All the way up

We left it till last Wednesday before moving on from our mooring near Chirk Marina. With no definite plan in mind apart from filling with water below the aqueduct we didn’t know where we’d finish up. As it was we pulled in opposite the water taps, pinned in almost with sight of the spectacular structure.

Heading to Whitehouse Tunnel

Along the channel above the River Dee

I’d been looking to part company with John Sage, the bike I’d bought in Macclesfield when Mags was hospitalised following her stroke way back in 2012. I’d not used it for a while and it’s just been taking up space either on the frame mounted on the counter or on the roof, steadily deteriorating. Anyway a couple on the boat moored behind us spotted the for sale sign, had a brief test run and adopted it. Although it looked scruffy it was in full working order, and they got a bargain.

Friday dawned fine and dry, and after a lovely walk with Amber we set off towards Llangollen.

The classic shot of our shadow on the aqueduct.

I’d forgotten how beautiful the channel above the Dee is.

Shallow though. We had to tow one boat off the bottom at one point.

Passing through the narrows above the town we finished up tying up in the basin, the limit of navigation for powered boats.

One of the horse drawn trip boats working from Llangollen Wharf.

The last couple of times we’ve been here I‘ve not walked up to Horseshoe Falls, Meg not being fit enough for the the 3½ mile trip. But Amber is well able…

Pentre Felin

Chain Bridge

Horseshoe Falls, the source of the Llangollen Canal.

Looking upstream from Dee Bridge in Llangollen.

Today we left the basin, moving just half a mile to the linear moorings above the town. It’s closer for a bit of shopping from here. Not much, I’m keeping the cupboards and fridge and freezer light for when we go into Chirk Marina for blacking next week. We’ll be moving on tomorrow, probably back to Trevor.

Locks 0, miles 7

We’re in Wales!

For the first time since we joined the Llangollen last autumn we’re finally heading upstream to the top of the navigation! OK, we’ve made brief forays across the border to Chirk Tunnel to turn around, but they don’t really count.

So we did what we’d planned, turning around a week last Friday at Lion Quays and headed back towards Ellesmere.

Beautiful days but chilly nights

Full moon on the 26th.

We arrived back in Ellesmere a week ago and moored on the Ellesmere Arm, surprisingly empty.

Val and John came to see us on the Wednesday, and we enjoyed fish and chips for the chippy. Well up to their usual standard, both in quality and portion size!

With Mags’ pills finally collected an cupboards and fridge refilled we headed off westward again on Thursday, this time with the clear intent of getting up to Llangollen.

Around the bendy bits at Val Hill

With a lot of hire boats out and about I was dreading meeting something coming the other way here, several blind bridges to negotiate… But we got away with it, not coming across a convoy till Frankton Junction.

With overnight stops near Bridge 61 and again at St. Martins we crossed Chirk Aqueduct and through the tunnel on Saturday, pulling in to moor opposite Chirk Marina.

Farm cat’s lunch sorted near New Marton Locks.

Cutting north of Chirk Tunnel

With the weather looking dodgy for today and tomorrow, but better on Wednesday, it looks like we’ll leave it till then to cross the Dee on Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, and then onwards along the valley to the terminus.

Muscovy Duck yesterday… “Gimme some bread!”

Amber and I had a splendid walk first thing today, before the rain. Back to Chirk Tunnel but along the top of the cutting on the east side. Even the activity at the laminate factory couldn’t detract from the sounds and smells of the local fauna and flora preparing for summer. Lovely.

Amber had other things on her mind though, lots of squirrels to chase through the trees!  

Since last post – Locks 4, miles 21.5