June 9th to 13th

On Sunday 9th we enjoyed some Chirk leek and pork sausages before setting off through the remaining locks and leaving the Montgomery canal. Our only bit of excitement came when, as Jean wrestled with the washing line, Benny made another bid for freedom at the top lock! Luckily he was feeling hungry and returned without too much hassle. We moored at Ellesmere.

What is this? Prize for best guess!

On Monday we set off for Whitchurch, stopping en route to look at Whixall Moss which was less exciting close up than it had been from a distance. As summer is now here and we are not lighting the woodburner we have to use our circular 'hob-oven' for bread making, which has worked splendidly.

Home made oven for the woodburner

Loaf in stove-top 'oven'

On Tuesday we moved on to Wrenbury and enjoyed a meal at the Cotton Arms. Apparently the Cotton and Starkey families have feuded for 400 years over ownership of land etc. In 1748 an arbitrator allocated the south side of the church to the Cottons and the north to the Starkeys as they couldn't even agree which pews to sit in!

Wednesday was an  exceptionally lazy day, spent reading and sleeping! Also ordered our new 'tractor' seats ready for fitting to the boat.

Thursday saw us setting sail for Hurleston Junction, where the Llangollen canal finishes and joins the Shropshire Union. It is the 13th June, almost mid-summer yet there is a bitterly cold wind, and the rain is lashing down. We have had to light the fire again to dry out!