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!