Trevor to Tetchill via Chirk and Trevor again

Sat 21st Jul  Trevor to Chirk Bank

It was slightly overcast today as Peter and Lin reversed out. They were going back to Ellesmere in one go.

Gospel Belle alongside

Farewell to Peter

We left about 30 minutes later, and found the Anglo Welsh hire boats were almost filling the basin, and they were loosely moored, so that they moved out and banged into us as we tried to get past. To complicate things, there were people with canoes trying to get organised, and day boats making ready to depart.

How did we fit through there?

The narrow way to Llangollen

We set out across the aqueduct once more, and saw the field where the music and fireworks event took place last night. There was a team of litter pickers cleaning up. There were three day hire boats following us across. The first had lads wearing pirate hats.

Onto the aqueduct once more

Aqueduct video

Clearing up the field

Pirate hats on a day boat

We stopped for water at Froncysyllte, and all three day boats went past. The water point had very good pressure. We had placed our old printer, which had no ink cartridges left in it, on top of our roof, as we had not found anywhere to leave it as yet.  We noticed that it had leaked ink in yesterday’s rain, and had made a mess of the roof and side of the boat.  Fortunately it came clean fairly easily. We do need to dump the thing.

The water point.

Ink stains from the printer

We left the aqueduct area, passing the old lime kilns on the right, and the railway viaduct marching over the valley to the left. We went straight into Whitehouse Tunnel, and also Chirk Tunnel and Aqueduct.

Lime Kilns

Railway viaduct

Leaving Whitehouse Tunnel

Chirk Tunnel

On to Chirk Aqueduct

Chirk Aqueduct video

Passport Control

We moored on rings at Chirk Bank as we had planned. Later a couple from Seattle enquired about Canal Ministries, and they stopped to pray with us for the mission.

Moored at Chirk Bank

0 locks, 4 miles, 1 lift bridge, 2 tunnels, 2 aqueducts.

Sun 22nd Jul  Chirk Bank

We walked up by the tunnel to St Mary’s church in Chirk for their 1100 service. It was more formal than we are used to, with a set order of service and traditional hymns with a small choir. The talk was about Mary Magdalene.  There was coffee in the hall afterwards, and interest in Canal Ministries and the mission.

Up the hill to the church

St Mary’s Church, Chirk

Before the service

We had lunch at Castle Bistro, which was very good. Sadly for us the butcher, fruit and veg shop, and the bakers were all closed on Sunday, but we bought a few items at the Spar.

Our lunch venue

Train on the viaduct

We wandered back to the boat across the aqueduct. Later we met Sue Barnett, a BCF member. She volunteered to put up one of our fliers in her window which is very visible at it used to be the post office.

Chirk Bank

No boating today

Mon 23rd Jul  Chirk Bank to Gledrid then to Trevor and back to Gledrid

We moved off from Chirk Bank, hoping to find a mooring by the Poachers, 20 minutes away. There was a space, so we went past, turned in the winding hole, and moored up. We saw that our roof was covered with sap from the trees at Chirk Bank, and when we moved the rope, there was a mark like a snake or a slug trail where it had been.  We set to work to clean the roof as best we could using canal water.

Sticky roof

Gledrid

Andy and Vicki arrived from Anglesey, and we set off back through Chirk Bank and over the aqueduct.

Andy and Vicki

We had no wait for the aqueduct or tunnel.  We saw Brian and Jackie Glover, from Byfleet Boat Club, walking along the towpath to visit Chirk Castle. They have a Sea Otter called Whisper, moored in Pyrford Marina.

We also saw Tim on Sola Gratia, although he didn’t see us. He was in the marina sorting out some welding on his boat. 

Whitehouse Tunnel was clear for us, but soon afterwards we encountered some canoes on the canal, and they didn’t seem to apply any normal rules on navigation, zig zagging around and going slowly.  It transpired that they didn’t know we were there as they were apparently shocked when they saw us just behind them.

We needed to open the lift bridge at Froncysyllte, which needs a windlass. 

Under the lift bridge

On the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct we had to wait for another canoe heading towards us, followed by a trip boat, before we could go across.

We moored opposite Anglo Welsh and went for a meal in the Chapel Tea Rooms, followed by a look around the visitor centre and ice creams from Anglo Welsh.

We needed to empty two cassettes and although it was good to have a facility, the design was bizarre.  There was a seatless toilet, and a hose alongside.  There was no proper tap on the hose, just one of the heavy buttons to press, which delivers a measured amount of water. The amount of water, instead of about two cups full, was several litres, and almost filled the cassette. There was no drain in the floor, so any water spillages could not run away. The floor was therefore awash with water.  This was a council facility, and it would appear that no boater was consulted.

The Elsan point with no drain

We turned round in Trevor Basin, where we had encounters with canoes again and had to make way for a trip boat coming out of Jones the Boat.

Turning round

Chaos in Trevor again

Mandarin ducks keeping out of trouble

We didn’t need to wait for the aqueduct, so we set off once more. This was our twelfth crossing.

Once more across the heavens

A long way down to the River Dee

Andy and Vicki relaxing in the bows

The aqueduct from a distance

We had an incident with a hire boat which was on the wrong side on a blind bend. We were grateful for our Axiom propeller which helped us avoid a head-on.

We had a long wait for Whitehouse tunnel – 7 boats were coming the other way. While we were waiting, Hugo decided to go for a walk into the bushes.  James had to go around the other side and shake a bag at him to get him back on the boat.

Waiting for Whitehouse Tunnel

The tunnel towpath.

We saw Brian and Jackie again, on their way back from Chirk Castle. We were able to go straight into Chirk Tunnel, but as we emerged, a hire boat set off too soon, into the space we needed in order to turn towards the aqueduct.

Chirk Tunnel

As we passed a boat called Annie the lady asked for information about the mission, so we gave her two of the coasters with all the details.

We passed Sola Gratia at Chirk Bank but no-one was around. Later we discovered that Tim and Tracey had also gone to Chirk Castle.

Moorings were full at the Poachers, but we found a spot just round the corner. There was also a place under a tree where we could sit for wine and nibbles. Vicki called it the Arbour near the Harbour.

Moored at Gledrid

Brian and Jackie went past on Whisper

We went for a meal at the Poachers, where we had erratic service. We think it was the honeypot location syndrome. Andy and Vicki set off in their car back to Anglesey.

It was a clear warm night, except for some unusual clouds.  We slept with the side doors open.

Clouds

0 locks, 10 miles, 2 lift bridges, 4 tunnels, 4 aqueducts.

Tue 24th Jul  Gledrid to Tetchill

Morning at Gledrid

It was warm but cloudy this morning, as we set off early to avoid queues at New Marton Locks.

We met a chap on an Anglo Welsh hire boat, and he was asking about Canal Ministries – he goes to a church in Lancaster.

The water tap above the locks had really good pressure, so it didn’t take very long to fill the tank, and then we went through the two locks.

New Marton Top Lock

A long weir at New Marton Locks

A few minutes later we saw a lot of water on the floor near the dinette. For a while we thought it was coming from a radiator but then we saw drops on the outside of the side doors.  There must have been a jet of water coming out from the lock side, and it came through the gap between the side doors.

We needed some gas, so we phoned Whittington Wharf, but they don’t stock 6kg propane. We also left a message with Blackwater Meadow Marina but we had no call back from them. We never had a call back before about moorings there.

Frankton Junction

We moored at Tetchill, and were pleased to see Mirjana taking Biggles for a walk along the towpath. She said she may come back later.

The Tim and Tracey with Oakley arrived on Sola Gratia and they joined us. A hire boat going past said they had a problem with the rudder, and Tim helped them clear a fender from their propeller.

Another hire boat arrived from Ellesmere, with David and Carole Brennand on board. It was good to see them.

There were a lot of hire boats going past, and one went really fast, causing the man on the boat in the distance to shout at them to slow down. They were making a big wave.

We all agreed to have our meals and then assemble on the hire boat. As we did so, Roger and Mirjana joined us, so we had eight people and two dogs. Hugo made himself scarce. We had nibbles and wine, and we tried some Campari. Several people independently thought it tasted like cough medicine! David and Carole seemed to like it.

Sunset at Tetchill

2 locks, 8 miles

Next: a day of rest before going to Ellesmere for the mission.  Blogs may be infrequent as we will have so many other things happening, e.g. preparing songs, talking to people, and taking part in events.

Ellesmere to Trevor

Mon 16th Jul  Ellesmere to Jack Mytton

Cloudy for a change

Gospel Belle arrived and moored further down the arm. They were due to meet Paul and Sue Standley later.  Elisha left, heading for the Montgomery Canal.

After some last minute Tesco shopping we set off by reversing the three boat lengths to the junction, and then moving on to the sanitary station where we did all the necessary customary activities.

Leaving the facilities area

Beautiful wild flowers

Something’s afoot. Oh no, it’s a meter.

We then departed in the direction of Llangollen. When we reached Frankton Junction, we saw Elisha still waiting to go down the locks. We don’t think they saw us although we waved and tooted.

From here the numbering changes on the bridges, and they start at 1W.  The canal seems shallower than usual, and we have been stirring up gravel just before many of the bridges, where the oncoming flow of water has dropped its cargo of silt and stones.

Bridge 1W

We passed what used to be called Maestermyn Marine, where Harrison Ford hired a boat in 2004. It has changed hands, and is now called Whittington Wharf, not to be confused with the place of the same name on the Coventry Canal.  Canal Ministries has hired a day boat from here for the mission open day.  They don’t seem very keen on visiting boats

Whittington Wharf

Visiting boats unwelcome

Turnover bridge

The fields are white for harvest

We stopped a little after the Jack Mytton pub, which sadly has closed down. There was only one other boat along this length. Last time the boats were nose to tail because of the pub.

Jack Mytton closed down

For some reason Hugo decided to lie on the gunwale.  He looked a bit precarious.

Precarious cat

Later we had a brief but heavy thunderstorm. RAIN!!  We hadn’t seen any for weeks.

0 locks, 6 miles

Tue 17th Jul  Jack Mytton to Chirk Bank

One boat went past in our direction, and then two boats came the other way before we set off.

As we arrived at New Marton Locks, a helpful guy from the USA opened the lock for us. He was waiting to come down.

James saw a kingfisher near the second of the two locks.  These are the last locks on the canal, so we were now on the same level as Llangollen.  There were two boats on the water point above the lock.

New Marton top lock

There were interesting wharf buildings at St Martin’s Moor, apparently turned into a tea room.  Opposite were some Christian messages in a field.

Attractive wharf buildings

Evangelistic notice

We passed the Poachers Inn, which could make a good turn around point for our day out with Andy and Vicki on Thursday. There is winding hole nearby.

Strong flows at the bridges

We moored at Chirk Bank, opposite the garden where Hugo had unintentionally spent most of the day four years ago. See here for the story. 

We saw Graham and Joan go past on St Christopher, heading back to Overwater Marina.

Graham and Joan on St Christopher

We went to look at the aqueduct, and consider mooring possibilities for Thursday. There are some bollards which might be available, but our opinion is that they should be reserved for boats waiting for the tunnel or for the aqueduct.

Chirk Aqueduct

We walked up the path by the tunnel and visited the shops in Chirk. There is a good butcher, a baker, an excellent fruit and veg shop, and a Spar. We paused for a drink in a nice community cafe on the way back to the boat.

2 locks, 4 miles

Wed 18th Jul  Chirk Bank to Trevor

It was very quiet today as we set off. We went straight onto Chirk Aqueduct, which has a stone railway viaduct alongside. It crosses the River Ceiriog.

Cottages at Chirk Bank

Railway viaduct arches

At the end of the aqueduct is a small holding basin before Chirk Tunnel, which does not line up with the aqueduct. To see if there is anything coming through the tunnel, you have to steer across to the right.  Here a fisherman had decided to set up his rods, so he had to gather them in quickly. We expect he had a busy day with lots of boats later on. There was nothing coming through the tunnel, so we went straight in. 

Into the tunnel

There is a towpath in the tunnel, overhanging the water, and the boat wants to go in the centre of the channel, so the person at the helm needs to keep the tiller over to the right to compensate. It was very tiring and progress was slow, as the boat kept crabbing, with the flow against us.  We got through eventually, but a mile later there was Whitehouse Tunnel, with the same effect. Thankfully this one was a lot shorter.

Out of the tunnel

Whitehouse Tunnel

Soon after this, the canal makes a sharp turn to the left. The railway by now is on the right, as it crosses the canal above the Chirk Tunnel. When then canal goes to the left, the railway carries on over a large viaduct across the Dee valley. The canal meanwhile, maintains a course along a contour on the side of the valley for another mile to Froncysyllte, where there is a lift bridge. A windlass is needed here.

The first glimpse of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Froncysyllte Lift Bridge

After the lift bridge there is a winding hole, and the canal goes to the right, heading due north past some moored boats and a water point, before the spectacular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. We had to wait for two boats to come off the aqueduct before we could go across.  Once again the boat crabs its way across against the current, and people are walking right next to the boat. On the left is a sheer drop 126ft to the River Dee below, and the views are excellent. We have been across this several times now, but it is still exciting.

Onto the aqueduct

Above the River Dee

The river

We went straight on at the junction, and through the Anglo-Welsh boatyard, and under the bridge at the end, where the canal splits into two. On the left is the base of Jones the Boat, and on the right is mooring space for four boats. Three were there already, leaving the final space for us. We turned and reversed in and moored up.

Trevor

Moored in the Trevor Branch

The Trevor Branch

Later on a hire boat came past us and had to go suddenly into reverse gear as they discovered that the canal didn’t go anywhere.

“It’s a dead end” said Hazel.   “Is this Llangollen?” they said.

Hire boat looking for Llangollen

Backing out again

0 locks, 4 miles, 1 lift bridge, 2 tunnels, 2 aqueducts.

Thu 19th Jul  Trevor

We had an early communication from Vicki to say that Andrew had been unwell in the night, and they would have to cancel our planned trip from Trevor to Chirk and back.  We decided to stay where we were for the day and catch up with a few things.  We practised some more songs, and made a provisional set list for our pub gig on 31^st July.

We had lunch at the Telford Inn – real homemade steak pies which were lovely. We noticed railway lines on the wharf, perhaps for a wharf crane.

Railway lines

Peter and Lin on Gospel Belle contacted us to say they were on their way. We went to meet them, and saw a notice about a firework display tomorrow evening, when we had planned to be in Llangollen.

Fireworks notice

Walking in the sky.

James met them just before the aqueduct and came across with them.  He walked part of the way, but as they reached the end of the aqueduct, James stepped onto their gunwale for the journey through the Anglo-Welsh boatyard. An onlooker decided to do the same! He got off again after a quick photo. 

Gospel Belle arriving

Peter and Lin

Arriving in Trevor

Anglo-Welsh from the footbridge

Gospel Belle tied alongside us as there was nowhere else to moor.  Later they decided to go to the Telford Inn for a steak pie!  We decided to join them for a drink and a pudding. We didn’t think we could manage another pie.

Gospel Bell moored alongside Gabriel

We had drinks on the grassy bank later, and Hugo joined us. It was a warm evening.

No boating today

Fri 20th Jul  Trevor (and Llangollen)

We had discovered that Chris and Sally on Kairos were moored with Tim and Tracey on Sola Gratia in Llangollen. They must have passed us yesterday.  We had thought that we were further up the canal than the rest of the team. We had literature that needed to be at the Cellar Church on Sunday, and so did Peter and Lin, so we waited for Chris and Sally to come past again on their way back down, and we handed over what was necessary.  Tim and Tracey stayed up in Llangollen to have train rides and horse-drawn boat trips.

Kairos arriving

We had decided to go to Llangollen by road instead of by boat as the water depth was low. We took a taxi with Peter and Lin - £8.50. That was cheaper than the four of us going by bus, as our English bus passes aren’t accepted in Wales.  We had different things to do in Llangollen, so we separated, and agreed to meet up at 4pm.

We wandered contentedly round the shops and lost count of the number of tea shops, cafes and coffee shops there were. We walked along the river bank and saw some more mandarin ducks.  As we paused at a kiosk for hot drinks, a flock of long tailed tits flew from one tree to another, and we counted 48.

Llangollen river view

Castel Dinas Bran

While we were buying a few items in B&M and Aldi, the phone rang. It was Peter, saying they had done all they needed to do, and had found a bus back to Trevor, so we agreed to make our own way back.

We wandered back into the town, checked out the bus times, and went for a meal at the Corn Mill. It was very good – we had a vegetarian massaman curry.

While waiting for a number 5 bus, a T2 arrived, and the driver said he was going to Trevor, so we climbed on board. £4.60 for the two of us.

Soon after we were back on the boat we had some heavy rain. An event called “Underneath the Arches” was taking place on a football field below the aqueduct. There were live bands, food stalls and a firework display, but we would have had to walk down, and walk back up again at the end, so we decided to give it a miss. Besides which, it was raining.  The rain stopped later, and James walked up the towpath in the direction of Llangollen to try to get a decent view. There were too many trees to see the aqueduct, but he did see the fireworks above the trees.

He also found three toads along the path in the puddles.

Toad where they once towed

No boating today

Next: back to Chirk Bank tomorrow, Relaxing Sunday, then an aqueduct trip with Andy and Vicki to Trevor and back to Gledrid.