Finally got around to finishing the TV cabinet today. This was the biggest item on our to do list.
Saturday, 26 April 2014
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Trevor and back...
97 miles, 54 locks in 10 days of great weather.
Back home after our cruise over the Chirk and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen, but never again will we go in the silly season. Definitely too many hire boaters on this section of canal at any one time.
Next weekend we're going to try and get some of the outstanding jobs finished before our next trip out.
The Hurleston flight wasn't particularly busy, but the third lock was shallow and we couldn't get over the cill on the upper gate, having to release water from the next lock, it must have made some difference because Dee O Ghee still scrapped the bottom but made it through.
Hurleston on the return didn't cause a problem and we floated through the locks no problem.
Our Walkie talkies came in handy here as the locks are not visible from the boat with a sharpe right hand turn.
As we reached Ellesmere the chaos started, from here on to Trevor there were hire boaters coming from every angles, don't get me wrong the vast majority were ok but some just shouldn't been allowed near a boat. We stayed the night here and visited Tesco and the local chippy that served huge helpings of fish and chips. One serving would easily have fed us both.
Wrenbury lift bridge, on the outbound journey was very quite but on the return trip it was a lot busier, we stopped and called at the local shop just down the road for supply's and then had a drink when we got back, waiting for all the excitement outside to clear.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, stating the obvious is very high (126 feet) we were a little concerned for Charlie on the stern but he obviously he has a good head for heights and wasn't faded by sheer drop just inches away.
We had good fun but will never do it again in the holiday season and probably go only as far as Ellesmere. The weather was great all ten days and we both got a good tan.
Back home after our cruise over the Chirk and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen, but never again will we go in the silly season. Definitely too many hire boaters on this section of canal at any one time.
Next weekend we're going to try and get some of the outstanding jobs finished before our next trip out.
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| Old Stables at the staircase heading away from Chester |
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| Hurleston Locks, and shallow today |
The Hurleston flight wasn't particularly busy, but the third lock was shallow and we couldn't get over the cill on the upper gate, having to release water from the next lock, it must have made some difference because Dee O Ghee still scrapped the bottom but made it through.
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| Fill the water at Hurleston |
Hurleston on the return didn't cause a problem and we floated through the locks no problem.
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| Charlie having some fun |
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| Keep a close eye on things |
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| Old lock keeper cottage |
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| One of many lift bridges |
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| Bridge before Grindley Brook |
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| Grindley Brook cottages |
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| Last lock before the staircase at Grindley Brook |
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| Looking back towards the staircase lock |
The staircase lock at Grindley Brook was a hive of activity, it seemed mostly onlookers as there wasn't any real delays, and with three lock keepers to assist boaters through the locks kept it moving well.
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| Charlie loitering outside the services building |
Taking advantage of the elsan facilities and moored up for the night at the fourty eight hour moorings further along.
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| Prees Turning |
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| I dislike this long section of canal |
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| Montgomery turning |
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| Ellesmere |
As we reached Ellesmere the chaos started, from here on to Trevor there were hire boaters coming from every angles, don't get me wrong the vast majority were ok but some just shouldn't been allowed near a boat. We stayed the night here and visited Tesco and the local chippy that served huge helpings of fish and chips. One serving would easily have fed us both.
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| Ellesmere near Tesco |
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| New housing at Ellesmere |
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| Blakemere mooring on return trip |
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| Blakemere |
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| Another warm day |
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| Mooring at St Martins moor |
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| St Martins moor |
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| St Martins moor at night |
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| Wrenbury lift bridge |
Wrenbury lift bridge, on the outbound journey was very quite but on the return trip it was a lot busier, we stopped and called at the local shop just down the road for supply's and then had a drink when we got back, waiting for all the excitement outside to clear.
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| Wrenbury lift bridge looking back |
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| Congestion at Wrenbury |
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| Chirk Marina |
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| Chirk |
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| Geese at Chirk |
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| Chirk Aqueduct |
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| Mark posing |
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| Chirk Aqueduct |
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| Chirk Aqueduct |
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| Chirk Tunnel 459 yard long and entering Wales |
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| Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Just inches from sudden death |
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, stating the obvious is very high (126 feet) we were a little concerned for Charlie on the stern but he obviously he has a good head for heights and wasn't faded by sheer drop just inches away.
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| Pontcysyllte Aqueduct |
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| Pontcysyllte Aqueduct completed in 1805 and 126 feet above the river below |
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| Pontcysyllte Aqueduct |
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| Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Marks turn on the way back |
Winded (turned around) in the branch at Trevor and straight back over the aqueducts to negotiate our way back to Ellesmere, stopping at Tesco again for supply's we forgot the first time around.
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| Mr duck |
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| Police helicopter |
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| Some lovely cottages on route |
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| And some with potential. |
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| This looked great fun, cant remember where it was. |
We had good fun but will never do it again in the holiday season and probably go only as far as Ellesmere. The weather was great all ten days and we both got a good tan.
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