Having had a brilliant few days in Chester, we now have to retrace our steps until we get to Hurleston Junction, we stopped just before Beeston Locks for the evening, where we took a pleasant drink in the
Beeston Lock with the castle in the distance
Shady Oak Pub, and to my surprise we saw Sue Martin, I didn’t speak to her, as wasn’t sure it was her, sorry Sue, I did not expect to meet people you know, miles from anywhere.
Next morning we travelled on through the Bunbury Locks again, this time we had help from the lock keepers, so no problems, although they did warn us to remove all fenders, as the next set of locks are tight. We arrived at Hurleston Junction, removed some of the fenders, but were then told we had to remove them all, including our rope ones on the front, what a palaver that was, we eventually entered the locks, and with the help of the lock keeper we were soon at the top, where we stopped for water, and some lunch. After nine more locks, and two
Have to take a picture without the washing one day!
lifting bridges, we stopped for the night. One of the bridges, was electric, great, stop the traffic, push a button and we are through, the other was a wind up, and it was very difficult! We walked to the Dusty Miller pub, where Geoff was distraught, as he had no internet and he couldn’t make a phone call, I kept saying my phone worked but that of course made it worse! He had to talk to me! Ha ha.
I have to say the Llangollen Canal is lovely, the scenery is great, they
So peaceful
have rings all along where you can moor, they certainly make you welcome.
Next day we travelled on, through the Grindley staircase locks, where we got stuck at the bottom, because one of the gates would not shut, the lock keeper removed a big clump,of weed which was jamming the gate. At the top of the staircase we stopped for lunch, then onto Whitchurch Arm, where Geoff managed to manoeuvre round a very tight corner, we then turned and moored in a good spot, where we then walked into the town. Whitchurch is a fine town with some beautiful old houses of all periods in the centre, the streets are very narrow, the church is striking with very large windows, sadly it was closed. We did manage to get a drink at the local pub
Whitchurch church
though!
On this canal they have a lot of lifting bridges, which are very hard to do, I managed the first two, then handed the job over to Geoff, whilst we were meandering, we decided to try the washing machine out with our new Honda Generator, my washing machine worked fine on the mains electric, but for some reason, it was back to its old tricks of not finishing it cycle etc., etc.,very frustrating! Wow it works, so it is the inverter that does not want to do the washing, quite frankly I couldn’t care, as long as I get it done!
Ellesmere takes its name from the large and beautiful mere (lake)
Keeping cool
besides it, known as the Shropshire Lake District, and this is where we stopped for the night. We did our shopping at Tesco, before settling down for the evening, the wind has got up, and it looks as though we are in for some storms.