And were off.

It was a real shock to the system this morning, when the alarm went off at 6.30am, but even so I lept out of bed to take Jade while Ian made tea and toast. By 7.45am we were on our way. The initial plan was to be at Anglo Welsh by 10am. Unfortunately due to loads of traffic it was stop start for several miles before we even reached the M1Consequently it was nearer 11.00 when we arrived and after loading the boat set off 12. 30ish. The forecasted drizzle arrived as we set off but with no wind to speak of it wasn't a bad start to our cruise.

Looking down the arm

Merlin is the boat furthest away, 3rd out from the bank You might be able to see the open rear doors.

Ian at the helm over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

The top end of the Llangollen is full of felled trees and stacked logs. As Sue on No Problem puts it- boaters gold! Talk about heart breaking not being able to stack it on the roof. The tree gang were still cutting the trees down and a bloke with a chain saw was cutting the branches into lovely manageable logs. Just right for us boaters. All along the route to Lion Quays piles of stacked wood was lying by the side. If only we had Free Spirit with us we could have had enough wood to last a year.

 Mick at the Anglo Welsh yard supplied us with 2 bags of coal. The weather, aparrently, is set to get much colder so we appreciated the gesture ( Merlin is central heated ). Unfortunately he didn't leave us any kindling, only firelighters, so at Newmarton Locks Ian went a foraging

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The journey to Jack Myttons took around 2 1/2 hours. Thankfully we arrived before the rain started and I even managed to get a spot of fishing in ( not that I caught anything. Story of my life!!)  We have booked a table for 6pm so no cooking the dinner for me tonight. With time on my hands I thought I would post a few more pictures of the start of our cruise.

Some sort of buzzard but without my bird book not sure which one

Daffodils lined the banks

This must have caused a stoppage!

Someones sense of humour

And finally me trying my hand at fishing again. And yes it was that cold!