Montgomery Canal branch

Friday:

Not far from the Pontsycyllte Aqueduct when we started this morning. There were many boats in the Trevor Basin, with hire boats being returned to the marina in the basin, boats coming over the aqueduct and boats, including us, coming out of the narrow canal from Llangollen. We had to wait ‘til the masses had sorted themselves out and moved out of our way before we could enter the basin and turn towards the aqueduct. We motored across the aqueduct, turned around at the winding hole just past the aqueduct and came back across. We just squeezed past a tour boat and hire canal boats berthed 3 abreast and continued up a very narrow dead end arm to a very tight turning area, turned around and crossed the aqueduct again. Thank you Gill & Jan for not saying no.

We went on to Chirk and had to wait for a couple of oncoming boats to leave the tunnel before we, and 2 others, could enter.It took just over 9 minutes to get through the tunnel. Between the other side of the tunnel and the start of the Chirk Aqueduct, there is a “waiting pond” and this was very congested and boats were going in all directions. After a while we were able to move and went across the aqueduct. Still good fun, but we didn’t turn around and cross again.

We stopped at another peaceful spot for lunch and then cruised on, past our marina, to the Montgomery Canal branch, about 1/2 hour past. We had planned to go down the Montgomery Canal a few days ago, but changed plans when we found out that there was an embankment collapse at one of the locks about 1 hour down the canal. We had booked passage through the staircase locks (only between noon and 2 pm) for Tuesday and return on Wednesday. Only 12 boats are allowed each way each day because it is an environmentally sensitive area, We got much better value/experiences going through the Grindley Brook locks.

 

We are spending tonight at the Montgomery Canal branch and only have to motor back to the marina in the morning for about 1/2 an hour.