Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 19:37:19 +0100 From: Terry Waldron Reply-To: Canals To: Canals Subject: Trip Report - Llangollen - Part 3 [ The following text is in the "iso-8859-1" character set. ] [ Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set. ] [ Some characters may be displayed incorrectly. ] 22 March 2000 When we opened the curtains there was a frost on the ground, a mist over the water and the sun was shining strongly and there were reflections on the hedges in the water, two horses walked up to the non towpath side and we got a good photo with the reflections in the water. We set off into very bright, warm sun and were soon upon Frankton Junction. I walked down the locks and met a boat coming up, the paddles at both ends of the top lock were padlocked, the boat had booked a passage and would have to wait for the lockkeeper. We set off again and we spotted what appeared to be a buzzard on a nearby treetop, he flew across the top of us and landed on another tree, a beautiful looking bird. We stopped at Hindford hoping to get a pint at Jack Mytons but as it was only 1100 it was closed, opens at 1200. Going through marton locks we were told the weather was set to break and to make the most of todays wonderful sunshine. We carry on to Chirk and moor initially before the aqueduct, I walk over the aqueduct to check for moorings at the tunnel mouth, there are no boats moored so I get Sue to bring Stella up and moor on the two bollards. We walk up the hill into town, fairly small but has sufficient essential shops for what we need. I decide to walk through the tunnel to find the Glyn Valley Tramway. Almost opposite the winding hole is a brick and stone wall with a mound of earth, I presume this must have been the entrance to the canal basin. From there I go into the woods and can see what appears to be the track bed which I follow until I get to an industrial site, round the outside and onto the road above the station. There is a path beside the bridge that allows me to get back onto the track bed and I am now above the canal tunnel, the track bed can be walked for about 100 yards before you come to a barbed wire fence, I turn back and walk the road over the tunnel and fin the tramway again just over the other canal tunnel portal and it goes down the hill beside the road. I get back to the boat and Sue has dinner ready. 23 March 2000 When we get up it is raining quite hard, we hope it will pass over before we start off but no such luck, on with the wet weather gear and set off into the tunnel, soon we are through the woods and passing the golf course, it is still raining but it is light and there is little wind. By the time we get to Pontycyllte aqueduct the rain has stopped but the valley is very misty, Sue takes the boat over and I walk taking photographs, Sue is terrified of heights and is holding onto the cabin and looking straight forwards, she is afraid to look down into the valley. We moor at Anglo Welsh to check out their facilities. On again and we meet up with a family in their kayaks, we stop to have some lunch. On again and moor at Llangollen, because it is raining again Sue does not fancy a walk so I go for a look at the railway, they are doing driver training and Foxcote Manor is running light on the line, when I get back to the canal Sue is making her way to wind. We go back down the canal and moor at Sun Trevor. 24 March 2000 We get up early and clean up the boat ready to hand over to the next owners, we set off and reach Trevor where Danny and Monique are waiting, we moor, diesel up, pump out, take water and gas and load Danny and Monique's belongings onboard. Danny drives me back to Bartington Wharf to drop his car and to pick up mine, I drive back to trevor and load all our belongings into the car so that Danny and Monique can set off for Llangollen. We ring up our friends on nb Midama to find where they will be tonight and to see if we can visit for the weekend, they plan to be at Withnell Fold on the Leeds and Liverpool so we drive north to find them. ---