Welsh Frankton

Today's Canal : Llangollen

By the morning the rains had cleared and it was a bright and sunny day. We could now see our mooring spot in all its splendour.

At least one person was swimming in the mere.

We set off in good time, but not too early, trying to judge our arrival at Ellesmere in between departures from the moorings at the wharf and new arrivals. First, we had to pass through the short Ellesmere Tunnel. As with elsewhere, the entrance to the tunnel is at an angle and it is only possible to if the way is clear at the last moment,. with the bow almost inside the portal. Today we were lucky.

A little later we arrived at the junction where the Shropshire Canal's head office was based and the short arm to the town wharf begins.

Timing was great as there were at least five spare slots and we found one almost outside Tesco - good for carrying heavy shopping back to the boat later. before tying up we turned around in the main basin. It is possible to moor right top the end but the last two spaces are at risk of being hit by less experienced boaters, or those with 70 ft of steel to ram with. (Actually just before we left, an arriving boat spotted one of these spaces and was so determined to grab it before another waiting boat that they failed to watch their own and ran into us. No real harm done.

We locked up and waked the short distance into the town centre. Close to the wharf we spotted two former canal buildings, now converted into smart dwellings.

A deli and butchers have been favourites of ours on previous trips and so we headed in their direction (next door but one to each other) calling at the pharmacy on the way for Christine's prescription.

We bought a couple of loaves, some cakes and a pork pie at the deli and an assortment of sausages, mince, meat and two 'burger trifles'. These latter have a burger squashed in the middle, some sort of stuffing in the middle and bacon wrapped around the outside. Christine rang them later when she decided that she needed guidance on how to cook them tonight!

Back at the wharf we dropped the first instalment of shopping at the boat and proceeded into Tesco for what remained. Swell, almost all, as later we decided that we needed more eggs and Mike was despatched at the end of lunch to get some. Well, Christine was doing the putting away of lunch things . . .

At last we found an internet signal whilst on this mooring and so some time was spent uploading the blogs for the last few days blogs and answering emails.

We had to return down the arm to use the 'boater facilities' alongside the dry dock that was once part of a large canal maintenance depot.

J

ust beyond the yard on a sharp bend the work boats had been moored, using both sides. Now, work boats have a bit of a reputation for taking a rest in inconvenient spots, often alongside a sign that says two days only, but the Rothen boat was especially badly placed. It is even worse from the other direction as the end really does stick out and the bend means that oncoming boats cannot be seen until almost too late.

The rest of the afternoon was a slow meander without any stoppage for locks, lift bridges or shops.

This smart Canal Cottage looks as if it has been twice extended from when it was perhaps a lengthsman's home, along with his large family.

We passed Frankton Junction at the start of the Montgomery Canal, the first set of locks just in view. If we have time we may well go down on the way back, provided that we remember to book in time and whilst we have a phone signal!

We moored for the night in a quite spot about half a mile further on, at a good Visitor Mooring. The Shropshire Union Canal Society have done a great job in creating numerous moorings usually with rings and they also routinely cut the grass even when the rest the towpath is all but overgrown. After a slow start in the poor spring, greenery everywhere has grown enormously.

Miles - 0 Locks