Back on the Llangollen

Moored on the Llangollen half a mile from the Montgomery canal

Looking back up the Montgomery to the Frankton locks.

We get many helicopters around they are from the Services Training school at Shrewsbury

The first services and moorings on the Monty, the moorings are on the right and the services on the left. As we were tying up, who should come along but Angela and Trevor on Liberty Belle, we haven't seen them since July

Trevor moving over to make use of the services.


Well it's been an interesting week, we moved on to the Montgomery canal on Tues lunch time, and made our way down to the services, whilst there our friends on Liberty Belle arrived, we hadn't seen Angela and Trevor since July at Braunston, we were at the services then, and as they passed through without stopping, we didn't manage to catch up on the news. So a good chat was had by all, after watering etc. we moved across the arm to the moorings and spent the night there.

Weds saw us on the move, we travelled to Wootton and managed to find a mooring for both boats, the girls went off on the bus to Oswestry to do some shopping, and Eric and I went for a pint in the Queens Head, a very nice pint of Theakstons.

Thurs we moved, in terrible windy weather, on to the present end of the Monty at Maesbury Marsh, we turned and eventually managed to moor up, it was a real battle, the wind wanted the boat on opposite bank to were I wanted it and it took a while to get my way!. We stopped there until Sat and then moved back, in very windy weather, to Frankton locks ready for Sunday, locking out of the Monty back on to the Llangollen.

And so our Summer Journey is nearly at an end.

See you all next week.

Bye Ellesmere till April 2009

The BW services point at Ellesmere, Bendi filling with water and Shush just finished and winded.

Last supplies coming on board before leaving our mooring.

Managed to get a bit of painting done this week, the floor of the front deck wanted a coat to freshen it up, so found some Hammerite in almost the same colour as the original. Have put one coat on and will try to get onother on this week. Eiddwen and Elsie have been to Oswestry a couple of times (Eric and I sent a email to the shopping centre warning them that they were on their way, so they could get in extra stock!!).

On our way at last, we left Ellesmere this morning after using the services, water, rubbish, etc. Making our way against quite a strong gusting headwind, this, combined with the natural 2mph flow on the Llangollen was making the engine work for a change, it also made one or two bends rather interesting as well.

We are going to spend a few days on the Montgomery canal this coming week, and are looking forward to that as we haven't been down the Monty before. At present we are moored out in the country where we like to be when we get the chance.

Thats all folks, see you next week.

Still around Ellesmere

The Town Arm at Ellesmere on a warm Sunday morning.


We are the fourth boat down the line and Bendi is fifth.

Bendigedig winding at the bottom of the arm.

And returning to moor behind us.

Not a lot to report this week, the cut is getting much quieter with less boats about, we have moved on to the Town Arm for three days, as we have been waiting for some decent weather so that the paint brushes could get going. At last, today has been warm and dry and tomorrow is supposed to be the same, so out with the wet and dry this morning, some red oxide this afternoon and top coat tomorrow I hope.

E had her !! birthday on Friday so she had a trip to Shrewsburys shops and we went out for a meal that evening to the Thai Mere Restaurant in town and a very nice bit of grub it was too, we both enjoyed it.

Thats all for now, see you next week.

10 Day stop over

I should have published these photo's two weeks ago but the lack of signal held them up.


Hurleston Locks the entrance to the Llangollen canal.

This is the trip boat on the Manchester Ship canal with a full load.

This was last Thursday on the Preece Arm, just before sunset with a storm coming in.

Last week there wasn't much to write about, a quiet week as they say. We moved on from Whitchurch to open country, then down the Preece branch to Whixall marina for services and diesel at 75 ppl, we then stopped for two nights half way back to the main line it was very quiet and peaceful.

We arrived in Ellesmere on Friday pm and plan to stay around here for the next 10 days or so. Hope the weather gets better as forecast, because yesterday the wind was very strong, and last night I don't think it stopped raining all night. I'm hoping to get some painting done in the next few days, that is if the weather picks up.

Note to Eric & Patsy in California

We are not far from your home town now, in fact Eiddwen is going there tomorrow to do some shopping.I hope you both enjoy the canals as much as we do, BW are starting to put prices up for us CC's, next year there is talk of an extra £ 150 on top of our licence to cover the use of services etc for 12 month cruisers, and the price of red diesel is changing on the 1st November. When we buy fuel after that date, we will have to declare how much is for propulsion and how much for heat and light, this will mean that boatyards will charge us at a higher rate for propulsion. The general consensus is 60/40 split when cruising, but when moored up I don't know yet.

That's all folks.