Llangollen - Blake Mere to Poacher's Pocket

The 80 metre trip through the Ellesmere Tunnel started our morning, then we travelled through rural countryside for some time. Cattle and sheep were grazing in the paddocks and we noticed hay all cut and rolled We came across two ladies in a hire boat stuck fast - Derek backed up, took their rope and dragged them off.

Robin took the tiller for a while and pulled in to the side to let another boat through - oops sorry, he scraped the side. It's all part of the boating experience.


The sunshine gave way to heavy rain and thunderclaps. By the time we arrived at New Morton Locks it was Murphy's Law - more rain. Dot commented that it always rained when they went through locks, the rain clouds must have their name on it. Rain followed us all the way to our mooring for the night at Poacher's Pocket.

Waiting our turn at the locks

After the rain cleared we wandered up the very muddy towpath to catch a glimpse of the Chirk Aqueduct. This is more than 200 years old and 70 feet high. We walked over the path looking down at the vista below. The aqueduct leads straight into Chirk Tunnel. Tomorrow morning we will be experiencing these two delights on the narrow boat.

Chirk Aqueduct and Railway bridge