Hail to the Hive!
We continue our exploration of the Welsh canal network and joined us to take a cruise over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct as it is quite amazing and more than a little scary. He drove badger over himself on the way over but wanted to take some drone shots of us making the return run.
I set off and as the mild current that flows in this direction was with us Badger was making easy comfortable progress. I was a little happier as my driving side was on the towpath side of the bridge and not the drop off side. This meant I could actually relax a little and take in the spectacular views from this unique vantage point.
I’d only reached a tiny way across when an older gentleman apprached and said “ I’ve always wanted to cross over this on a boat and never had the chance, I couldn’t possibly join you could I?”
I slowed the boat ( which didn’t take much) and said “ sure hop on board, just please don’t fall over the other side”
“ I won’t! “ he said and laughed and then thanked me and explained his mother used to bring him here over 50 years ago as a small boy and this really is a special treat to do it by boat.
His name was Tim and we chatted about the canals and how we now live onboard and he was really super grateful that I’d let him join the crossing. It was nice to make someones day if I’m honest. So easy to do nice stuff but yet so rare it seems.
I was kind of hoping this duck wasn’t contemplating suicide. i told her she has so much to live for so don’t jump. So much stale bread in her future, it’s worth hanging in there!
We continued the crossing chatting about the uniqueness of the UK canal network and the legacy it has left us to enjoy. Taking in the amazing scenery and occasionally passing some walkers on the towpath side. The speed is so slow it’s easy to chat to anyone and it’s impossible to steer off course as you are in an iron trough. All be it an Iron trough over 40 meters in the sky.
Even in a misty drizzly day it’s still amazing.
I’ve now been across 4 times and the retrn journey is less frightening and I can take in more views. I intend to cross a few more times while we aew in the area. Make the most of it as it was high on our canal agenda and has more than lived up to expectation.