Whitchurch

 Today's Canals - Prees Branch, Llangollen

Waking just a little earlier than planned gave one of us  a chance to see the unseasonal early mist. 

By the time we set off the mist had gone but we were still left with completely grey skies.

Just a few metres beyond the visitor mooring came the second of the lift bridges on the branch. This one took a few more turns than the other one yesterday. When we las came this way in 2017 the bridge was still in pieces, awaiting someone to work out how the lego should be done!

We continued to the end of the navigation - the final winding place is actually the opening into the marina. This has now become quite a busy hire base, mainly for Anglo Welsh, both their standard boats and their 'better' class. Overall it is looking well kept with some new facilities including three camping 'shepherd's huts'.

As we returned through the two lift bridges, some tiny patches of blue sky started to emerge. At first they looked as if they would be quite lonely but before long they were joined by some more.

At the junction we took a right towards Hurleston (good thing there are clear signposts - how else would we know where to go?!)

Soon after we had to raise Morris Bridge - over 80 turns this time. Just before this we had taken a look at a waste patch that seems to be part of the nature reserve. An information board about the restoration of the peat moss that we saw on our walk earlier in the trip mentioned that one of the tasks was the removal of old industrial works. At the time we could not see what was once here and since then the poor internet connections meant that each we thought about looking it up we couldn't! So, at lunch later we made a better attempt. Initially the old OS maps gave us no clue as area was still peat moss on the more frequent editions around 1935. After some lucky guesses for search phrases we eventually discovered that for 50 years here was a large car scrapyard. The business passed through three generations of the same family but it was under the third that it all came to an end with large quantities of scrap lying around. It is said that at least 50,000 tyres had to be removed as well as plenty of asbestos. 

The reclamation plan by Shropshire Wildlife Trust (see) is now largely complete and it is over to nature to do the rest. It will take some years but it will be interesting to see what re-colonises the area. Sorry no pictures but we did not think we would have anything to say at the time we passed by.

Across a field we could see two horses enjoying the shade under a large tree in their own fenced off space. We wondered whether they are able to make full use of the tree house someone has so kindly built for them!

The weather gradually warmed up and by midday it was positively hot. We stopped for a break at the first of two visitor moorings close to Duddleston Bridge. At the second we would have had company but here we were quietly left to ourselves. Even the steady flow of boats just about dried up as well.

On the way last week we noted the work being done at Hassell's No 2 Lift Bridge and today there was much more evidence of work in progress (or, perhaps, given the chaps' clobber, of work in progress being assessed!)

The piling is just about complete but some back filling is needed before it can be signed off as finished. It looks pretty neat - in some places it can look rather ragged although no doubt the ground conditions can help or hinder.

Luck was in at the No 1 Bridge as a boat was just arriving from the opposite direction and we allowed them to pass after us - after all, the same favour was given us at an earlier bridge.

At the next junction we turned down the short arm towards Whitchurch. Sadly the second half is no longer navigable (although there is talk of restoring most of it - some time!) There is quite a length of mooring here but as we slowly made our way along we were a little nervous. Some walkers told us that there was a long empty stretch but unfortunately they did not realise that this is No Mooring as it is opposite the winding hole.

Our luck held and the penultimate space was free. A family of ducklings did their best to get in our way but we eventually persuaded them that escape was better than crushing against a steel hull.

7.1 Miles - 0 Locks 'better