Into Braunston and hull painting

We had a few days free last week and the weather looked promising so a quick trip to the boat to do a bit of tlc to the hull. I thought it looked alright last year but obviously our trip to the Basingstoke Canal and River Wey  in 2015 had taken its toll. Its always much nicer to do the work out on the cut so a nice cruise into Braunston was definitely on the cards.

Even though you travel the same piece of canal' each time you do it there is always something new to do or see- the trip was no exception.

Our first stop was just before bridge 100 near Wolfhampcote where I was able to rub down and prime the worst of the chips and scratches. After this was completed I decided a walk in the sunshine was in order. As you go into Braunston from Napton you pass the remains of the old Great Central Railway bridge (easily seen with  Pink Floyd painted on it) between bridges 98 and 97. Nature has taken over the cutting leading up to the bridge from the site and an old bridge has been demolished and filled in for access.

The old GCR looking south-the  remains of the Pink Floyd bridge is behind me.

From the above spot you do get a different view of the Braunston church spire and the old windmill

We had to turn the boat so a trip into the winding hole outside the marina was required plus a trip into the butchers in the village for two pies, pork pie and some of his lovely sausages.

Coming out of Braunston  a lot of tree felling has been carried out which really does open up the junction area

The old butty at Wolfhampcote has now sunk and is probably  beyond salvage

Rain was forecast so this sheep has taken appropriate action to be ready for it.

I noticed this Great Dane by one of the residential moorings on the way in. On the way back it was still in the same position- the penny finally dropped that it was a statue and very realistic too!!!!

Bird on a hot felt roof.

We stopped  just before bridge 103 to enable me to do the other side again in sunshine although it did rain overnight.

A trip to North Wales including the "Monty" Canal and a date for an ablation procedure

No spring cruise again this year as the saga of atrial fibrillation continues to impose itself on what we can do. Whilst my last cardioversion in January has me still in normal rhythm its also due to medication. The tablet has some major side effects and is not suitable for long term use. Therefore an ablation procedure is to be carried out at the end of May. It  is non surgical and should be done in a day 

 We are therefore waiting for this now but in the meantime have been up to North Wales to help a very good friend downsize to a flat in Llandudno. It was hard work but it did allow us to do a few other things including a visit to the isolated section of the Montgomery Canal through Welshpool.

Welshpool town lock-its a bye wash on the right which used to power a watermill of an old corn mill. This is an isolated section of the Montgomery Canal which leaves the Llangollen Canal at Frankton Junction onto a section of the canal which is navigable.

The impressive warehouse now a museum

Another view of the warehouse which shows its size-it must have been a busy place

                                   

The old bridge which was used by Welshpool & Llanfair narrow gauge railway

A view from the top of the Great Orme with a tram coming up from Llandudno

We had to have a trip on one of the Great Little Trains of Wales.This is the Talyllyn  and the loco is Edward Thomas,only built in 1921. The two oldest on the line are Talyllyn- 1864 and Dolgoch-1866.

A view from the train as we climb the valley towards Abergynolwyn