Ancient Mariner with crew, 19 - 20th August

Exciting weekend ahead: I shall be surrounded by a flock of Bright Young Things on board, and it will be fab. A gentle cruise on Saturday morning with the weather clearing,  due at Chirk Tunnel north - here it comes -

meeting the London train at 10.45am. My nephew and his girlfriend were up for the weekend for their first taste of narrowboat travel.

Once they were aboard, off we went for the rest of the crew: my daughter and her bestie:

Who were travelling by car to Llangollen, parking there, then getting the bus back up the line of the canal to Trevor and walking along the towpath until we met. Both bus and train being equally late, the plan worked to perfection,  as we picked them up just 50m beyond the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. 

Now, I'm not good at heights. And I had to steer. So I never even glanced at the view, never mind taking pics. The towpath was rammed with walkers, including a highly elated stag party of 15 or so blokes in fancy dress, which certainly took my cringing mind off the abyss beyond my shoulder blades. 

And breathe. Now it's the acute turn in a basin full of kayaks, day boats, SUP boards, onto the last section up to Llangollen. Just on the point of a perfect completion with my nose on the shadow of the bridge, and a trip boat appears inches away (no visibility through At All). I was just contemplating the necessity of backing up and wiping out five fishermen (it would have served them right, frankly), when the trip boat reversed out of the way. Most grateful!

Gorgeous scenery from this canal, which is carved out a hillside. Very twisty so a brilliant challenge, and my youngsters were nattering happily in the sunshine, all of us having a blast. There are a number of narrow passages so the crew came into its own at those points, walking ahead to check for clear passage and then warn any oncoming vessels of our approach. And I do believe I impressed the gang by spinning and reversing onto a pontoon at Llangollen basin with some style.

We had made good time against the flow, being moored up by 5pm. Into town to explore.. all independent, quirky shops, so interesting.  Then aperitifs in the Corn Mill - big, busy, excellent views over the river Dee - then dinner at M'eating Point.  Much smaller, cute, excellent vegan and gluten free offerings, and the most genuinely welcoming service I've come across in a long time.

I have failed to illustrate this next report and I have no excuse. The Crew had discovered that I had never had a Jaegerbomb and they were determined to initiate me. The Corn Mill had no Jaeger. M'eating Point did but no energy drinks. But if we wanted to go and get one, then they would sort us out. They even had a dim memory of the necessary glasses being tucked away somewhere.. It was a really excellent night, with all of us getting on brilliantly and laying down solid friendships.

The Northern contingent bid Farewell eventually and drove back to Colwyn Bay, while I and the Londoners settled down for the night. Woke to the most beautiful weather.

so we all went walking, up to Llantisilio Church and the Horseshoe Falls , where some adrenaline addicts were throwing themselves into the rapids.

Thence to the Chain Bridge Hotel for coffee, 

with more entertainment laid on,

And across the bridge - bouncy! - and back through town and the Riverside promenade to the boat, to reverse our route back to Chirk.

A fun cruise: we needed to wait at the aqueduct for a gaggle of 12 or so canoes to cross, then another bunch of kayaks by the moored boats and a trip boat coming up behind them, then at the next bend yet another group of kayaks.. yikes! Once through that lot, there was little oncoming traffic, and I surmise that we caught a lull between pulses of hireboaters being released from marinas along the canal. 

We reached Chirk somewhat late for the 14.45 but time for tea and bikkies and a last chat before walking up to the station for the 16.05, which was on time. Fond farewells,  many promises for return visits, and they were whisked away. 

The weekend had been everything I had hoped for so celebrated with a bag of chips, and wound up the evening helping a newbie get into the mooring along from me. He'd got stuck across the canal and had no idea how to bring his stern across and into the bank. So I helped pull them in and then once he'd calmed down, poor thing: so stressed: gave a little explanation about the Spin and how when turning the nose left you're actually also turning the stern right.. especially if the nose is held in place. Retired to the saloon feeling like the Ancient Wiseacre. More crew coming tomorrow so staying put until they show up. It's a social whirl!