Up early and set off at
7.15am - we want to beat the crowds at the aqueduct! Through a lift
bridge and arrived at the aqueduct in just under an hour. We were the
only boat in sight, unfortunately there were two people walking across so I
didn't manage to get a photo without them in it! Initially we were a
little disappointed as when you looked down there was a football pitch with a
chair and a bag of rubbish which had been attacked by a fox or something and as
we didn't get the promised thunder storm last night it was a bit overcast so
visibility wasn't as good as it could have been.
Once we were past the half way point the aqueduct crosses the River Dee which was beautiful. Totally different to Chirk aqueduct as you are literally chugging across in an iron trough - Steve was hanging to the middle of the deck as he is not too good with heights! It is 126 ft high and 1007 ft long.
There were flowers tied to the railings in several places too and we had been told by various people on our way there that there was a fatality last weekend - an 18 year old. Initially it had been thought that he had jumped but they now say it was a daredevil stunt gone wrong. He was crossing the aqueduct by swinging from the railings with his hands when one of the railings gave way - tragic.
Once across we arrived at the junction where you can either turn around or take a left to Llangollen itself. We were then met by four boats coming the other way - they had all had the same idea about getting up early but it had taken them over two hours to get back to the aqueduct. We are going to carry on to the end of the navigation - this is as far west as we can get on the connected waterways system. It is only four miles to the end but as it is so twisty and very narrow in places (one way traffic only) you have to send one person ahead to check that it is clear. Our six mile journey took us four hours!
Really glad that we came to Llangollen though - so picturesque with the hills and countryside as a backdrop and a pretty little town. We moored in the basin at the end of the Llangollen - there is a charge of £6 per night but you get free electric and your own water tap! We had some lunch in the old Corn Mill on the edge of the River Dee then enjoyed the fabulous weather. We have decided to let the early rush go in the morning and make our way back towards the Montgomery Canal tomorrow.
Once we were past the half way point the aqueduct crosses the River Dee which was beautiful. Totally different to Chirk aqueduct as you are literally chugging across in an iron trough - Steve was hanging to the middle of the deck as he is not too good with heights! It is 126 ft high and 1007 ft long.
There were flowers tied to the railings in several places too and we had been told by various people on our way there that there was a fatality last weekend - an 18 year old. Initially it had been thought that he had jumped but they now say it was a daredevil stunt gone wrong. He was crossing the aqueduct by swinging from the railings with his hands when one of the railings gave way - tragic.
Once across we arrived at the junction where you can either turn around or take a left to Llangollen itself. We were then met by four boats coming the other way - they had all had the same idea about getting up early but it had taken them over two hours to get back to the aqueduct. We are going to carry on to the end of the navigation - this is as far west as we can get on the connected waterways system. It is only four miles to the end but as it is so twisty and very narrow in places (one way traffic only) you have to send one person ahead to check that it is clear. Our six mile journey took us four hours!
Really glad that we came to Llangollen though - so picturesque with the hills and countryside as a backdrop and a pretty little town. We moored in the basin at the end of the Llangollen - there is a charge of £6 per night but you get free electric and your own water tap! We had some lunch in the old Corn Mill on the edge of the River Dee then enjoyed the fabulous weather. We have decided to let the early rush go in the morning and make our way back towards the Montgomery Canal tomorrow.
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| Morning Auntie! |
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| That's it - the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. |
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| Floating workshop. |
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| Here we go... |
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| The football pitch. |
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| View to the right. |
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| Looking down - there's not a lot of room between the gunnels and the edge of the trough - 126 ft down! |
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| River Dee to the right. |
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| River Dee to the left. |
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| Looking back across. |
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| The first of four boats going the other way. |
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| Waiting to turn left. |
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| Rolling Countryside. |
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| Emerging from the first narrow stretch. |
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| In the basin |
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| Walking into town. |
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| The local taxidermist shop! |
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| Lunch by the River Dee |
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| How can you not enjoy that view? |
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