30th October
Turned out nice even though the early morn was dull and dismal. Today we wanted to make Llangollen so an early start. No locks at all today, and only the lift bridge at Trevor, well there were two actually, but one is left in the raised position. We only had 12.5 miles to do but going against the constant flow makes this a hard canal to cruise along, especially the top section. And we had two tunnels to do, Chirk and Whitehouse both only wide enough for one boat and again trying to push along the flow in a narrow channel, well, it almost stops you dead. No point on putting on the revs' cos all that does is dig the stern deeper in the water which considerably reduces the amount of space between the bottom and under one's hull. Anyway, along the Chirk Aqueduct the tunnel entrance was in sight but no need to send Ian to check if a boat was coming from the other end because a hire boat had already entered and we followed him in.
Different matter at Whitehouse tunnel. Again we followed that hire boat through but as it came out into the light we noticed another boat trying to enter. What a pillock and he had the audacity to blast his horn as if to say we should get of his way! Words were mentioned on our exit, it was another hirer and we told him sitting out in the middle of the canal when boats were coming through was not a good idea! He thought it was one boat out and another in. And he still couldn't enter after we had left as yet another hire boat was following us!
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| Blimey...where's the skipper gone? The idiot trying to get through Whitehouse tunnel |
Through the only lift bridge to be opened as we neared the aqueduct
Pontcysyllte aqueduct had two dayboats coming through. Only a short wait, we then followed another boater along its length.
But what is it with impatient boaters today because we notice a trip
boat waiting to enter. Instead of tieing to the bollards he just
hovered in the middle making it very difficult to do the turn at
Trevor Branch Junction.
As I have a vast amount of photos to show I will continue with this post tomorrow. Needless to say, in tomorrow's post, pirates are involved!
And seen on route,
And wildlife,
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| It is a Kingfisher...not a very good photo but lucky to get even this! |
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