Nr Welsh Frankton to Chirk Bank - 2 locks, 5 miles, 5 hours

Well it has certainly been an eventful day!!

We set off at approx 8:15, the sun was shining and there was no sign of rain for a change!

As we approached the first lock of the day our hearts sunk, there was a long line of boats and we could see the fluorescent yellow of workmans jackets as well as a crane near the lock, we had not had any alert from waterscape to problems on the Llangollen but it didn't look good.  

Relief they were working on the landing stage for the lock, but the actual lock was fine, there was just a long queue about 7 boats in front of us.  There was also a strong cross wind which was causing havoc!!!!

As we tried to pull in a bit further down the boat in front of us was all over the place, we were keen to help but were having enough trouble getting By The Way secure on the bank.  Eventually we sorted ourselves out and then helped them, it was a hire boat that they had only just picked up and bless them they had been given minimal instruction.

We slowly made our way up the tow path towards the lock.  The boat in the queue in front of us went, but he went far too soon, the cross wind caught him and he ended up pinned to the opposite bank, unfortunately there was no way any of us could get to him to be able to help him.  He tried to get off the bank at least 6 times and every time ended up pinned back on the bank.  Eventually he managed to reverse enough that the boat was diagonally across the canal, the guy I had been chatting to at the lock got on and walked to the front of the boat and used a pole to push the front forward, finally he made it into the lock.

Sorry I have no pictures to share of this, 1: didn't take the camera with me to the lock. 2: it would have seemed a bit cruel to photograph someone else's misfortune.

We progressed through the lock without incident and then through the next lock - no queue at this one - unsurprisingly.  We passed a golf course, a couple of the greens were very close to the canal, I wonder how many times some one over shoots this green and ends up with a water penalty.

We were travelling along without further incident when we came to a bridge on a sharp bend, so Rodney sounded the horn in case anything was coming the other way, luckily there wasn't but George over stretched on the back looking to see why the horn had been sounded, next thing splash!! Yes for the second time since we left in July he was in the canal.  Luckily I saw him go in and quickly pulled him out by his harness, the water here is much cleaner than in Uxbridge - thank goodness!

We are now moored just round the corner from the Poachers Pocket where we may well be having tea tonight.

(EH 378)