THE BIG SUMMER CRUISE--September 15th--21st


Monday, 15th September
Today we set off to get to the junction with the Montgomery canal
in time to get through the locks.
The locks are only open between 9.30 and 10.30, and 2.30 and 3.30.
The Montgomery Canal is in the process of being restored.
At one time it was totally overgrown, and impassable,
but a group of enthusiasts have worked hard for years
to get it opened again, and now the first seven miles from its junction
with the Llangollen are in water and navigable.
We made it by 2.30 p.m. and joined the queue waiting to go down.
The first two locks are staircase locks and the next two are single.
The views even from the first lock are beautiful,
and it just got better as we went on.



DROPPING DOWN THROUGH THE LOCKS ON TO THE MONTGOMERY

The canal was very peaceful, there were few boats on it.
In the main we had it to ourselves.
We moored up the first night just below The Queen's Head,
and repaired there for an evening meal. We can certainly recommend it.
The only problem with this part of the canal is that the A5 crosses it,
but we moored some way on in a quiet spot, and walked back to the pub.

The spot where we moored was right by a BW employee's house,
and so we were able to ask him what the insects were
which we could see on the water.
We'd noticed large groups of these creatures in quite a few spots along the canal.
They were going round and round on the surface.
He said they were called Whirligig Beetles. We don't think we'd ever seen them before.

Tuesday, 16th /Wednesday, 17th September
We went right on to the end of the current limit of navigation, at Gronwen Bridge,


THE CURRENT LIMIT OF NAVIGATION ON THE MONTGOMERY

and turned in the winding hole. We went back about half a mile,
and moored up at a BW mooring spot.
The whole journey had been such a pleasure.
At times the canal was so narrow we were glad we didn't meet anything.


It would certainly have meant one of us reversing to let the other through.

All along the canal, there is evidence of the work
which has gone in to getting it open again.
The banks have all been rebuilt, and planted with natural water edge plants.
New bridges and locks have been constructed, and the cost must have been incredible.
There is an organisation called The Waterways Recovery Group,
comprising of volunteers who stay at organised camps for a week or a weekend
at a time and who do so much hard work. It is thanks to these people,
and many others, that so many canals have been reopened.

We saw a kingfisher at the mooring, and apparently there are otters,
but we weren't lucky enough to see them--if only!
We stayed at the mooring for two nights, we enjoyed it so much.
It was so quiet, we could hear the horses munching in the field on the opposite bank.
At one stage, I could hear water swishing about, and, when I went to investigate,
it was the horses drinking! We weren't used to that in Kenilworth!

On the second day, we walked on down the canal to see how the rest of it looked.
It's amazing to think that there is enough good will to convert this:



to this!



Thursday, 18th September
Reluctantly, we made our way back up towards the locks to catch the 2.30 opening time.
On the way, we stopped at the only water point on the canal,
and filled up with fresh water, and also washed the boat all over.
This was a rare luxury, usually when we stop for water,
we're conscious of other boats waiting too and so can't wash the boat.
But today Liberty Belle got a thorough bath and looked very smart!

We're delighted with our boat.
After six months of living aboard, we feel we know her well
and are comfortable in her and with her.
There's really nothing we would change about the design,
except perhaps the bed.
You may recall we chose a crossways double,
that is one which goes across the width of the boat,
rather than running along the length of it.
The only problem with our bed is that it isn't really long enough
for Trev to stretch out, as it's just about 6' long, and so is Trev!
He's getting used to it, and, I'm glad to say,
has stopped sleeping diagonally, leaving me a small corner!

So after that quick aside (!), we travelled on up to the locks.
There was quite a queue waiting to get through,
and it took over an hour for us to get back on to the Llangollen.
We went on about another three miles, and moored at Ellesmere.

Friday, 19th September
We decided to stay another night in Ellesmere.
I know all of you out there will think this is a doddle, but really it's quite hard work!
If we keep going every day, it's quite tiring; well, after all, I AM a pensioner!
So we had a lazy day, just some shopping and then an excellent meal
at the Black Lion in Ellesmere.

Saturday, 20th September
We set off again, back along the Llangollen
towards its junction with the Shropshire Union,
but soon took another diversion, this time down the Prees Arm.
This is less than a mile long, and we only went because it's there!
It wasn't a very attractive piece of canal.
Then back up and onwards along the Llangollen,
and this evening we moored in the Whitchurch Arm.
Those of you who are up to speed with this website may remember that we moored here on our way towards Llangollen.
It's a very pleasant little backwater,
and our friends from Solihull were bringing our mail, so we stayed two nights.
The weather closed in on us as soon as we'd moored and so we battened down the hatches,
lit the fire and were very snug!

Sunday, 21st September--The First Day of Autumn
We were up early to clean the inside of the boat before our friends arrived.
Lunch was prepared and we waited for a phone call from them.
We eventually managed to find each other.
They had brought so many things--wine, beer, chocolate,
jam jars for all that damson jam I'd made, potting compost,
gravel for the bottom of the plants pots, pansies, not to mention the post!
It was a good job we managed to park the car near the boat.
The weather was so much better today,
and we went for a walk to try to compensate for the lunch and alcohol.

Click here to go to the trips page

Home Page