We came into Llangollen yesterday after an eventful trip especially after we had crossed the Pontycysyllte Aqueduct. After the aqueduct is a 90 degree left turn under a bridge towards Llangollen. As we approached this turn a boat started to come through,so I held back. Once he had sorted himself out I started to make the turn, just as the bow was in the bridge hole a boat appeared. There is no room to pass the boat so a quick reversal was required. This happened twice more to the large gathering crowd in the glorious sunshine. Finally on the fourth attempt we made it through to a loud cheer.
The canal into Llangollen is very shallow and narrow especially through the bridge holes. B&B has a draft of 2ft 5inches which means it occupies a large volume of the channel. This together with the flow of water coming down slows BB right down so it becomes a real struggle to get along. In fact we were doing less than 1.5 miles per hour. Our usual average speed is about 2.6 miles per hour.
The other interesting feature as you make your way in are “The Narrows” where there is no room to pass other boats. Anne goes ahead to check all is clear before I enter the section. All was going well until the last section of 500 yards which goes round a few bends. Anne had gone ahead and indicated that it was clear so I started to come through. As she got to the other end a single handed boater had entered and refused to go back about 75 yards. I had already gone about 350 yards. He still refused to go back - an impasse ensured. To say the least I was not happy at all!!!!!! Luckily there was a slightly wider section about 50 yards behind me. He passed by but a girl came up and said there was another hire boat coming through and he had refused to reverse back. So the wider section helped me again. Eventually we arrived in Llangollen Basin and moored up. You can stay for 2 nights for which the charge is £6 per night including electricity. Lunch was then required to calm us down in town.
Today we have enjoyed the glorious sunshine and climbed the hill behind us to the Castell Dinas Bran which was burnt down in 1277 which is 1000ft above sea level.
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| The sunset from our mooring near Chirk |
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| Anne steering the boat across Chirk aqueduct with the train viaduct built in a similar style and still in use. It is also the border between England and Wales. |
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| Anne now steering over the Pontycysyllte aqueduct which is all part of the World Heritage Site. |
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| Approaching Llangollen looking over The River Dee valley. |
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| From our mooring in the basin |
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| A view of Pontycysyllte aqueduct as we approach it through a gap in the trees |
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| A caravan built on a trailer. I met the man who made it - it took 4 months. |
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| A view of the river,railway and the building set back up the hill on the right is the horsedrawn boat base on the canal. |
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| A view of the castle at the start of our walk |
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| Anne taking pictures and emailing from the top |
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| Looking down on the town |
