Gledrid

Today's Canal : Llangollen

Today was largely wet with very little mitigation - to be fair, we did see sunshine for two minutes  towards lunchtime but proper rain returned mid afternoon. However, the temperature was milder than the some recent days (apart from yesterday which turned remarkably hot)

This accidental selfie shows how Mike had to wear a hat to prevent his hearing aids from being harmed by the rain! They do not like getting wet. (DAMHIK)

We thought that the canal was somewhat quiet when we set off and only one boat passed us going in our direction. 

The wharf at Maestermyn is now home to Whittington Wharf hire boats - we have seen several in the past few days. This used to be home to Maestermyn Hire Boats which disappeared in seemingly mysterious circumstances around six years ago.

At the end of the wharf is a small collection of traction engines - two on a trailer presumably to be taken to some of the annual agricultural shows which delight in being reminded of how the industry first began to be mechanised and less dependent on horsepower.

This bridge once carried part of the Cambrian Railway (not to be confused with the Cambrian Line, a modern name for remaining services along the coast and inland to Shrewsbury) on its way from Whitchurch, through Ellesmere to the Welsh coast at Aberdovey. A very short section of the line remains in Oswestry as a Heritage Line (originally the head office for the Cambrian Railway company).

After cruising for about an hour we reached the two New Marton locks - and promptly joined a queue as third in line. By the time we were able to go through ourselves the line extended at least six back! This location is notorious for long waits and it certainly lived up to its reputation for us. As we waited there was a steady flow in each direction, one up, one down. However, by the time we left the top lock, no-one was waiting. Quite a few of the hire boaters were facing a lock for the first time and welcomed some comforting support!

We first saw this trunk two years ago when it had just been painted this way after the rest of the tree had fallen down. See here for our notes on how it is called Solidaritee. Hard to imagine what life must be like for Ukrainians after more than two years of unrelenting war.

The obligatory picture of Lion Quays - but with a different moord boat from previous times!

All morning, the Visitor Moorings were either empty or with a solitary boat. We planned to stop for lunch around Gledrid where there is another VM marked on our map. We were surprised to see a long line of moored boats, fender to fender, but when we spotted a gap we quickly measured it, finding it a feasible if snug fit.

Only later did we realise that we were about 300m away from the proper mooring but after some discussion we opted to stay put. A number of boats continued to pass as we had lunch and we were concerned that finding a mooring late afternoon might not be too easy. In any case, at the time we might have been crossing the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a very heavy downpour arrived. We experienced wind and rain crossing the aqueduct in 2017 so not keen to have to do it again.

5.5 Miles - 2 Locks