie".
Here are this weeks photos and video.
Across Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
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Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
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| What are you looking at? |
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| Boats Moored |
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| Chirk Castle |
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| Chirk Castle Laundry |
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| Chirk Castle Gardens |
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| Parasailing at Chirk Castle |
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| Llangollen Train at Berwyn Station |
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| Views from Castell Dinas Bran |
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| Castell Dinas Bran |
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| Street of Llangollen with Castell Dinas Bran in the distance |
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| Royal Hotel overlooking the River Dee Llangollen |
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| Motor Museum - Llangollen |
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| Horse Drawn Narrow Boat - Llangollen |
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| Work Horse which pulls the Narrow Boats at Llangollen |
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| Very Start of Llangollen Canal |
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| Horseshoe Falls |
- Locks this week 29
- Lift Bridges this week 9
- Travelled 57.5 Miles
- Average of 8.2 Miles per day
The video you took of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct felt like we were going over the edge!
ReplyDeleteIt did feel like that Cathy. I nearly got out and walked along the towpath.
DeleteFor scouting ahead, why not get a cheap pair of walkie talkies? You should be able to find a pair for about £20
ReplyDeleteWe did think of that Phil. It was keeping them charged that made us decide to stick with phone. We have so many things on charge when we are traveling along. There doesn't seem to be too many places that we need them at the moment so we my leave it until next trip.
ReplyDelete