Friday 24 June 2016

It started off nice and sunny but we soon had the promised showers – and they were just that, as fast as we got our waterproofs on it was time to take them off again!  We had 13 locks, three lift bridges and 12 miles to do today to get off the Llangollen.  We chugged for 7 hours and decided to stop just past the entrance to the Middlewich Branch. 

We did the Middlewich Branch before we went onto the Llangollen because I thought we wouldn’t have the opportunity to do it again but having now done the research we will be coming back down and making our way across to the Trent and Mersey to get up to Liverpool.  I had thought that we may do the Manchester Ship Canal to get to Liverpool but, as there are so many requirements/restrictions including needing an annual Certificate of Seaworthiness, sharing the waterway with hazardous, petro-chemical traffic and there are charges for using the locks and payments to be made to the Port and local council totalling over £200 and our insurers would probably require us to take a pilot which would be another £200, I think we will give it a miss!

The first thing that struck us about being back on the Shropshire Union Canal was how much wider it is than the Llangollen.  There are also many more canal side properties giving us something to have a nose at!

Making our way back through Povey's Lock.

Negotiating the low bridges and blind bends.

Most boats have bicycles and wood on the roof - this boat has.......cuddly toys.

Waiting for the water tank to fill at the top of the flight leading down to the end of the Llangollen.

In the top lock.

Taking in the views.

In the bottom lock.

And off to Chester we go!

Leaving the Llangollen.

Swans - just realised that we didn't see any at all on the Llangollen.

Past the Middlewich Branch - I wonder how long it will be before we are going back along there!