Llangollen to Calverley

Llangollen to Froncysyllte

5 miles

We stayed around the basin until after lunch most boats had left during the morning leaving just six of us, feeling quite empty, it started filling up again around lunchtime then we were off.

Just left the basin passing by this lovely house overlooking Llangollen town

It amazes me how these trees survive

Here she comes, rounding the narrows

These ruins can be seen for miles

Lovely view over the river

Rounding a blind corner and entering the second narrow section

We were going to stop at Anglo Welsh in Trevor for diesel and pump out but it was so full of their hire boats in we decided not to, we would do it further on. Apparently Sunday is the best day to stop.

It was back over Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, no photos this time it was pouring with rain and back to the visitor moorings at Froncysyllte.

Back on the visitor moorings facing the other way

Froncysyllte to Ellesmere

13.25 miles and 2 locks

After a stroll into Trevor to find the Post Office, we found out it closed down some time ago,the only evidence that it even existed was a house named 'The Old Post Office', we set off with the weather being sunshine and showers, through Whitehouse tunnel, where we had to wait for a hotel boat to come through and then onto Chirk tunnel and Chirk Aqueduct, which were both clear and back into England.

Chrik tunnel with the light at the end

Back over Chirk Aqueduct in the rain

And back to England

Just passed the tunnel and through Chirk James spotted 'Smile and Wave' and on the towpath Heather and Mike, who were smiling and waving. There was a space on the visitor moorings so we pulled in to say hello. It was lovely to meet you both and have a chat. The rain came again so we continued on our way going straight on at Frankton Junction, we had to get to Ellesmere so unfortunately the Montgomery will have to wait, it's another good reason to come this way again.

We turned down the Ellesmere Arm taking the last available space at the very end.

The next day the boat behind us left so we pulled LJ back to the space to get out of the way of the winding boats.

The Mere

Looking across The Mere

There were a few of these goslings - really cute

We had a wander round the town and up to The Mere, it was all very quiet but we had lovely sunshine between the showers.

A bit of sun at Ellesmere

Ellesmere to Blake Mere

1.25 miles

Just a very short trip today stopping for diesel and pump out at Blackwater Meadow Marina. Through Ellesmere Tunnel and stopping shortly after by the shore of Blake Mere.

We went out for a stroll hoping to walk around the Mere but unfortunately there was was no pathway round.

Me at Blake Mere

 At about 5pm the fisherman descended on the lake ready for an all night session, rather them than me it keeps pouring down.

Moored at Blake Mere

Blake Mere to Prees Junction

5.75 miles

The fishermen packed up this morning and left at about 8am, they really must be dedicated it was pouring with rain most of the night.

We set off towards Whitchurch stopping after a mile or so at Cole Mere, this one is slightly bigger than Blake Mere and a nice walk of just over a mile and a half around it.

Sailing at Cole Mere

Long straight bit

James bottling his home brew

Moored up with Prees Junction just behind us

Prees Junction to Whitchurch/Grindley Brook

5.5 miles

Just back through the four lift bridges today, it was very cloudy with showers but luckily not too many, we stopped after the Whitchurch  Arm about half a mile from the Grindley Brook locks.

This gorgeous cow looked like he was enjoying his paddle

Just after Whitchurch before Grindley Brook locks

Whitchurch to Quoisley

3 miles and 9 locks

First a stop at one of the four water points at Whitchurch before heading down the Grindley Brook staircase lock. There was a bit of a wait we were the middle of five who went down, it was only whilst we were in the bottom lock that someone was waiting to come up. It got quite a bit congested between the bottom staircase lock and the next single lock, one waiting for the staircase, one waiting for the next lock and one coming up, then we arrived shortly to be followed by another two, with two more coming up the locks, slowly but surely it all worked out and one boat waiting replaced another waiting to go in the opposite direction.

We continued our journey not seeing much else around surprisingly and moored in a lovely spot after Quoisley lock and near Marbury.

We got the sun all day here

Quoisley to Barbridge

10.5 miles and 10 locks

First of a couple of lift bridges, and thanks to the guy at Wrenbury road lift bridge for your nice comments about the blog, I stupidly forgot to ask your name. After the bridges it was time for tea and toast for brekkie on the move, i went down and started the kettle boiling and put the grill on, only for the power to go again, problems with the prop gen which runs our electric hob and oven, it cost us £1800 to sort the problem two years ago so we are probably going to have some major changes in the cooking department!! So that left us with brekkie of bread and jam and water instead.

The lift bridges were followed by a few locks, firstly the Baddiley flight of three, where we caught up with Heather and Mike again on Smile and Wave. We met a lovely family hiring an Anglo Welsh boat who were out for the week enjoying the glorious weather and a couple on a small hire boat out on their first trip having walked along the canal for years.

We stopped off for a lunch break in Burland and then on through the Hurleston lock flight with a very helpful lockie and left turn at the junction back onto the Shropshire Union heading north for Chester. Stopping near Barbridge  outside The Olde Barbridge Inn.

Marbury Lock

I don't often see LJ coming out of the lock from this angle

Right outside the pub, not far to stagger home

Barbridge  to Calveley

2 miles

Just another short hop today to get us away from civilisation and back out in the open countryside, we stopped just after bridge 104 near Calveley and before the Bunbury staircase locks. I wonder if we will do the Bunbury shuffle when we go down.

Another sunny spot with plenty of room for James to do his woodwork

Well that finally brings the blog up to date again at last, we have enjoyed the Llangollen canal and intend to return, well we still have the Montgomery to do.

Total 190.5 miles and 121 locks