Llangollen trip day#6

Thursday 18th May 2023

Wildlife of the day – we each had good sightings of resplendent Kingfishers.

Garden pet of the day – a house with a Peacock on the fence and a Llama and an Emu (we think) in a pen. What else do they have? There’s posh!

Today was a much warmer day than we expected, definitely more spring like. Although our overnight mooring was very quiet, the sparrows in a tree opposite were up and at-it quite early, dominating the dawn chorus at stupid o’clock.

We set off at 9am, no sooner had G started untying than a Black Prince hire boat came past so we followed them to, and through, the first lock.Once through, G only had to turn one other lock as the rest were all in our favour with craft coming the other way.

 

 

At Boggs Lock, Brenda had to go into the boat for the loo so Graham worked it through on the centre rope. There were two vo-lockies working Gailey top lock so that was easy.

There were lots of school kids out in canoes at the Coven Outdoor Activity centre and so we slowed right down to pass once their instructors had got them under control. They all called out ”eye, eye Cap’n” to Graham in recognition of his googly eye hat.

 

We had to move over in the narrow cutting to allow a Northbound boat to pass us. The gent from the boat, complete with dog, was stood on the tow path and made no attempt to warn us that HIS boat was approaching from the other end, it was only when it came into sight that we knew it was there. Luckily we managed to pass without touching.

At Autherley junction, a boat was entering the lock as we approached so we pulled over and secured Jannock to the footpath gate railings. G checked and there was another boat waiting to come up from the Shroppie so he let them know we were waiting. Another smaller craft approached from Alderley junction direction and made as if they were going straight into the junction. G advised them that the queue started behind us and so they changed course, passed Jannock and then tried to wind but failed – too long. They seemed most put-out that they couldn’t just go into the lock. Last seen heading North away from the junction.

 

Once through the stop lock, we set off up the Shroppie, past Brewood, and arrived at Wheaton Aston lock (unfortunately after Turner’s had closed for diesel – luckily we would only be able to get about 50L in so it didn’t matter) and so continued on to bridge 24 – Little Onn – to moor for the night.

G&B