Red balloon in Llangollen

The journey into Llangollen was very hard going against the 2mph current created by the 50million litres of water that flows down the canal daily but the moorings, provided by British Waterways at £6 per night including electricity, are very good complete with views across the town.


Sunday evening after a very hot day and with nothing on the TV I decided to go for a walk when I saw a red balloon come over the hill heading towards Llangollen. It then decended and no amount of gas burning would get it up again as it headed for the centre of the town. It narrowly missed chimney pots, the church and eventually landed in an open space behind the church. A most interesting half an hour with the usual group of boaters to watch the events unfold.

Day 38 now at Trevor

Totals to Day 38 are now;-

Memorable events 8 - latest two being our first trip with BB over the Pontcysyllte and Chirk Aqueducts
Cappuccinos 7 - 2 new ones being Cafe at Bridge 29 Grindley Brook and Coco's in Ellesmere
Lift bridges 14, locks 126 and miles now 255

The weather at last is truly spring like with warm, sunny days although this morning Friday it did rain for 3 hours on the way but at least I only had 3 layers on.

The scenery is stunning and the first aqueduct at Chirk is fantastic especially with the Shrewsbury - Chester viaduct next to it which surely adds to the magnificent impact of them both.

We met Ellen and Mike just before the big one and they came across and spent the afternoon with us. I used to work with Ellen at Hume Pipe in Camberley some 20 years ago, it was a very good day especially as it had stopped raining and the sun came out.



Going across the Pontcysyllte aqueduct completed in 1805,its over a 1000ft long and 127ft above the River Dee, one of Thomas Telfords greatest achievements. Mike is on the towpath side and we have picked up some hitch hikers who we had started to talk to as we came onto it. They are members 0f New Zealand Rotary District 9910 on a study exchange with 1180 North Wales. They really enjoyed the ride but thought it would make a good bungee jump - I pointed out that Mr Telford would not think it appropriate

The starter for the main aqueduct is the one at Chirk as shown above, which is stone compared to the iron trough of Pontcysyllte. The little dot in the middle is Anne making her way slowly across.

Pictures towards Llangollen

The scenery on the canal just gets better and better as we move towards Llangollen.

This was our m ooring for Thursday evening 8 May-Bridge 1 Frankton Junction where the Montgomery Canal leaves for Welshpool although its not open yet.

The weather has really improved this week 20c and I have been in shorts! The trees have really started to come out but I saw this horse sheltering from the sun under the only tree with no leaves.

Another picture of a heron looking cool by standing alone in a field no water around at all! A little later I saw another heron standing in the middle of a large herd of sheep, strange birds in Wales.

This is where it all started Wrenbury Mill we hired a narrow boat from here 11 years ago and have not looked back since.

Days 32 to 35 in Snowdonia BB still resting

We have had three great days touring Snowdonia and visiting friends, family,National Trust castles and houses and a few narrow gauge railways. The following pictures give a flavour of them. The weather has been pleasant - managed to get down to a tee shirt!!!! although we did have a very bad thunder storm Sunday night. Back onto the canal tomorrow to make our way to Llangollen, its surprising how we have both started to miss the fact that we are not on the move.
May have a problem getting a 3G signal over the next few weeks as I am now leaving this lovely wifi connection in the marina but will try my best to post something.



Erddig house which never had electricity and the owners had a very close interest in the welfare of their staff which totalled nearly 100







Welshpool & Llanfair loco "Countess" which I hope to model in the not too distant future.

Chirk Castle

Powis Castle

Criccieth Castle which is not NT but is within walking distance of some friends who I worked with over 20 years ago at Hume Pipe.

Day31 collected metal box with wheels

We collected the Focus from Wrexham this afternoon and then drove towards Llangollen to check out the hotel our friends will be staying at in a few weeks time- we were concerned that it was some way from the canal. The picture below shows its close! and the scenery on that part of the canal in the spring is fabulous,

Totals today nil for the boat she is having a well deserved rest.



We drove into the hotel car park to be confronted by a collection of Humber cars dating back to the early 1920's. They are holding their annual gathering this week end and have taken over the whole hotel, tomorrow should see upto about 30. We spoke to one proud owner who had travelled up from Bournemouth in 5 hours. Although later on we did see one broken down in Llangollen with the owner lying under it!

Day 30 now in Swanley Marina-Llangollen Canal

This was our mooring last night about 1 mile up the Llangollen canal from its junction at Hurleston with the Shropshire Union canal (Although they did also own the Llangollen). Tuesday was our most busiest day since leaving Napton we did 11 locks and 12 miles in lovely sunshine until we arrived on the Llangollen when we had a shower. We then rested on Wednesday by doing jobs on the boat - our first opportunity since we started the trip.

Totals to day 30 are now;-

Memorable events 6, cappuccinos 5, lift bridges 6, locks 109 and miles 214

We are now in a marina which holds about 250 boats, for the next 5 days as we are going to see a few friends and tour around Snowdonia which may mean a ride on some narrow gauge railways ( I always live in hope). If the number of people coming down to their boats this evening is anything to go by the canal will definitely be a place to miss this weekend.

People and pictures on way to Llangollen

On the way out of Middlewich we had to go through Wardle Lock which is the home of a lovely lady called Maureen - a boat women born and bred. She has just had her 74th birthday and whilst helping us with the lock told us lots of stories of the old days. She was born on a horse boat and worked them with her parents and then with her husband. Her brother was born on a Thomas Clayton classic boat called Gifford. Just as we were leaving the lock she handed us two hand painted book marks. She still does talks on canal life as was a joy to speak to.

We passed this old canal company stable block which has now been converted to houses on the Shropshire Union- Middlewich branch

We saw this boat adapted at the Anderton Marina for pump out service