June 1st to 3rd

June 1st
We're joined today by Sue and Dave, and by Peter and Di for our trip across the Pontcysllte aqueduct. Built around 1805, it is a fantastic example of British engineering in the early days of the Industrial Revolution. It consists of a cast iron trough 127 feet high and over a thousand feet long which carries the canal over the river Dee. On one side of the boat is the towpath and on the other a sheer drop! We had Benny locked in the bathroom in case he tried another spectacular leap from the boat.

Peter and Di

The aqueduct from below ...

Once across the aqueduct we continued on all the way to Llangollen along a very narrow and shallow part of the canal, but enjoying some excellent scenery. We moored overnight in the basin and went for a meal in a cafe overlooking the river Dee.

At Horseshoe Falls

June 2nd In the morning we all walked the remaining, non-navigable section of the Llangollen canal up to Horseshoe Falls where the canal meets the river Dee. Later we set off on the return boat trip to Chirk, and despite getting grounded a couple of times on the very shallow, gravelly bed, we made it safely back.

The return across the aqueduct

Llangollen Basin

3rd June Roger returned to Leamington to see Jenny and the boys and stop the night with Peter.
Bought some steel tubing and arranged for welding to be done in readiness for fitting seats on the stern deck. Look out for future developments!