Not my type of boating not my favourite canal by a long way.

The upper end of the Llangollen reminded me more of a theme park than a relaxing corridor of peace and tranquility today....

Back to the start of the day which was peaceful at Frankton Junction, a boater passing the other way advised it was chaos at the new Marton  locks which was maybe a bit of an exaggeration but there were three boats waiting to go up the first lock and when we exited the second lock there were six boats in a queue with more boats arriving as we cruised off to the next delay. 

Leia gave me a shock by falling into the very fast by-wash at the second lock, luckily she remembered how to swim and I was able to lift her out before she was swept into the canal but for the first few seconds she was tumbling in the white water ! 

It was warm and sunny so she dried out on the back counter 

We cruised on to Chirk and eventually (the canal narrows and the flow of water being pumped down the canal from the Dee really does slow the boat) we turned onto the Chirk aqueduct.

 

A real privilege to take Percy from England into Wales via this unique structure.

We were following a day boat but the flow across the aquaduct had us crawling along and the day boat disappeared into the tunnel. A walker advised there was a boat waiting at the other end so we tied up and waited. We were soon joined by three more boats. It was very difficult to see if a boat was coming as all the many walkers were using their phone lights to light the way and it was impossible to social distant to get into the tunnel to get a good look. Just as the boat came out I could see a boat approaching  - I’d waited a good time and the pressure of the other boats was growing I wanted to alert the boat we were due in the tunnel after waiting so I let rip with the air horn in the tunnel - much to the annoyance of a pair of walkers who took issue with me over it. I explained why I had done it and apologised if I had made his ears hurt (snowflake I think is the term ) .... the boat came through oblivious to my horn signal.... so we set to and has a very slow and noisy cruise as we were accompanied by a group of  people who were literally screaming and shrieking their heads off in the tunnel.

My patience was wearing thin so we stopped at our scheduled location of the visitor moorings near the Chirk marina. I counted over 12 hire boats that all went out between 3 and 4 ... there were 8 from a base below the two Marton locks and god knows how many from the Anglo Welsh base over the aqueduct (plus three day boats) 

I took a cycle ride up to the aqueduct to see if there were any free moorings at Trevor and it was horrible, people (ignorant people who had not a thank you for me waiting and giving them space to pass ) all over, boats queuing traders trading. - all great if you want something to see and do but I wanted a little peace ! 

One of the Chirk hire boats had motored over the aqueduct and was hopelessly trying to wind where the canal takes a sharp left to Llangollen. There was a lady and fella on another Chirk boat looking lost and I asked if they needed assistance... she replied “ I’ve just brought this £hit map for 11 quid and its useless ... I asked if she was looking for moorings or to motor to Llangollen, she advised the latter and I pointed her on her way. Boats were headed for the full Trevor moorings so the winding there would have been interesting. The winding Chirk boat gave up when a posh looking trad boat came wanting to go up to the Trevor moorings. ( that were full) he was advised to throw a bow rope to one of the boat year staff who had come across the bridge to help... he did indeed throw the rope all of it forgetting to put it over the t stud to howls of laughter from the posh trad boat lady (poor show) 

I had saw enough and our trip will complete the outward section very early on Monday morning with a trip over the aqueduct wind and then beat a hasty retreat off this lovely but overly commercialised canal. I don't think I’ll be back until I have the back stove fitted on Percy and do it in winter.

So tomorrow we will stay put and let the hire boaters disappear their individual ways and avoid all the people who just don't seem to know about social distancing. 

The Monty is looking so tempting !