Whittington Wharf

Today's Canal - Llangollen

The first photo shows our overnight mooring, including the amount of extra fixing we added after initially coming adrift. By morning this had definitely kept us in place and showed no signs of setting us adrift once more.

Older maps show a bridge at this location but there is none today. However, a closer examination reveals the remains of a footbridge abutment hiding in the off side trees.

Just after we set off we passed under a bridge where the adjacent house has this odd collection stretching down to the water's edge.

Unusual garden decoration seems to be a feature of Chirk Bank! Here, on the edge of the village, is another. Let's hope the launderess gets some time off for good behaviour!

We stopped briefly at the tree we mentioned yesterday and took a look at the small print notice. It relates that last November and old oak was brought down in a gale and almost all of it had to be cut away. At the same time local people became aware that Ukraine, also old and with deep roots, was also being torn and shaken by a storm not of its making. So, they have named this Solidaritee and are leaving here so that people can add their own flowers, pictures, thoughts or whatever as they remember the suffering taking place in that country.

As we arrived at New Marton top lock we could see just two boats on the water points and one waiting on the lock landing. After a short wait the boat at the front moved up to the lock and we could come onto a water point. It had good pressure so that we were full well before we needed to move forward.

As we waited several more boats arrived and a queue soon built up. A young lass from the next boat came several times to ask if we needed help so when it was time to pass under the bridge onto the lock landing we asked her help with the lines and then she joined Christine working the gates and paddles for the next boat to come up.

She seemed very keen so we offered her the chance to take the boat into the lock and then out at the bottom. She was so keen and learning quickly that we checked with her parents and invited her stay with us down the second lock.

As a result, with Mike staying on the boat to give necessary tuition no photos were taken of these locks! We have a booking for Frankton Locks tomorrow morning and only had a short distance to go today. We stopped on the Visitor Mooring at Maestermyn Bridge where we found a good mobile signal yesterday. Even though it was a bit patchy we decided not to go any further and do the remaining mile and a quarter in the morning. the locks are open between 9  and 12.

We had a distinctly lazy afternoon going nowhere and doing little other than prepare tonight's meal and reading! Sadly the weather was overcast and quickly became rather cool towards the end of the afternoon.

5.7 Miles - 2 Locks