Shiralee Cruise 2011 #6

Sunday 15th May and we moored up somewhere n the wilds of woolly Shropshire, at least, I think we’re still in Shropshire.
This morning I just about managed to connect to the Internet, but with only 2 of 5 bars up, which is a pretty weak signal.

I had a total of 23 emails to download and managed to collect about 15 of them, when that pesky error message came up telling me nothing more could be downloaded. But I tried again and this time got them all, including the one from Mr Oxley.

For some reason though, best known to the innards of this laptop, it wouldn’t open the picture. This is probably some security thingy going on to protect my computer, which is rather annoying because, if I didn’t want the blessed thing then I wouldn’t try to open it, now would I?

So, something else for me to get my head around.

At the start of our short trip yesterday we needed to stop off for water and get rid of some rubbish. Opposite the entrance to the Ellesmere arm is a BW Section set aside for just that purpose, but there were already three boats there and so, in the already strong wind we had to moor up opposite for a while. Then just as we were about to move in after a boat had pulled out, another boat pulled in. This situation, as you all know, happens all too often in car parks.

Eventually another boat moved on and we moved in to do the necessary and, would you believe it, the boater who had pulled in ahead of us, had the temerity to ask if we’d been waiting long. He thought we were simply moored there! Grrrrr!!!

Anyway, being already in a foul mood that morning and being stuck in this interminable high wind, I decided on just a short trip, which is why we are now miles from nowhere.

At the moment, 06.40, there is just a slight breeze and a clear sky, so we just might make it to our designated mooring spot for the pub. However, if my dicky tummy doesn’t settle down by then, that won’t happen either. Happy days!

Monday 16th May.

Yesterday we made our way to Whittington and The Narrow Boat pub, a pub we had not visited on our last run through the Llangollen. Although still windy, the trip proved quite easy and very scenic. It still amazes me just how much open countryside exists in this area, it really is one of the most relaxing cruises in the country.

We arrived here at about 09.30 and settled down with a cuppa before heeding Rusty’s groans about, ‘we’re here now, why haven’t I been taken out to investigate the place?’. She’s the same every time we move to a new spot, whine, whine, whine, until she gets her way. Typical woman!!

The Narrow Boat, a very well appointed watering hole that we intend eating at on our return. Our visit at Sunday lunchtime saw all tables set for lunch, so it really must be a very popular pub/restaurant, because there are very few houses anywhere near the pub and people have to drive to it. Also, many of the table had been reserved, which tells me that they attract a good crowd of regular eaters, at least on Sundays.

I did ask about midweek bookings and was told we should have no problem finding a table, either lunchtime or evening, so this is a must on our return visit. The prices look very reasonable too, with a Sunday roast at just £5.50, a real bargain. My pint of Guinness though, at £3.20, I thought a wee bit high but, for such a clean and bright establishment, is nothing to be too concerned about. One of the better canal side pubs we’ve visited.

Today we’re heading for Chirk and will moor up a little way before the tunnel and aqueduct, from which point we’ll walk into town for some odd and ends of shopping, and we’ll tackle the two obstacles on Tuesday. We’re expecting rain this morning, so we don’t expect a very pleasant trip but, since we don’t really want to stay here at Whittington, it must be done.

1500, same day.

Arrived Chirk Bank at 10.15 and put the kettle on. After a well earned cuppa and dog has been taken out, we decided to take a walk into Chirk for some shopping. Now, this quaint little town is, supposedly, only ½ a mile away. What my dear wife neglected to mention, although she was adamant she didn’t know, was that it was all uphill and not just an English hill, this is a really good stretch of the legs, Welsh hill. By the time we reached the top I had worked up a bit of a sweat and, once the shopping was done, we sat at the bus stop and enjoyed an ice cream each. We then trudged down that hill, which was a far easier proposition.

Day Boats are the bane of ordinary boaters, whether they be holiday makers or, like ourselves, live-aboards. For some inexplicable reason, probably because day boats are quite small, the hirers of these damned nuisance machines think the rules don’t apply to them. Now, it is virtually impossible to drive these things at more than about six MPH but, when one of those things come past at top speed, the bow wave has to be seen to be believed.

The one that raced past us at Chirk Bank; which we are almost certain came from the boatyard at Maestermyn, very nearly caused a serious incident with an oncoming holiday boat. Despite my yelling at the moron driving, to slow down, he, in his arrogance, increased throttle. Had it not been for the ability of the other boater heading towards him, the result could have been disastrous. Yes, even at six MPH. It really doesn’t take much of a knock to throw people into the canal, only to be struck by one or other of the boats involved.

Why, oh why, don’t the owners of these boats put a speed limiter on them? Four MPH is the maximum speed allowed on canals, so it should be a simple matter to limit them to just that. Better yet, subject would-be hirers to a dose of what it feels like to be rammed by one of these things.

Tomorrow, through Chirk Tunnel and over the aqueduct, or is that the other way about?

Wednesday 18th May and so far we have been very fortunate in our travels along this canal, very little rain whilst on the move. Yesterday we made an early start and were on the move by 07.45. Along the way we passed another boat and I passed comment to the man at the tiller, ‘Early Start?’, to which he replied, ‘We started out at 5 o/clock’. What!! Are they mad? Blimey, we like a reasonably early start, if only to limit the amount of mini-disasters we’re likely to encounter from holiday boaters. But, 5 o/clock, I’m only just getting out of bed then, and besides, I’d never get Wifey up before 07.00.

Anyway, we had Chirk Aqueduct to pass over and the tunnel at 459 yards, followed by the Whitehouse Tunnel at just 191 yards, so no real obstacles there. As I’ve mentioned before, with this canal being fed by the River Dee at Llangollen, there is something of a current against us. Ordinarily this is not a problem but, when it comes to bridges and tunnels, it becomes more pronounced. Going through bridges the water pressure against the boat increases somewhat; a bit like squeezing a hose pipe; but all that requires is a bit more throttle. Going through tunnels and over aqueducts means travelling crab-wise, it doesn’t seem to matter how much extra throttle is applied, it’s impossible to keep a straight course. Fortunately the rubbing strake along the side of the boat prevents any damage to paintwork.

We arrived at the other end of Whitehouse tunnel and pulled in to moor up at about 09.45. Rusty was feeling under the weather again, which is rather worrying, but there is little we can do for her because, apparently, this is a quite common problem in older dogs. She’s about 13 years old now, so I guess we’ll have to consider being a bit more choosy with her diet.

Whilst walking with her later in the day, I happened to meet up with the owner of the boat moored in front of us, who was walking with his two lurchers. I asked him if he perhaps knew what Rusty’s problem might be, and he virtually repeated what the vet in Quorn said some time ago, it’s just an age thing.

He also told me about a dog he once owned that had the same problem. This do was about the same age as Rusty is now and had the same problem. On one occasion when the dog was quite bad and making a bit of a mess about the place, he went off to work and left the back door open so that the dog could go outside when it wished. When he returned later in the day the dog was gone, never to be seen again. He believes it simply made it’s way out of the garden and found somewhere to curl up and die.

Now there’s a nice morbid story to start a day with!!.

This morning we plan on leaving a little later than usual, so as to allow some of the moorers at Trefor to leave us a space. Trefor has a boatyard and holiday boats, most of which should be out right now, at least judging by the amount of the we’ve passed lately. With a little luck they won’t be juggling boats about when we get there and we’ll have an easy passage into the moorings.

Thursday 19th May.

Now, before I tell you our plans for today, let me tell you about our fun-day yesterday.

The trip to Trefor Basin only took about an hour and a half and only consisted of one lift bridge and the Pontcysllte Aqueduct. Coming off the aqueduct the basin is directly ahead, with the route to Llangollen to the left. If you can imaging a shape like a catapult, the handle will represent the entrance, with the Anglo-Welsh boat hire company on the left. Straight ahead you will find the two arms of the catapult, the left arm having another boat company that does trips across the aqueduct for disabled folks. The right hand arm has just enough room for four boats to moor up and we were fortunate enough to be the fourth. The junction of the three arm is a winding-hole, or turning point.

Some time after arriving and taking pooch for a walk, we set out to find the local shop to buy a paper and, on our return, had another cuppa and read the paper. Sheila then decided to take a walk with her camera, leaving me, as usual, to fend for myself and the dog. So, out came the guitar and Rusty and me settled down for a sing-song – Paul Mc Cartney and Bob Dylan in this instance.

Now, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is 1007 feet long, five and a half feet deep and sits on 18 piers of 126 feet in height. By my calculations those piers are almost 60 feet apart, with the River Dee spanned by two of them. Therefore, within the space of 500 feet, the pathway down to the river represents a 1 in 4 hill, or 25% incline, which is what Sheila did in order to take her photographs. I am itching to see what they look like when downloaded to the laptop.

Later on we sat and watched a holiday boat turning in the winding hole. Newbies to boating find this operation somewhat daunting but, having carried it out on many occasions and it now holds no terrors for me. The lady on the boat had stayed on the towpath in order to help hubby turn the boat, with the occasional push to the bow. One push too many and she treated us all to an impromptu swimming gala. Having toppled into the canal, the only object that she could hold on to was the bow of the boat, which she did for dear life. The figurehead on a boat should face forward and look rather proud. This lady faced backward and looked anything but.

After addressing the problem with some deep thought – hubby needed to maintain control of the boat and, at the same time, rescue said lady – hubby grabbed the life ring and draped it over wifey’s shoulders. She then sort of doggy-paddled to the shore, where two pairs of willing hands – mine included - lifted her out of the water.

Most canals are no more than about 3 feet deep, which is why I asked this lady if she could stand up. “I don’t know”, came the reply and she plainly had no intention of finding out. This was just as well if the basin is as deep as the aqueduct because, at a mere 5 feet tall, she would have given us all an even bigger chuckle. Sadly I was more interested in helping the lady to think about grabbing the camera.

Later in the afternoon and just to say I had done so, we took a walk across the aqueduct. The walkway is just about wide enough for two people to pass, if one of them presses hard against the safety rail, with the one nearest the water being quite likely to take the plunge if they are not careful. The walk is well worth it because the views are quite spectacular.

On the way back to the boat I suggested we might drop in to the Telford Arm, which sits just across the bridge. This rounded the day off quite nicely although, having studied the menu and noted the prices, we decided against blowing over £16 on two meals, settling instead for a packet of crisps each and a bacon butty when we got back to Shiralee.

Tucked away in this tiny corner of Wales, I’m surprised to find I have all five bars up on the dongle, and so, with eight pages written, I will now post this blog.

Cheers me dears from Dave, Sheila and Rusty.