A close shave and Elon Musk

What I forgot to tell last night that it was so warm, that after lights out in bed I asked David to take the bungs out to help with air flow, he aimed it at the floor but there was a tinkling sound as something hit the floor, "I've no idea what that was" he said before dropping off.

This morning, despite him getting up early, something made me look down and there was my engagement ring by the radiator, half an inch from the hole for the pipes.  So close to losing it forever.

So this morning we were going to go the whole way to Llangollen, despite bloody foot and see how we go.

Leaving the gorgeous tended mooring.

The hire boat operative held his nerve here and no bumps either side.

 Well it was a very scenic cruise literally with the Welsh hills coming into view in the distance.

CART's wild flowers are going great guns.

Have you ever seen so many ducks sitting in a row, I couldn't capture them all in one shot.

The forecast was heavy rain later in the afternoon so with one eye on the satellite and the other looking for a mooring as far on as possible we carried on until the sky darkened, what about here? says I looking at a straight section with armco and even space for the solar if ever the sun should come out.... No I want to go a bit further says he.  David is the sort of man who likes a gamble, especially on a homeward journey and the petrol light is on red.  

I think I just felt rain says I....

Oh bloody hell alright then, here.  Exactly where I had suggested before.

This was happening, then thunder

Well the tow path was a slope down to the water, so much so to attach the nappy pin or mooring hook if you prefer David had to lie flat with me holding the belt in his trousers to moor us up.  That was a first! But it did the job, tonneau cover on the back and minutes later prolonged heavy rain which we all desperately need.

Later lightening and masses of thunder.

Supper was simple, breaded  fish and peas.

This morning, we were late up, 05:30, leaving at 05:50, similar operation to remove the nappy pin and we were away.  Creeping past other moored boats as quietly as we could.  One boat without any sign of life that morning was NB Naughty Lass, Robbie Cummin's boat 'im off the telly.  

Almost night time but we were away.

Fab house, prettiest of the day.

NB Naughty Lass, no sign of life but there again, I'd still be in bed....

First view of the Chirk viaduct.

I was playing around with the shadows here, but the valley id lovely.

This was a first too.

David's shadow.

Chirk aqueduct was a bit of a doddle, its built up both sides with a pavement one side and a wide wall the other. 

The horror came next.  

This is our third trip to Llangollen so at least 6th time over this, does it get easier.....?

Absolutely not.  Completely worse.

A hire boat in front of us was finishing at Trevor.

Pontcysllte Aqueduct.  Pavement one side.

Absolutely nothing the other.  I felt as if we were being sucked onto that edge and going over any second.

View to the north, the river Dee just coming into view

Oh dear god look how high we are.

I couldn't bare to look down any closer to the edge.

We didn't meet any other boats until we were on the last leg that is to say turned at Trevor and about half a mile along.

We easily saw a flock of Kayakers', they looked nervous and we came to an almost halt while they scrambled to the edge tow path side.  They had a shepherd and he passed last herding them along, then off we set again not too fast then Horror of Horrors at the very last second and I don't say that lightly there was another kayak that had inexplicably gone 90 degrees to WaL and was almost under our bows, David saw them at the last second and slammed WaL into reverse, we hit the off side and went aground and the shepherd came haring back.

Well in the kayak was a mum and child and I have never been so frightened on WaL as that day with the "What If's".

The mum apologised, the shepherd too, he said he only took his eyes off them for a second.  We had assumed that he was the last to pass and I reckon in small panic the mum had paddled one side, the child perhaps frozen  so went across us instead of to the side.

Phew.

Next three boats were coming towards us (Oh did I say this was all on a slight bend?)  the first one pulled in seeing the situation... by now WaL's bow was across the canal in David's efforts to get off the shallows.  The second boat just kept coming as boats often do when faced with a situation, they just keep coming instead of stopping, well he went bow into the towpath and stern across the canal.

The first boat rescued the entire situation by getting off his boat, his  

able wife taking the helm and slipping past WaL, he then pulled in the hireboat then we slipped past the third boat on the wrong side.

Phew.  After all that I needed a sit down.

Gorgeous scenery, what the heck is that coming?

So here they are clutching the sides, can you see the mother and child across the bows?  No nor could we.  We then went aground

I can't remember passing any other boats, the bloody foot wasn't too bad so I walked the mile I think it was through the narrow sections.

There are two narrow sections, the first of which closest to Trevor has a few passing places, the last one does not so crews should walk ahead to stop other boats entering until your boat has cleared.

Two Day Boats were coming and happily moored up to wait the five or six minutes before David was out.

Two day boats happily pulled over to allow WaL (Nose just coming into view)

Two sections of narrows, this is the second section without any passing places.

Finally into the basin.  £13 a night now, by agreement to stay longer than the strictly enforced previously, two nights regardless of if the basin was empty.

Demanding food with menaces.

We got to the basin and decided on a mooring, plugged into the leckkie and had a nap.

For those interested in timings, we left our mooring between bridge 15 and 16 at 05:50

We arrived at Trevor at 9am and arrived at the basin in Llangollen at 11:20.

Now for some reason my ancient laptop is not allowing me to load any photos.  I don't know why and in the absence of Amanda as my IT tech support I will try tomorrow at home.

We are leaving WaL in the capable hands of Swanley Marina for a repaint, finally that is.

So when I get home I'll another go at loading photos.

Well the photos have loaded I'm glad to say, perhaps it was an internet dip.  There were plenty of those in Shropshire.  Going back I met a lay preacher who has a Starlight on the roof of his boat.  He said he loathes paying Mr Elon Musk each month but it is brilliant.  I certainly would have an issue giving Mr Musk any more than £1.50 an month...

Back in a few weeks.

TTFN.