Hail to the Hive!
Our Narrowboat travels continue as we make our way closer and closer to Wales cruising along the Llangollan Canal.
In this edition we travel from the village of Whitchurch to the aqueduct at Chirk.
The border between England & Wales is midway across the aqueduct.
We have a long way to go (22 miles which is a long way by narrowboat standards) and we have been thrown a bit of a curveball. The Canal and River Trust close sections during winter to do repairs and announce the dates of closure back in August/Sept so you can make plans. But they just announced they are bringing one closure forward by a week which means we must get past that section before the 14th, and it's the 13th! So we need to do a couple of long days and there's a few obstacles in the way!
Like these!
Theres about 6 of these along the way and a few locks
The swing bridge mechanism uses the same windlass lock key we use on the locks and is easy ( all be it time consuming) to operate.
So far the weather is cooperating but the forecast is rain! Bloody typical when you have to do a long run and can't afford to stop.
Love a mini tunnel, all the coolness with none of the anxiety of worrying about a breakdown halfway through.
Of course the rain had to finally arrive but we have to get to our destantion or we won't be able to travel on to the aqueducts.
Despite the weather the Shropshire scenery is superb and yet again we seem to have the planet to ourselves. It's almost like one of those post apocalyptic movies where you are the only humans left.
We haven't seen a passing boat or a dog walker all day. Maybe we are the only idiots out in the wind and rain.
The sheep don't seem to mind much but they do have natural wooly coats on so of course they are warmer than me!
It is amazingly serent and beautiful, and no humans anywhere. Are we the only living people left in the UK?
The locks provide a bit of exercise to keep watm though.
Always climbing since we joined the Llangollan Canal.
Getting higher and higher.
And once through the small towns back into this beautiful greenery.
With all this rain no wonder it's so bloody green.
We will have to travel this way back in about five weeks and I am already looking forward to being able to stop off in some of these locations. Some of the best canal mooring spots we've seen since we started living aboard Badger the Narrowboat.
Just beautiful at every turn.
And empty! We've now been traveling for about 5 hours and nothing, nobody, just us and the sound of Badgers diesel engine thumping away as we chug along at 3mph on our slow but steady march to Wales.
Well I say empty.... there are the sheep
and the trees.....
Ahhh a waterpoint. Never pass one of these without topping up. Golden rule.
Looking at the map I can see we are getting closer and I am happy cos there's more rain headed this way.
Only a tad further and we can moor up close to the Chirk aqueduct.
Moored up just in time as it's about to tip it down with rain.
I was anxious to go look at the aqueduct that also has a railway viaduct running along side it so once there seemed to be a break in the weather I got of the boat and walked the last 500 meters or so to get there.
The walk itself was very pleasant, I do love a bridge though as anyone who reads my posts can vouch for.
And then....
WOW!
Oh my days the smile on my face grew wide. I took a wal across to see more.
This is going to by fun and it's not even the biggest of the aqueducts we will cross but this alone was worth traveling for.
The views are incredible on both sides.
A walk across takes me over to the Welsh side.
Welcome to Wales. Awesome I've never been before and this is a great way to arrive!
and then a walk back across to England
Soon we will take Badger across and then on through to the highest canal aqueduct in the WORLD and the longest aqueduct in the UK. This was worth getting wet for
