Voyages of Gabriel: Blake Mere to Ellesmere

Thu 1^st Jun Blake Mere

We moved the boat a few yards to get closer into the side. A fisherman had arrived and set up where we had hoped to have a barbecue. He was quite a character, and took great care setting up his rods, even taking a small rowing boat out to drop some bait. He had three rods, and he measured his lines by taking a few turns round two stakes he had banged into the ground by Spirit. When he had cast all three, he set up his bed, and a tent.

We still managed to have a barbecue, but a bit further along. Simon sat on one of our newer plastic chairs and it broke. That’s four gone since summer 2022.

Fisherman's boat on Blake Mere

Landing net indicates optimism

Barbecue time

No boating today

Fri 2^nd Jun Blake Mere

A day of rest, and another barbecue, when we chose a third location. A single gentleman called Chris, on Set II joined us later.

We managed to do a little boat cleaning, but we were still under trees.

Fishing position

King cups

Speckled Wood butterfly

Young oak leaves

Sunset

No boating today

Sat 3^rd Jun Blake Mere to Ellesmere

Our friendly fisherman had caught a carp and he showed it to us. He had also caught some bream, but he lets those go in the canal.

We left first, but we were fourth in a line of boats. The one in front was Capital, friends of ours from the folk session in Wing. We thought we would have to queue for the facilities, but the first two boats carried on towards Llangollen, Capital went down the Arm, and we had the facilities to ourselves.

We filled with water, disposed of rubbish, and emptied two cassettes, before reversing to the junction and heading down the Arm, past where Capital had moored. We turned at the end and moored on rings. Spirit followed, but didn’t turn. Chris and Sally on Kairos said they would stay another night at Blake Mere.

We walked back to the maintenance yard, where there was a free production called “Bridging the Gap” put on by Fizzgigs. It was all about Jessop and Telford and the building of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Lead musician and composer of the songs was our friend Mirjana. It was very entertaining, and good to see Mirjana again. We bought some sausage rolls from a stall there.

Steve and Fiona were around on Lutra Lutra, and there were lots of people walking past the boats. Kairos turned up, after changing their minds, and moored behind us.