Chirk tunnel chaos

All good intentions but we still didn't leave until after 8am. Had hoped that Viking boat would be at Jack Mytons but with the pub now closed for refurbishment, no sign of the boat. So onwards toward the New Martin locks and despair when a passing boater told us 6 boats were in front. Picked up one of those boats just before the bridge and from then on it was slow going again. No sign of those other boats waiting at New Martin bottom lock and with Ian's help we locked the canal time boat, Merlin and ourselves in about half an hour. And what did we find at New Martin top lock? The Viking boat but thankfully he was still moored, yipee!!!

Another hold up at Chirk  Bank and this time a procession of day boats and hire boats.

A nice passerby grabs the rope.

Chirk aqueduct was clear but from the tunnel entrance, two boats appeared, one which was the trip boat. It was forever drifting across the exit of the aqueduct causing no end of problems. Wouldnt it have been easier to tie to the bollards and wait until the coast was clear?

 At the Pontcysylite Aqueduct again we had to wait. Two boats coming toward us and just as we were about to untie to go across, another appeared and then yet another!!. In the end, I walked across and stopped more boats from entering. One was a bit peeved about it but having told them 4 boats were waiting and we had already been there for half an hour he reluctantly agreed to wait.

Into the Rueben arm and Anglo-Welsh yard at Trevor. Merlin had a problem with hot water first thing in the morning. When the heating was on there should have been plenty of hot water for a shower but cold showers were all that was in the offering. Also one of the gas regulators didn't work properly and the bottle needed changing. So while that was all happening I went to wind FS. Didn't bank on the wind though. Not at all in my favour and I kept getting blown on to a wall. Of course, we had the usual gongoozlers to watch my every move. I did get FS round but not before a bit of damage on the gunnel paintwork.

With Monday the start of hirers on a short break from the Anglo-Welsh base, we timed our departure all wrong. By now it had gone 3pm and had at least three miles, 2 tunnels and 2 aqueducts to do to reach the Bridge Inn at Chirk Bank. So with three boats in front and goodness knows how many behind, we didn't stop until almost 5.30pm.

And seen on route,

Ladybird Lavae