haggis

What an " interesting" start to the day! Left the marina in a queue of 3. Day boat, Black Prince boat and us. Came across an ABC boat stopped before the narrows. No sign of day boat. After a long wait it transpired that the day boat had gone on and the ABC seemed to be waiting for divine intervention telling them to proceed. Sorted that out and off we set again. The next excitement was meeting 2 oncoming boats and theBP in front keeping running aground on the very shallow tow path side. It was all being slowly sorted when the boat behind us pushed in between us and the on coming boat - the canal here was hardly two boats wide never mind three. Iain reversed out of the way! All the boats were hirers and all did the right thing but the pushy boat -with the steerer who ignored all requests to reverse and let the boat come through - was a private boat. Shame on him ! .

As a few folk have asked what the Llangollen is like just now. The answer is pretty good ! We came up Hurleston on Thursday morning and arrived in the Llangollen marina about lunchtime today. ( Monday) No problems with hire boats ( they were usually going in the opposite direction ). The water level seemed down but the flow was quite strong which made tunnels and aqueduct quite slow. Lots of lovely gardens to admire but most of the canal is lined with trees which are quite overgrown on the non towpath side. This reduced the width when meeting boats. All in all I enjoyed cruising the complete canal again after a gao of several years . Plan is to visit the Montgomery on the way back down

Sunday on the Llangollen. Today we moved from Ellesmere to Chirk marina and almost all of the hire boats traffic was against us. It took three and a half hours to travel six miles but that was nothing to do with hire boats. Just a very slow private boat 😀. I think our journey so far has been in the opposite direction to hire boats if that helps. We came up Hurleston on Thursday. I'll report on the traffic up to Llangollen tomorrow.

Thank you

I just can't understand it why the OP doesn't follow the expert advice he sees on other places and get on and get the job done . Why, I wonder does he feels he has to raise the matter on here then when folk try to be helpful and make suggestions he belittles them ? Most odd !

Going by the marks at the edge of the canal the level is definitely down. In fact we were pushed aground by a boat which was about to set off and waved us past then pulled out quickly hitting us onto the shallow edge. I know accidents happen but an acknowledgement or apology would have been nice 😀. After extricating ourselves we followed them slowly for 5 miles. Such is life

I'll put a post up of our experiences. It was the chugger who said Monday nights were best for space in Llangollen but as she also told me the Eisteddfod was on just now I don't know if she knows what she is talking about 😀. She told me she is in charge of the Llangollen chuggers and she has 6 working for her.

Several years ago we had KELPIEs hull pressure washed ( with an extremely powerful pressure washer) and treated with epoxy. We went back to the dry dock a few years later and as expected after another pressure washing, the hull and base were as they had been after the first treatment. We had her epoxied again. She was down in Northwich for repainting last autumn and we took the opportunity to have her pressure washed and treated again ( we moor between boats permanently hooked up to mains power so we like to check the hull regularly ) and again the hull was in great condition. Yet I keep reading how nothing but stripping back to bare metal works and that epoxy won't stick to epoxy. Our experience says differently.

Good re the dates. We should be there in a couple of days so hopefully there will be space in the basin. I know we have to pay but C&RT needs the money. 😀

We are at Ellesmere moored near Tesco and have just seen 2 70 foot hire boats make impressive turns. There is a C&RT chugger here and on chatting she told me that the Eisteddfod ( spelling ? ) is on as Llangollen just now. . Is anyone from CWDF there just now? Is there mooring on the basin ?

No. I was tempted by the mussels but decided that was a bit risky so I had lasagne from the specials board. It tasted fine but the dish was swimming in oil and the chips were soft and soggy. Might have taken Wrenbury off the places to moor which is a pity as there is a big field for the dog to exercise in.

Mr mink must have moved in

We had a charmed days boating today. We didn't have to turn a single lock and a few times we met a boat coming out and one going in. Lots of Happy Hirers about enjoying their boating holiday. One of the volunteers at Grindlay Brook had been at Hurleston yesterday so we continued the chat as we shared the work

I think moorhens can have as many as 3 hatchings in a year.

Those of you who have read some if my earlier posts will know I have a " thing " about moorhens. My day has just been made by watching an adult in the reeds opposite the boat with a chick in tow. Not a wee ball of fluff but not much bigger. This makes up for being very sick during the night after eating in the Dusty Miller last night.

Short day today , just to Wrenbury. To me the canal is not as busy as it was a few months ago but some boaters are saying it is very busy . Not surprising as it is one of the few canals open 😀. I walked between the locks and I had a good look at where the leaking culvert was and I am pleased to say that there was absolute no sign of water movement in the ditch below. So far so good !

The bridge at Barbridge is in the process of being repaired. Some good brickwork going on

It was a very nice main course and dessert and the pub and garden looked reasonably busy. Hope they make a go of it as it is a good stopping off place if we are going to Chester, Llangollen or down the Shroppie.

I must admit that I have never watched Narrow Escapes but it was mentioned today.. We arrived at a lock to be told to go and have a cup of tea as the lady was instructing a couple of girls who had just bought a boat. She instructed the girls as they worked a single hander through then the instruction continued with them bringing their boat in and working it through. All very slowly as instruction was given. One of the girls said that they got her name from narrow escapes and the lady said she did boating instruction all over England. We watched with interest as Iain is an RYA boat handling instructor. It was our last lock of the day so a half hour s delay was neither here nor there 😀

Now you are being posh ! We are moored along side the car park and must be near the kitchen. The smells are making me very hungry .

It is a joy to watch the big boats doing the turn

Oh dear ! I should have said pudding 😄. At least I can spell that .

Over to Barbridge today to enjoy the boaters deal of two courses for £17.50. it would be a shame not to have a sweat 😄. Good to see that all the long term moorers have gone and the spaces seem to have been taken up with folk who intend to visit the pub.. Quite hot and fiery today. Not quite the weather we have been used to recently at home.