NB Triskaideka: Up to Llangollen, down the Montgomery and back to Ellesmere

Friday 26 August 2011

Up to Llangollen, down the Montgomery and back to Ellesmere

As arranged we met Sue & Baz on Monday, we cruised to Froncysyllte, with Sue & Baz experiencing, locks, aqueducts and tunnels, the flow seemed to get stronger so Chirk tunnel was fun against the flow, lots of power we still seemed to be crawling through. We moored up and walked over the Pontcysylite Aqueduct into Trevor and went to the pub for dinner.

On Tuesday we set off and went over the aqueduct and continued to Llangollen. It was busy as expected so we had to wait at the narrows as there were seven boats coming down, by the time we set off there were six boats going up. Sue & Ali walked the narrows letting John know when it was clear, although we were fourth in the queue no-one else wanted to walk. It is a lovely walk as you have the canal on one side the River Dee below and the hills as the backdrop. We moored in the basin and walked into Llangollen, after a wander around and a spot of lunch and a bit of shopping, we walked to Horseshoe Falls. It was a lovely day.

On Wednesday we set off back from Llangollen, much easier cruising with the flow with us. We had a lovely day but we hit New Marton Locks on the wrong day we were twelfth in the queue and it took us 2 1/4 hours before we got to the lock. Just for a change we went to the pub for tea after mooring up.

On Thursday we cruised a couple of miles and dropped Sue & Baz back at their car. We really enjoyed having them on board and I think they enjoyed the trip. Baz got the hang of steering really well. After saying our goodbyes we continued to the Montgomery as we had booked to go down the locks. We arrrived about 11:00 and at 11:30 the lockkeeper let the first boat down, we didn't wait long as we were second. We cruised down to Maesbury Marsh and moored after I undertook the hardest lift bridge I have ever come across, the gear was slipping so I had to keep winding even when it was up, and just to make it worse I had to do it twice as the winding hole is the other side. We went for a lovely meal last night at the Navigation Inn, it was recommended by couple we were talking to and it was a really good recommendation, probably the best meal we have had all summer.

This morning we set off back up the Montgomery, its very narrow in places due to the weed. We had to wait to come up the locks longer today as we were about fifth in the queue. We continued to Ellesmere where we have moored. John has been for a haircut and beard trim and I have booked in to have my hair done in the morning. We need to try and get away before lunchtime as there is a fun run and apparently will be about 600 runners along the towpath, should be fun!

Baz in charge