25 May
Awoke to a dull day and walked into Nantwich for shopping then back to the boat and off on the last 2 miles of the Shroppie to join the Llangollen, we arrived at the junction at the same time as a plastic boat approaching from the other direction and one boat already waiting, 2 more turning up shortly after, a boat coming out of lock was nearly hit by another crossing the junction, the first boat to enter lock made a real hash of it taking ages to even get off the lock moorings finally through the lock it was the plastic boats turn but got stuck in the second lock up and had to reverse back down again, finally we were next and managed to clear the 4 locks without further ado, once clear we passed the first boat as it had moored up, presumably for a stiff drink, and onto the Llangollen at last, we cruised through the countryside in jumpers and coats, what a difference a day makes! we called it a day at the foot of the 6 Grindly Brook locks and sort refreshment in a handily placed pub before supper, luvly jubly!
26 May
Up with the lark this morn and climbed the 6 locks before the long lock free pound to Ellesmere where we are now moored awaiting Dave and Ange who will be joining us tomorrow.
30 May
Sorry blog fans no internet signal for last few days but we're back again now! Dave and Ange arrived on friday and we relaxed by the canal catching up with the gossip and checking our drink reserves before finally firing up the barbie and adding food as well. Saturday morning we set off out in the country to find a quiet spot for lunch then back through Ellesmere to moor for the rest of the day by a lake where we could relax and watch the sun go down, 9.30 that evening we were rammed by a hire boat although the canal was fairly straight at that point. Sunday morn we returned our friends to Ellesmere so they could drive home, it was great to see them again. We wandered through the town to another lake on the otherside of town where a local triathlon was taking place, we sat with ice creams enjoying the veiw. This morning our friend Dave from Surrey arrived and after watering up we set off for Llangollen to moor for the night just by the Pontcysyllte aquaduct, we strolled across and looked down into the Dee valley below before returning for tea, tomorrow we shall cross in the boat and on up to Llangollen.
31 May
Set alarm and awoke early but were beaten to the aquaduct by the boat we had followed all day yesterday, curses! But our way was blocked by POLICE/HEDDLU tape across the aquaduct mouth, someone had tried flying without wings from the top, they managed about 3 seconds and the landing was a bit bumpy! eventually a waterways guy came over and removed the tape, "always happening" he said and we were off across to glorious veiws down the Dee valley, once across we turned into what was once the feeder stream from Horseshoe falls above Llangollen used to keep the canal in water and later made navigable although it is only one boat wide in places making for exciting boating! We finally reached the town and managed to moor in the basin and set off to explore. Llangollen always reminds me of an alpine village with its tumbling river, steam train and wooded hillsides.
2 June
We spent the evening in a restaurant overlooking the river then retired to the boat for a nightcap, yesterday we awoke to the early boats leaving so after breakfast Dave and I wandered down the hill into town again before finding a cafe to sit and watch the world go by over a latte then joined Shell for an ice cream, as the canal is so narrow we decided to follow the trip boat down as they had crew to stop oncoming boats so we left the basin 5 mins before the trip boat was to leave from the wharf and timed it well as the boat had just left, we followed it for about a mile before they ran over a log submerged in the water and it moved into our path, we rode up on it and came to a stop, no amount of forward or reverse would move us, luckily the trip boat saw we were in trouble and reversed back to tow us off, it still took all of 10 mins before we finally cleared it, we warned on coming boats and hope they avoided it! We made Chirk and walked up to the village and found a great tea room with a great outdoor seating area and enjoyed a pot of tea then later on before supper we walked to the local for a beer, it's thirsty work this boating! We stayed there overnight as this morning Shelley's friend, Lindsay from nearby Wrexham visited us with her son Tomas, as we were sitting there 3 police vehicles turned up and police divers started to search the canal although they wouldn't tell us what they were searching for, never a dull moment on this trip! After our visitors had gone we set off to moor out in the country for the night as it was too late to make Ellesmere.
3 June
Set off this morn and called in to Ellesmere to visit Tesco then off to cruise back towards the Shroppie again, we spent the night at the bottom of Grindley Brook locks as we did on way out and had a great meal in pub followed by a few games of Jenga!
5 June
Yesterday we set off and cruised the rest of the Llangollen and back to Nantwich where we will leave the boat as we are to return home for a week, once moored Dave and I headed into town to get a taxi to Ellesmere to collect his car, we just got back to Nantwich and the heavens opened but after 2 heavy showers the rain stopped, we have been lucky with the weather so far. Today we went in town for a sunday roast followed by an ice cream then back to the boat to relax in the sun and pack our bags for the trip home. Tomorrow is my sisters birthday and although she lives in Canada she is over here touring Scotland at the moment and when we return to the boat we shall pick her up from the station and she will join us for a few days, Happy Birthday Kate. So blog fans we will be back in a weeks time, til then TTFN S&S x
15 June
Well blog fans, we're back, had a stress free drive back and picked my sister up from the station on time, thank God for mobile phones and the interwebnet thingy! We set off yesterday morn and cruised off toward Chester in the pouring rain to moor for the night under the shadow of Beeston castle on it's crag and spookily enough right opposite a pub! Follwing a good drink and meal we retired to the boat and beddie byes before getting up early this morn to make Chester by lunchtime, we are now moored within shouting distance of the city walls that we will explore after lunch. Well we wandered into the city for a look and a cuppa, at one time we popped into Tesco's and whilst there we had a flash flood and they had to shut the store due to water running down the aisles, we had left the side covers on the boat open to dry some clothes and we ended up with 4" of water in the bilges, luckily the bilge pump managed to shift most of it!
17 June
Spent yesterday walking the walls and exploring Chester followed by a good meal out in town, this morning spent checking out charity shops near boat and a coffee, following lunch we said farewell to my sister who is travelling on to Manchester to visit an old friend before flying back to Canada, we moved the boat past the city walls and down the 3 lock staircase ready to set off for Ellesmere port tomorrow.
18 June
We moored last night opposite a pub/club and popped in for a drink, the place was buzzing and a couple of bands tuning up, but by 9.15 we decided it wasn't for us and returned to the boat, I think we made the right descision as the first band was very loud and out of tune and the second even louder but more in tune but we could feel the boat moving to the beat! They were still going at 2.30 this morn!! Maybe spending a lot of time in Frome with it's excellent music scene has made us a little critical but certainally not deaf as I suspect most of the revellers were this morn! Any way, after filling our tank with water we set off for a quiet and somewhat boring 8 miles to Ellesmere Port which is the National Waterways Museum and end of this particular road as far as this canal is concerned. We moored in the basin surrounded by boats of all sizes and explored some of the sites, it is strange feeling being in here as we are part of the museum locked in with our own key to come and go, we will spend 5 nights here as we have booked a hotel in Liverpool for mon and tue night to explore the city, returning to the boat on wednesday, we can see Liverpool across the Mersey (and Manchester Ship Canal which passes by) from here.
