Llangollen: Wrenbury -> Nantwich Basin 25/7/2020

Engine start 598.1

Engine stop 603.2 = 5 hours

Miles: 7 Locks: 9 Lock miles: 16

Leisurely trip back to base today. ADS keen to get home to his big bed! Also gives a free day on Sunday before AJS return to work on Monday.

Noticed that Baddiley Lock 3 top gate was leaking quite baddiley(!).

Had a chat with Mike Butler, one of the volunteer lockkeepers who maintains the Hurleston Volunteers Facebook page and has provided material for the Shroppie Fly Paper.

Noted the temporary repair on one of the Hurleston flight where the beam has split and been bolted together.

AJS drove back to base and managed the spin in the basin and reversing into our mooring spot with no problems (just a bit of coaching for the reverse!).

Lunch on board then packed up the car for the return home.

Excellent trip and very good to have finally done all of the Llangollen on our own boat. The Montgomery was an added bonus and it will be great when they manage to link the top end to the quite long navigable stretch further south!

Llangollen: Whitchurch -> Wrenbury 24/7/2020

Engine start 593.7 09:00

Engine stop 598.1 13:18 = 4.5 hours

Miles: 7.5 Locks: 10 Lock miles: 17.5

Weather mild and looking to be a bit sunnier. Short cruise to Grindley Brook. Emptied toilet and rubbish. Lockkeeper in situ so quickly through the staircase.

Met three boats going the other way with vast crews so an easy ride through the rest of Grindley Brook locks.

Noted again the reed growth on the towpath side affecting navigation between Grindley Railway bridge and Bridge 26.

Pleasant boating - hot in the sunny intervals - following 2 other boats. Mid morning fruit for breakfast: coffee and 2nd breakfast at 11:30.

Boat ahead had problem at Marbury Lock with lock not filling. Some problem with downhill gates not closed properly - no problem for us.

A shady mooring spot with wide towpath alongside - let's hope the church bells are not too noisy tonight.

ADS did a bit of guitar. Salmon pasta for the good of our joints and a glass or two of booze.

Llangollen: Blakemere -> Whitchurch Offside Visitor Moorings 23/7/2020

Engine start 588.8 09:30

Engine stop 593.7 14:45 = 5.25 hours

Miles: 11 Locks: 0 Lock miles: 11 & 4 lift bridges

A false start today when we lost propulsion almost straightaway when moving over to let another boat past. A trip down the weed-hatch revealed - nothing... Whatever it was must have dropped off...

Properly underway again by 10:30 following 2 other boats in a companionable if slow convoy.

Made better progress when they stopped at Bettisfield. Rain failed to stop play and, beyond the Mosses, we caught up with another hire boat - a variety of steerers with a variety of skill levels but all happy and willing. Went through the Hassall's lift bridges in convoy and letting through a 3rd boat coming the other way (after some careful maneuvering round a moored boat with engine failure).

Soon after mooring the rain settled in steadily so we switched on the mifi router and got up to speed with accounts, emails, Facebook etc.

Llangollen: Basin -> Blakemere 22/7/2020

Engine start 579.4 07:10

Engine stop 588.8 16:36 = 9.4 hours

Miles: 19 Locks: 2 Lock miles: 21

Long day today. Given how busy canal was yesterday we wanted to make an early start to avoid queues in the narrows. AJS driving today. ADS walked ahead to check for oncoming traffic.

We ended up 2nd in a convoy of 5 boats which made life easier. Noticeably faster progress downstream. ADS ended up walking all the way to Trevor Basin.

A day boat was just going onto the Pontcysyllte aqueduct as AJS arrived so she was able to follow it straight on. We ended up following them all the way to Chirk. Day boat skipper also skippers a charity boat and is familiar with this canal so no hold-ups.

AJS could not be pried from the tiller all day apart from 5 minutes to scoff a bacon and egg sarne around 12! She did 2 aqueducts, 3 tunnels and a tricky turn in Ellesmere Basin. A far cry from the couple you see where the husband does all the driving!

As before, noticed that the afternoon was noticeably busier than the morning. Stopped briefly at Ellesmere to empty the toilet and shop for essentials (olives and beer mainly) before pushing on a final mile to find a nice mooring at Blakesmere again. Longest day for ages - 9 hours instead of usual 4-5 but avoided the afternoon rush and puts us in a good position for the remainder of the trip.

Llangollen: Chirk Bank -> Llangollen Basin 21/7/2020

Engine start 574.3 07:50

Engine stop 579.4 13:10 = 5.25 hours

Miles: 8.5 Locks: 0 Lock miles: 8.5

Spectacular day's boating although hard work on shallow and narrow stretches of canal - we were lucky there not to meet oncoming but were following a hire boat which steered, apparently, like an aircraft hangar. So we were on tickover most of the way.

Chirk and Pontcysyllte aqueducts were spectacular of course. AJS glad not to be driving!

Weed cutting by CRT upstream gave ADS problems with clogged propellor and loss of propulsion - very glad to arrive. Got a nice mooring in the basin at Llangollen. Costs £6 per night but worth it. Could have plugged into shoreline but didn't.

After a short rest we walked up to the Horseshoe Falls  - a lovely setting and a good walk. Then went into town to pick up a few groceries and check out a chippy to help with the burgers on the menu for tonight.

Topped up with water before refreshing our fibres with a beer. AJS went back onto town to pick up some chips.

Montgomery: Navigation Inn, Maesbury -> Llangollen: Bridge 21W Chirk Bank 20/7/2020

Engine start 566.2 07:20

Engine stop 574.3 15:15 = 8 hours

Miles: 12.5 Locks: 10 Lock miles: 22.5

Spent Sunday at rest at Maesbury. AJS walked to St Winifreds Well - a beautiful spot and worth dodging the cows for it. Then Sunday lunch at the Navigation Inn - lovely. Siesta to sleep it off and to prepare for a late night comet spotting. Managed to see Comet Neowise around 23:30 - clear sky at last!

Early start on Monday with alarm at 07:00 and on our way by 07:20 to get to Frankton locks. Passage up booked for 09:00-12:00. Breakfast of bacon butties once we had done the Aston locks and passed the Queens Head. A kayaker took off right in front of us but was moving fast so soon got out of our way.

We were last in a queue of 4 going up the Frankton locks including Dawn and David again who were going to be heading east towards Ellesmere.

We headed west and were soon caught up to a very slow hire boat which kindly let us overtake - running aground in the process - only for them to join us at the queue for the New Marton locks. Soup and brie baguette on the move for lunch.

Moored at Chirk Bank in intermittent sunshine, chill wind on occasion. Immediately a succession of boats came by - where did they all spring from?

Walked into Chirk via the Chirk Bank footpath. ADS troubled by undergrowth of nettles and brambles due to wearing shorts... Got groceries at the Spar and returned to the boat via the Chirk Tunnel and Aqueduct - some good photos.

Back to boat by beer o'clock and entertained by jousting narrowboats - better than a play.

Settled down quite early due to long day. Woken about 22:00 by a hire boat hitting us. Crew said they had "only just picked her up and don't know what we are doing!". Hmmmm....

Blakemere -> Queens Head (Montgomery canal) 17/7/2020

Engine start 556.4 08:15

Engine stop 561.6 13:30 = 5.25 hours

Miles: 7 Locks: 5 Lock miles: 12

At last, a clear blue sky!

Paused at the water and elsan points at Ellesmere then a journey frequently slowed by moored boats - not many moving though.

At Frankton by 11:00, the last of the day's bookings. At the moorings there was a launch style boat: very beautiful more about shiny brass than boats - certainly had a LOT of fenders deployed to stop any nasty scratches...

A stately procession down the locks with CRT lockkeeper very much in charge. Fantastic views over countryside then down onto the Monty for the first time. Have never seen so many damsel and dragon flies, water boatmen, skimmers, all sorts.

Canal sides overgrown the whole way for the first part of the canal so lunch on the move and stopped in the last available space by the Queens Head - a quite noisy mooring by a busy road but the only one available since the service point below the locks. ADS quite tired as not able to sit all day due to drying varnish on the steerer's seat.

Second coat of varnish applied at the end of the afternoon then table booked for meal at the Queens Head - our first pub visit since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown. Very nice meal (ADS: pizza and AJS: paella as recommended by the Frankton lockkeeper). Staff very well organised for social distancing, contact tracing etc so felt pretty safe. Still weird to be among other people though...

Whitchurch -> Blakemere 16/7/2020

Engine start 549.5 08:00

Engine stop 556.4 13:15 = 5.25 hours

Miles: 11 Locks: 0 Lock miles: 11

A grey, slightly damp morning. Off in good time hoping for a spot at Blakemere. Two lift bridges almost straightaway and canal all but blocked by moored hire boats at Whitchurch Wharf - the only real excitement in a calm day's boating. Navigation note: winding mechanism at lift bridge 42 is set very high - not easy for self confessed hobbits like AJS.

While cruising ADS did tremendous work prepping the bow doors and windows and the steerer's seat ready for revarnishing (the previous treatment was in very poor condition though not so much on the rear door which is obviously not as exposed to the weather). Once moored he also did more work on restoring the paintwork - the difference in the paintwork's condition was notable on the side which normally faces north at our mooring).

AJS went to explore around Colemere which is a country park with trails all around the mere - from our mooring it was a round trip of about 4 miles.

Dinner: burgers and onions, veg and BBQ sauce. Sweeties for pudding. Been a busy day - don't judge! Plus AJS forgot to take foraging box on Colemere walk so we missed out on one of our 5 a day...

Whitchurch Arm 15/7/2020

Quiet day with no cruising.

ADS went to Aldi. The store is right next to the canal but totally inaccessible from there. Needed to go to end of the arm, across a bridge, through a housing estate and onto the main road!

Weather was wet and windy so concentrated in inside jobs notably fitting the new tap to the galley sink. This went very smoothly and the new tap is a great improvement on the old one. The tap is much taller and will even fit a bucket under it - useful for washing the boat!

With a decent 4G signal we were able to hold our regular Weds night quiz. Included discussion of the new star signs : astonished to find that ADS is now a Capricorn (was Aquarius) and AJS has moved from the cusp to become a full Pisces... Both offspring have also changed signs. ADS not happy at first but AJS found some spookily apt descriptions. Still don't understand how there are now 13 signs in the year when there had been 12 for all that time. It's almost like astrology is not a real science...

Wrenbury -> Whitchurch Arm 14/7/2020

Engine start 544.2 07:45
Engine stop 549.5 13:00

Decided to either wait till after 09:00 to go through Wrenbury Lift Bridge to avoid holding up rush hour traffic or make an early start - which we did with only a coffee for breakfast.

Cloudy day with occasional showers. AJS turn to drive - first since last summer? Trouble-free cruise, soon catching up to a single hander (Lindy Lou) with a hire boat closing up on us. Their crew very keen and excited on their first day so played tag team with all three all the way up to Grindley Brook.

Passed Fran from Floating Our Boat YouTube channel walking the dogs on the approach to Grindley Brook. Had an enjoyable short chat with her. She came across exactly as she does on the vlogs - lovely. She said to give Rich a toot as we went past Constanze but we didn't as it all looked very quiet...

Paused at top of Grindley Brook locks for loo and rubbish then pushed on for Whitchurch arriving at the Arm around 13:00. Very ready for lunch!

Sole excitement was a very overgrown section just beyond Povey's Lock (Land of Canaan) where an oncoming boat and a moored boat were completely obscured by vegetation until the last moment. Our little boat so manoeuvrable that no problem ensued. Had we been longer, possibly another story…

ADS noticed that the DIY shop he was targeting for a replacement tap for the galley was not open the next day so we headed straight into town. Unfortunately the DIY store had virtually no taps available but recommended the Travis Perkins store on the other side of town. AJS headed back to the boat while ADS headed off on a tap hunt - successfully as it turned out. Got back to boat quite footsore as the diversion to Travis Perkins added quite a few steps to the journey!

Dinner of lamb pasta and Eccles cakes (which AJS had got in town) for pudding. Followed up with a Poirot DVD. Quiet day in prospect for tomorrow - apart from the galley plumbing!

Llangollen Canal Bridge 2 -> Wrenbury 13/7/20

Engine start 540.7 10:45
Engine stop 544.2 14:15

3.5 hours / 5 miles / 5 locks

Greyer start. Rain overnght. Wind picking up but still mild. Scattered showers.

Ready to start but found batteries not charging. Stopped engine again while ADS tried tightening the alternator belt. Moved quite a bit. Restarted engine and all OK - fridge can be switched back on!

Bridge 5 offside vegetation starting to obscure sight line through bridge.

We were followed up the hill by a single hander so we helped each other out at locks. He overtook us at Wrenbury Church lift Bridge just before we moored for the night.

AJS went to Spar for groceries. ADS to chandlery to look for varnish. No luck with that but did find some surface restorer to try on our very tired looking paintwork. Took a while to get served as the assistant was giving a very detailed briefing to some new hirers. Good to hear them getting some comprehensive information.

ADS tried out the surface restorer on the port side and it seems to work well. Must make sure to find moorings on the starboard side later!

Nantwich -> Llangollen Canal nr Bridge 2 12/7/2020

Engine start 538.7 12:15
Engine stop 540.7 14:13

2 hours / 3 miles / 4 locks


First trip out since Covid-19 pandemic started (or even earlier due to moving into new flat).

Arrived at Nantwich Basin around 11:00. First long drive for AJS since start of lockdown. Got everything on board, had lunch then set off about 12:15.

Hot sunshine. Quite a few boats but no queue at Hurleston flight. We obviously hit the lunchtime lull.

Boat in front of us could not get into Lock 2 so we were waved through and they had to reverse back down the first lock.

Filled up with water at the services then moved along to the good mooring between Bridges 2 & 3 which has a nice view of a farmhouse.

Went for a walk around Hurleston reservoir in the evening.

Llangollen & Shropshire Union (26-31 Oct 2018)

Engine hours start: 421.2 end: 435.9 = 14.7 hours

Miles:16 Locks:18  Lock miles:34

Solo trip for Andrew for October half-term. Came to boat after staff development day.

Spent day in Nantwich on Saturday (27th) and stayed in basin to watch fireworks from the Spooktacular.

Bright sunny start on Sunday 28th October. Quite cold with ice on the roof. Clocks went back last night. Aiming for Wrenbury today.

Set off around 09:00. Arrived at Hurleston to find a queue of 3 boats ahead to go up the flight. Luckily with so many other boats I got lots of help with the locks and didn't have to climb a single lock ladder. Was even able to follow a boat through the first lift bridge at Wrenbury.

Only downside was getting very cold through lack of exercise! Moored up by 15:20. Fire and kettle on.

Monday 29th October
After a trouble-free trip to Wrenbury, the planned cruise then went awry...

After buying a bag of Excel from Wrenbury Wharf, set off about 10:00 and got through the main Wrenbury lift bridge without issues. However, then noticed that the alternator light was on and the rev counter was dead. Revving the engine had no effect.

Stopped as quickly as possible since one reason for alternator not working is a broken belt which would also stop the water cooling pump working. Belt was OK and no sign of loose connections but still nothing on rev counter. Battery volt meters both showed 12.5V which should have been over 14V if the alternator was working.

Rang RCR at 10:13 then settled down to wait. Had not lit fire earlier as was due to be cruising so got that lit.

Engineer (Jake) arrived around 13:15 and soon confirmed that the alternator was dead. He didn't have a suitable replacement in the van so took ours back to base in Stafford. Unlikely to be back with replacement today.

Quiet afternoon. Went to Cotton Arms for a few pints before returning to boat for pizza & salad.

Tuesday 30th October
Phone call from RCR confirming that the engineer would be at boat later so went to shop for milk, baguette and scones. Also got a bag each of kindling and logs from Wrenbury Wharf. RCR office had promised further call with engineer ETA but this didn't happen. Engineer arrived about 13:30 just as I was about to ring to chase.

Refitting the alternator was straight-forward and all now seems OK. Reviewed cruising plans. Not enough time to reach Whitchurch comfortably and there are no winding holes after Thomason's Bridge. The Wrenbury Frith lift bridge had been lowered but I noticed it was now raised so took the opportunity to go down to Thomasons winding hole and turn the boat ready for the return trip.

Considered another trip down to Cotton Arms but it started raining so stayed on board and had a nice tea of baguette, cheese, salad and jam. Text from daughter saying projected completion on her house purchase is 9th Nov! Watched Ricky Gervaise DVD Ghost Town. Very good. Some echoes of Groundhog Day: redemption through good works and Sixth Sense: I see dead people. Rather overfilled the stove and only made it under the duvet about 2am!

Weds 31st October
Set off around 09:15. Reasonably trouble-free passage through the two lift bridges; as much as single-handing through lift bridges ever is... 

Boat seems rather reluctant to engage forward gear. Need to check gear box ATF fluid level. Also lubricate gear lever cable. 

Through Baddiley 3 locks and Swanley 2 locks without issues. Some traffic in both directions so got some help with some of the locks. Considered mooring overnight before Hurleston flight but decide to push on. Very good decision as there were 4 lockies on duty so was able to stay onboard and have all the locks worked for me!

Back to base at 14:15. Fire and kettle on. Want to make a template of the bottom step drainage hole to plan the gutter arrangement that I want to make to avoid rainwater going into the engine bilge as currently happens.

Thursday 1st Nov
Packed and home in the morning.

IWA Lock Wind - (Friday 10 - Sunday 12/8/2018) - Hurleston Junction

No miles or locks in our own boat

But plenty of walking and lock working!

We worked the locks from 9-6ish on Friday and Saturday and 9-1 on Sunday.

Overall we helped about 100 boats through the locks and sold most of the stock of cake, jam etc. So a successful weekend!

Easter trip on Llangollen Canal (Thursday 29/3/2018) - Burland to Nantwich

Engine hours start: 357.8 end: 359.4 = 1.6 hours

Miles:4 Locks:4 Lock miles: 8

Set off around 09:55.

Two lockkeepers and a trainee volunteer on duty at Hurleston so flew through the flight, reaching the junction by 10:30!

Arrived back at Nantwich Basin around 11:00. There was a fair breeze blowing down the basin and I used it to execute a very smooth spin into our slot. Of course, there were no witnesses to this unlike whenever you muck something up!

Paid Jan and Feb electric bills. Have now taken the heater off the boat (subject to last-minute weather forecast check before heading home on Tuesday) so, after paying the March acount, electricity usage should be minimal until next winter.  

Then wandered into town to buy and post a birthday card for Dad. Then round a few charity shops and to Morrisons for some groceries. Picked up our wristbands for the Jazz and Blues Festival this weekend.

Back to boat for a bit of a tidy up.

Easter trip on Llangollen Canal (Wednesday 28/3/2018) - Grindley Brook to Burland

Engine hours start: 351.0 end: 357.8= 6.8 hours

Miles:11 Locks:9 & 3 lift bridges  Lock miles: 23 inc lift bridges!

Quite a long day today. Set off around 09:30.

Weather cold and windy all day. Some glimpses of the sun but never enough to get warm...

Trouble-free journey through the first 4 locks. The landlady of the Willeymoor Lock Tavern offered to shut the gates for me. Will definitely have to call in there one day!

For the first time ever in my experience, the Wrenbury Frith Lift Bridge was down! Difficult to operate as well as no bollards on the offside. Luckily a chap from the nursery took pity and lowered the bridge behind me. The main Wrenbury lift bridge was no problem. Got in a bit of a tangle at Wrenbury Church Lift Bridge trying to hold bridge open for following boat and nearly lost the chimney cap in the undergrowth...

Then slowly worked through Baddiley Locks and Swanley Locks. Had to turn most of them as I was following several boats. Following boat closed the gates on Swanley Locks for me.

Moored up in almost exactly the same place as last Friday but, obviously, facing the other way! Moored up and stove lit by about 16:30.

Realised that, after breakfast and mid-morning hot-cross bun, I forgot to have lunch again. Just shows how much eating is just habit...

Easter trip on Llangollen Canal (Tuesday 27/3/2018) - Whitchurch to Grindley Brook

Engine hours start: 348.5 end: 351.0 = 2.5 hour

Miles:1.5 Locks:6  Lock miles: 7.5

Set off around 09:15. First task was to move forward to the lift bridge. Then lifted the bridge and winded in the junction. Dog walker lowered the bridge which saved me having to re-moor. Someone had left a windlass on the bridge so didn't even need to wait to retrieve mine.

Soon after setting off it started to rain so paused to put on waterproof trousers. Was already in waterproof jacket for warmth as not warm at all...

Soon arrived at Grindley Brook. Topped up with water and emptied the bin.

Lockkeeper on duty but only doing one side so I had to help. Pulled the boat through the staircase to avoid ladders in the wet.

Pretty wet and mucky passage through the remaining locks. Rope got very muddy which transferred to gloves and waterproofs...

Moored up just beyond bridge 27 on 48 hour moorings. Will probably stay overnight here and have dinner at the Horse and Jockey. (I did - huge plate of fish & chips).

Very little traffic so far. I was the first traffic through the locks according to the keeper. First boat passed my mooring around 12:25.

Very sparse selection of books in the little shop by the bottom lock. Luckily already have plenty on board...

Easter trip on Llangollen Canal (Monday 26/3/2018) - Whitchurch

No cruising today. Spent the day in Whitchurch.

Monday is obviously a day when quite a few shops close but more open than last time when we visited on a Sunday...

Got a good haul of books and DVDs from the charity shops and had a poke around in the antiques centre but did not buy anything.

Found a very good hardware store reminiscent of Stermat in Colwyn Bay. Much bigger inside than it appears from the street. Got several hose tap connectors to avoid yesterday's problem.

Had a latte (with an extra shot of course) in the White Bear (wifi) and then a pint in the Old Town Vaults. Another Joules pub. Good ale but not as nice as the Leopard in Nantwich.

Got a few things in Sainsburys then had another pint in the Cock and Greyhound on the way back to the boat (more wifi!).

Quiet afternoon/ evening on the boat with books and DVD.

Easter trip on Llangollen Canal (Sunday 25/3/2018) - Wrenbury to Whitchurch

Engine hours start: 343.1 end: 348.5= 5.4 hours

Miles:6 Locks:10 & 1 liftbridge  Lock miles: 17

Had originally planned to stay another night at Wrenbury but woke to clear blue skies and a good weather forecast so decided to make for Whitchurch today.

Underway around 09:30. Soloed through the lift bridge without incident; just held up a couple of cars and 2 cyclists.

Weather chilly but clear. Lovely day for cruising. Arrived at Marbury Lock around 10:10.

Not much other traffic but did pass a few boats.

Arrived at Willeymoor Lock just before 12:00 and the pub was actually open. First time I have actually seen this phenomenon! Considered popping in for a pint but decided to press on.

Single-handed through the first 3 of Grindley Brook locks closely followed by a hire boat crewed by Americans. They are from San Francisco and come here twice a year for the canals!

Had some trouble topping up the water as could not find the correct connector (now on shopping list for tomorrow). Emptied rubbish and got rid of old chimney.

Moored up at Whitchurch Visitor moorings (48 hour) at 15:00. Had a shower to take advantage of hot water from cruising. Realised that I had never had lunch so cracked open an Old Speckled Hen and some pretzels!

Quiet evening on the boat. Planning to go into Whitchurch tomorrow. 

Later in the evening fancied a walk so wandered back to Grindley Brook and had a couple of pints at the Horse & Jockey.

Easter trip on Llangollen Canal (Saturday 24/3/2018) - Burland to Wrenbury

Engine hours start: 339.1 end: 343.1= 4 hours

Miles:5 Locks:5 & 1 lift bridge  Lock miles: 11

Set off around 10:00 and arrived at Swanley locks in around 20-25 minutes.

Took it slowly through the locks as first solo ones of the year!

Weather dry but chilly. 

First two of the Baddiley locks had boats coming out which was nice. Had to work the last one though it was empty already so no problem.

Stopped just before Wrenbury Church Lift Bridge to recce the mooring nearer the village. There were plenty!

Worked though the Wrenbury Church Lift Bridge and even let another boat through.

Moored outside Cotton Arms campsite around 14:00.

Visited Wrenbury Mill chandlery and bought a new chimney and a bag of Excel briquettes to try instead of the current bag of coal which is very unsatisfactory leaving lots of clinker.

Then to Cotton Arms for a couple of pints of "Bitter and Twisted". Took a picture to tweet to Henry Priestman. He didn't reply but another fan got the reference and replied.

Quiet afternoon and evening on boat reading. Pizza and salad for dinner.