Thursday
Set off in the sunshine from our mooring at Frankton Junction for the final push to Llangollen. Soon we reached New Marton lock 1, where there was a queue and a ferocious wind, which made holding the boats on the lock moorings interesting.
At lock No 2, we had a reminder that “narrowbaoters do it slowly”:
However, we still meet the occasional headless chicken
(an example of towpathiary)
Soon we reached an aqueduct, but not THE aqueduct. This is Chirk Aqueduct, which has comfortingly wide edges. So I did it.
and the tunnel straight afterwards
But that was the overture. This is the symphony:
First, a few facts and figures. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, built by Thomas Telford, was completed in 1805 to carry the Llangollen Canal over the valley of the River Dee, some 127 feet below. It is over 1000 feet long and consists of an iron trough supported by 18 stone piers. It is a World Heritage Site.
Here we go, then:
Notice the edge of the trough on the right hand side? That’s all there is between your boat and the Dee!
Towards the end:
Did he really do that? Yes, he did!
WE DID IT!
On then to Llangollen, and the last part of the canal is shallow, and so narrow in parts that one of you has to walk ahead and negotiate with oncoming boat crews. I did that.
Finally we arrived in the Llangollen basin moorings, where for £6 a night you have a water supply, electric hook-up, and this view:
Nos da!
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