Brickwalls

Today's Canal- Llangollen

The morning started rather grey with hardly any blue sky peeping through. Before leaving we had one or two maintenance jobs to look at - mostly successful, including freeing up one of the side doors whose hinges were almost too stiff to open.

Here, as we set off from our overnight mooring, everything looks much darker than for the past few days.

It is not long before we arrive at the first of today's locks - Quoisley.

Yesterday we mentioned the positioning of the lock ladders and here is a picture to show what we meant.

Willymoor Lock Tavern came next - a remote country pub that looks as if it expects to be busy in summer. Today it would not open for another hour after we passed by.

There is a sturdy footbridge from the customer car park to the pub.

Alas, there is no access to the bridge from the off side of the lock so boaters still have to walk the long way around when opening and closing the gates.

As we cruised towards Grindley Brook the sky in the distance on our left looked as if a local shower was in progress. 

Fortunately we also looked right and saw that the weather coming towards us would be much brighter.

Grindley Brook flight comprises three single locks followed by a three lock staircase. We were able to go straight up the first three but then we met the expected delay.

There were two boats already waiting so at least we would be able to join them in the next 'up' convoy. (The rule is Three Up and Three Down)

The sign indicating no lock keepers today looked as if it was out on display more than it is not. We hear that this is one site where it proves difficult to recruit volunteers.

Eventually it came our turn to empty the bottom lock and bring the boat in. For some reason it seems that the upper locks are not quite large (deep) enough so that it is necessary to run water down to allow many boats to get over the intermediate cills.

Above the lock we stopped at the elsan and rubbish point, followed by a short mover to the water points. As there seemed not to be too much demand, we, rather naughtily, stayed put after the tank was full in order to finish our lunch! Mike also had a phone call to make to another boater about his benefits.

Much later than usual we set off once more - look: by now there was a compete change in the weather and the afternoon was delightfully sunny - not very warm but just right for cruising.

At the junction with the arm into Whitchurch was met several delays with boats not really keen on taking turns in narrow stretches. The final straw was a hotel pair that held us up for some minutes.

The ABC hire base just after the junction was still busy sending new hirers our on t heir journeys although most had already left. We would encounter most of them sooner or later!

The bridge landing bollards are being replaced at this lift bridge. The sign amused has the instruction to wait here was in such small type that it would be far too late to stop here if you needed to read it!

This bridge was much harder work that others, taking 70 turns of the hydraulic drive compared with typically 30 elsewhere.

The next stretch was much more enclosed by trees - much of the canal looks out onto open farmland.

The fine weather lasted until it was time to look for a mooring.

One more bridge before the visitor mooring we were aiming at and this time our luck was in with a boat already coming though and they waited for us before lowering it again. Thanks!

8.8 Miles - 9 Locks