This morning started at 8am when we cast off from our moorings. Overnight it rained very hard but Michael slept through. The morning started overcast then it rained a little – then it rained a lot. Michael was steering but Bernard and Simon had enough good sense to let him get on with it until we hit our first submerged object. A passing dog walker (and ex-boat owner) kindly pulled the bows to the bank and with three people pulling and a lot of rolling and shunting we eventually came free.
As we passed the junction with the Montgomery canal Michael attempted to book passage for Sunday but we were so far from any centre of habitation that only emergency calls were available. A suitable connection was made later and our boat name and registration number were recorded by BW.
A comment on the blog from Colin Parker had recommended the Jack Mytton pub and rather fortuitously we arrived at lunchtime just as the sun appeared for the first time today. Beer onboard with a salad lunch was quickly followed by more beer and we set off for our final two locks before wending our way to Chirk.
The sun stayed with us for the rest of the day and cheered us on our way. Crossing Chirk aqueduct was very slow as we had to travel against the water flow and the trough is only about 10 inches wider than the boat. Chirk tunnel was equally as difficult and we were slowed to much less than walking pace. Soon after this we encountered our second major obstacle in the middle of a wider section of canal and we had to do a bit of “rock ‘n roll” to free ourselves.
Pontcysyllte was reached and crossed in fine style with lots of photographs. We had already decided against attempting to reach Llangollen due to the limited depth of water that is available. Instead we nosed our way though the boatyard and turned at the end of the arm, just past Peter Furniss‘s boat, Sally (with suitable embellishment). This completed the first leg of the epic journey and we made our way back to the northern end of Chirk tunnel to our selected overnight mooring. Downstream speed is much improved over upstream.
Today’s menus: breakfasty sandwiches, pork pie and salad for lunch, meatballs in a cheese and tomato sauce with pasta for dinner.
Early start tomorrow. No time to do photos unfortunately. They will probably be added some time on Sunday.
(Here they are, added Monday)
-
- Entering the Chirk aqueduct
-
- Tardebigge on Chirck aqeuduct
-
- Train passing on the viaduct
-
- Into Wales
-
- Entering Pontcysyllte aqueduct
-
- Michael steering
-
- Shadows of me and Bernard
-
- Not much room
-
- Pontcysyllte aqueduct
-
- Peter Furniss’s boat
Tags: llangollen
Tardebigge's blog 
Friday 3 July, 2009 at 23:38 |
Simon, do you remember your first crossing of the Pontcysyllte? Your method of transport was rather different back then ( photographic evidence available to interested parties!).