Where have all the boats gone?

Guess what? It's sunny again. Almost reminiscent of 76. That will put the kybosh on the rest of the summer then!

Even by 9am, it was a tad warm. Now normally, at this location, a queue would be forming for the locks. Not so today. The early risers had certainly left, but it left only a couple of boats on the moorings and nobody waiting to descend the flight. Just ahead of us and before the locks, there be water points and waste disposal. You just cannot ignore such a plethora of services on a boat, as they can be few and far between. Seizing the moment, we put the washing machine on!

And yes, it is electric, it is an automatic and is also a dryer! All mod cons have we. But in the current weather, drying is not a problem. Wash load done, we watered up. Then came the delightful necessity of emptying the cassettes! At least the elsan point was clean and nearly fragrant, at least until we started!

Jobs done with.... Ali approached the lock keeper to book our passage down the staircase. It was the same chap who saw us up. Comes across as being a little taciturn shall we say! But Ali found a key. He is into classic cars, Ford's in his case. Broach this subject, and he opens up! So our trip down was more than pleasant, enhanced by a smile and chat about his favoured vehicles.

But one boat passed us on our trip down Grindley locks. It just has to be the breach on the middlewich arm that is making it so quiet. There was a very organised single hander ahead of us for a while, but the heat beat him by Willymoor lock and he stopped.

After exiting  Quoisley lock, the canal turns sharply under a road bridge. I sounded the horn approaching this, no response so moved on, to be met with a rather large bow emerging. Reverse on, all good, then we realised that it was the fuel boat! We had been looking out for N.B. Mountbatten, operated by Richard, so hailed him down and reversed back to top up with fuel. Its no wonder he didnt respond to our signal. The thumping engine drowns out all external noise! We have met Richard and Ruth on our travels, but this was a first since they took over the fuel boat locally. It was a pleasure to meet up again, have a chat and refuel. Got to support canal based businesses and we try to as often as we can.  Chamberlain Carrying Co

Next customer

Then on to our destination, Marbury. We moored once again on superb Shroppy moorings shaded by some rather elegant fir trees . Chairs out and who should walk by but Mick, ( the engineer) his wife Kath and the dogs. So another chat about engines and solar panels ensued.

Early evening and we walked into the quintessential English half timbered village of Marbury. The views of the mere from the church yard are to die for!! Stunning. Then of course we just had to pop into the recently refurbished Swan, for a few drinks and a meal. This place is unrecognisable.  A fair chunk of cash has gone into this place and it is beautiful, inside and out. But the food? We may have been unlucky, but it was not up to expectation shall we say.

So our sojourn on the Llangollen is nearing its end. A truly stunning waterway, with something for everyone.

Distance 3.5 miles and 9 locks. Then we sought shade!

Downhill all the way now....or maybe not!

Leaving our tree shaded mooring next to the very beautiful Blakemere, we anticipated going downstream all the way. Strange to talk of this as a river, but in essence,that's what it is!

The weather remains amazing. But one does wonder about water levels for the rest of the summer. Fine here, fed directly from the river Dee, but in areas supported by reservoirs?

We sort of knew that it was about time for an engine service. So we decided that at the end of the days cruising, we really must make a plan. Looking at the engine hour counter, yep, just over 250 hours since the last service.  We stopped beneath a spreading Oak tree, afternoon shade from the heat and on Shroppie canal society moorings to boot! Still rather quiet boat wise, but the hire boaters come in waves and we seemed to be in a lull. So, puter on, and found three Beta Marine approved service engineers in the Whitchurch area!

Emailed a couple and got a quick reply from Mick Braddel . Yep, he could do it, on Tuesday. Looking like a plan. Then he said the best location for him was bridge 42. We were past bridge 38 at this point, but hey ho. So we continued down on Monday to Whitchurch, pulled into the arm, winded and moored up and had a little retail therapy.  Then back out, upstream again, negotiated three lift bridges, winded above bridge 42 and back under the lift bridge and moored up! Now ready to meet Mick for the service.

Now this in some ways was not a totally smart move. We departed Whitchurch at the wrong time, as it was just as the next batch of hire boats were leaving Whitchurch marina. They invariably and understandably head up towards llangollen . The same way we were now heading, again! Not all of them have English as a first language and the instruction they are given is somewhat limited, if not downright poor. Apart from steering the boat, the first impediment in their voyage is a manually operated lift bridge. One of three in fairly quick succession.  Raising these involves landing from the boat, crossing the bridge, using a windlass to wind the hydraulic mechanism to lift the bridge, passing the boat through the ole, dropping said bridge, then getting back on the boat. Simples. IFyou understand English and have an instructor who gives a fook !

We were behind a boat manned by we think a Danish or Dutch family. Now bearing in mind, they would never be instructed to work through a lock, you would think instruction to operate a lift bridge would be excellent.  Not so. Suffice it to say, Ali saw them through the next couple of lift bridges, to at least give them an inkling . So when you next see "incompetent " hirers, spare a thought for their lack of instruction.

Anyway. We were in situ, downstream of lift bridge 42. A great spot, but with zero internet or telephony. Harking back to the last paragraph, it became evident upon watching the bridge operation that hirers were not alone in being either incompetent or just plane rude. Watched a couple in a private boat, lift the bridge, with a boat operated by a single handed boater approaching, move through, then the operator hops back aboard leaving the single hander to try to get off the boat and drop it! I assisted him. Just how rude can some people be? But, he did have sandals with socks on, glasses, and a silly hat !

Anyway. Mick arrived and the service was completed. What a very nice chap. It was, in the way of the waterways, a very relaxing experience.  We chatted, relaxed and the job was done. Just as it should be. We would have no hesitation in recommending Mick if you are in the area. A really genuine man.

Pootled down to Grindley next. Moored above the locks and walked to the pub. The Horse and Jockey is a nice place and the food was excellent. Pity Pip & Rog were otherwise engaged, but we will meet again...

Total 14 miles, 7 moveable bridges

Back up, then down.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay on the Monty. After a superb meal in the Navigation, we decided a walk would do us good. Helps the digestion, allegedly. So off we trotted down the towpath, to view the restoration progress.

The last time we were here, it had not ventured much past the winding point near "Bar Steward lift bridge". Well, it is now in water for nearly a mile past this now, so it is progressing, slowly .

lets hope this restored bridge works better than the other one!

As we had booked a two day stay, the following day was another siesta day. It was hot, but our mooring just down from canal central, afforded shade from the hedge. We called into the oddly named http://www.canalcentral.uk , and had a superb sandwich, enhanced for me by the fact that the owners had a 2Cv tucked away behind the premises.

By early evening, with the sun going down and the temperatures a little more bearable, we made our move. We pootled back up towards the Frankton flight. The idea was to be in place ready to go up when the locks are opened around midday. We moored near the services. Must say, these along with those at Maesbury are very well maintained and very clean.

About 10.30 the following morning, we moved up onto the lock landing. We knew at least two other boats were due up, so decided to bag being first up. It was a good move,as the locky appeared shortly after and told us we could start up the first two locks if we did it slowly, as the levels were a little low. This we did, then passing a boat descending, we were straight into the bottom of the staircase and up. All before the official opening time. This enabled us to reach Ellesmere at a reasonable time, do a little shopping in the local stores, then hit Tesco for a more substantial shop for essentials, like Beer, Wine and bog rolls! The good thing here is, you can bring the trolley right to the boat, so no heaving bags down the tow path.

That done, we moved off to seek shade. A little way out of Ellesmere and through the tunnel, we found a spot overlooking Blakemere , shaded by trees. It was a lot cooler. So I did a bit of maggot drowning.

Not as busy as you would think at this time of year. Why people avoid the Llangollen in summer remains a mystery to us. It seems a shame to be on our way downstream again. We have hopefully arranged an engine service whilst in the Whitchurch area and after that, it's on towards Chester.

Total 10 miles 8 locks and Ellesmere tunnel.