Bridge 1 to Bridge 12 - Llangollen Canal

Yesterday (Tuesday) we stayed put as rain was forecast but it was dry in the morning so we went for a walk along the towpath to Swanley marina, we couldn’t go in as it was on the other side of the canal and no access to it from our side but it looked nice.  

Hotel Boats

Saturn Fly Boat

Lots of Ducklings

We walked further to the first of the two Swanley locks and going up the locks was the hotel boats, Kerala & Karnataka, we were surprised to see that they had made it up through Huddleston bottom lock, but the skipper said it was okay, they came up slowly and it was fine, so maybe there is more room in the bottom lock than CRT are saying.  

Off He Goes

We were going to walk to the next lock but it started raining so we turned around and walked back.  There were quite a lot of trees hanging over the towpath so we walked along the tree line for some shelter.  As we were walking a tug boat passed us pulling Saturn, the last surviving wooden Shropshire Union Fly-Boat, built in Chester in 1906. Her job was to rush cheese and produce, fresh from the farms of Shropshire and Cheshire, to the markets of the industrial towns and cities, running 24 hours, day and night.  She has been restored and is now run as a travelling education resource and heritage attraction. 

We were glad to get back to the boat and get in the dry and a good job we got back when we did, as it rained much harder for the rest of the afternoon and some of the evening.

A Dry Morning

Coming to another Bridge

Overhanging Weeping Willow

Coming into Swanley Bottom Lock

Today, we are moving on and we were glad to see it was dry when we got up, but it was very breezy and not that warm.  We chugged on under a few bridges and soon came to Swanley Bridge Marina where we moored up as we needed to use their Elsan point.  It is a really nice marina and they were very friendly and nothing seemed to much trouble.  They also sell bread, milk, etc.

We then went on our way and soon arrived at Swanley bottom lock, there was a boat waiting to come down and as the lock was empty, the chap kindly opened the gates for us and helped me work the lock.

Approaching the next lock

In Swanley Top Lock

Soon we were on our way again to the next lock.  This one was in our favour as well so I got off and went and opened the gates so Kev could bring the boat in.  These locks are not very deep so don’t take long to fill.

We then chugged on for a bit and moored up between bridges 12 and 13 and before the next three locks which we will save for tomorrow.

We will stay here tonight and then head on to Wrenbury tomorrow morning.  This is a lovely canal, very rural and we are enjoying travelling on to pastures new.

Moored at Bridge 12