NB Triskaideka: Onto the Monty

Sunday 29 July 2012

Onto the Monty

Friday evening we watched the opening ceremony and were really impressed, although like many others did feel that Macca shouldn't have been rolled out, must admit that was my turning off point!

Saturday saw us having a slow cruise to Welsh Frankton ready for our decent down the locks between 12 & 2, I say slow, very slow, tickover to neutral most of the way, we were following a hire boat, who we decided had a couple of weeks to do the Llangollen, they were obviously experienced as they had no problem with the bridges and bends but were just very slow and that's from the couple who don't travel fast!

We arrived just before 12 and the lock keeper was getting the locks ready, she said there were two booked to go down and five to come up, there was a boat at the top who wanted to go down but had not booked and they couldn't get through to book, they were not happy but it does say on all information regarding the Monty that you have to book and you can't book with the lock keeper. We had a smooth descent passing NB Kelly Louise on the way. We first met Peter and Margaret in Wrenbury and have been passing each other since.

We decided to cruise down to Maesbury Marsh, this is a lovely rural canal and we never saw another boat, not even moored until we got to the Navigation where there are a few permanent moorings and three boats on the visitor moorings. We decided to go and turn around, the b****** lift bridge, now supports a notice saying to wind slowly, like you could wind it fast! It is better than last year but still slips, but not as much. John went to turn around and I managed to keep the bridge open as there was no traffic, so I only had to open and close it once.

Today we had a lazy day, its been sunny, with some heavy showers and windy. We went to the Navigation for Sunday Lunch. The lunch was lovely, as we expected having eaten here before, we had no hesitation with the main course as it was roast beef rib and this is one of our favourites. The Navigation pride themselves on locally sourced produce. Although they sounded and looked fabulous we couldn't manage a pud.

After lunch, we walked along the Monty, to the end of the navigable bit and beyond, we saw the work in progress of the restoration and beyond where there is a very over grown canal bed.