The Montgomery Canal 2014

If it ever does becomes possible, a trip by narrow boat from Frankton Junction on the Llangollen to Newtown in mid Wales – a distance of 35miles – will definitely be scenically stunning.  When we hired our first canal boat 30 years ago I had my heart set on one day being able to do just that.  At the time I thought it a realistic ‘wish-list’ entry but 30 years later it’s still only possible to cruise 7 miles from Frankton Junction.

           

Walking from Maesbury to Gronwen Wharf, this is a taste of the scenery.

When we were last here, 3 years ago, restoration had reached Gronwen Wharf and things were well underway with the section from Redwith to Pryces Bridge.  That has now very recently been filled with water but if you chose to go to the end you would have to reverse back as there is no winding hole.

               

The section of canal that has just been filled with water.  I think it took about 4 years to complete.

The next section to be restored goes as far as Crickheath where a winding hole is to be reinstated.  A development grant of £160,000 has been awarded for this and an application for a much larger amount of funding has been submitted.  That will leave another 2 miles before reaching the Welsh Border at Llanymynech and, according to the lock keeper, when that happens the Welsh Government has promised funding.  I think that’s what she said! 

                   

The next section to be restored – Pyres Bridge to Crickheath.  It looks daunting!

Below -Lots of volunteer support is in evidence from a variety of waterway groups – motivation remains high.

         

Talking to ‘those-in-the-know’, the major obstacles to progress are:-

• Funding.  No surprise there then – isn’t it always?
• Conservation issues.  A lot of the canal has been designated SSSI status due to rare aquatic plants, insects and amphibians.  A great crested newt was caught in a bottle trap in the next section to be restored and, according to a local, that newt, for one reason and another, has cost the project £20,000!
• Construction issues.  Some locks still need to be rebuilt (many have already been done) and there are several road crossings blocking navigation.  I think I read somewhere that the Vyrnwy Aqueduct is in good structural order.

There’s also the need to maintain the section that is navigable!  Talking to other boaters the consensus is that it’s too shallow in places (we’ve had a few ‘sticky’ moments!), very overgrown in places (we’ve had a couple of serious arguments with over-enthusiastic willows!) and there is a serious lack of places to moor.  Several boaters we talked to said they wouldn’t bother coming back and that’s a shame because it’s true when they say ‘use it or lose it’.  This time we’ve seen many more hire boats down here – they don’t tend to stay more than a night but at least they are utilising the navigable section and sampling the culinary delights of The Navigation Inn at Maesbury!  There is an 11 mile landlocked section between Ardleen and Berriew but apparently this is now badly affected by lack of boats, inadequate dredging and weed growth – ‘use it or lose it’!

So, for now the best way to explore the full length of the canal is to don walking boots and ruck sacks.  They say that, for walking enthusiasts, this is a perfect 3 day trip – a challenge then for my friends Rosa and Richard who are said enthusiasts.  Something to think about you two!!

Other ways to enjoy it is by canoe or going for a ride on the horse-drawn boat ‘Countess’.

           

Me?  Like many others I’m sad that progress has been so slow but remain optimistic that I might just be awarded a very special 80th birthday present!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Ben and Megan will just have to hire a boat!  Ben can be Skipper for his old mum and dad and Meg can be chief lock wheeler.  They can recruit any other crew members they feel necessary!  xxoo

As Time Goes By ………

Just a few snippets of the last week:-

 

The making of the new boarding plank.

We now have one surplus to requirements!

 

 

 

 

Walking in the countryside:-

Sometimes you see sights that just amuse:-

           

Other times you come across things that cause anger and frustration!!

               

And when friends come to visit, it’s just perfect!  We had a lovely few days at Audlem whilst the music festival was going on.  During the festival in excess of 70 different musical acts performed in the pubs, church and scout hall.  Yes, we ate too much and definitely drank too much but we tried to balance it with a bit of exercise too!

                   

Nantwich is a lovely old town. In Medieval times it was apparently the chief salt producing town in Cheshire. This is where Mick & Lynn stayed (we think?) – Rosie & Molly’s accommodation was much more modest - on board with us – but they seemed happy enough.

Walking around Nantwich yesterday we came across a little bit of yesteryear and thought this very special and very precious:-

You will be pleased to know, Lynn, that John managed to get himself a new pair of shoes quite painlessly so no more wet socks or dangers of tripping up!  We also managed to find a Screwfix to get another TV aerial but it felt like we had walked half way to Crewe!   So, market day in Nantwich today – I do love mooching around a good market.  A legacy from my mum I think.  Fed up now with all the rain but ……………………. what can you do?!  Should be on the Llangollen by the weekend.

xxoo

Complete U Turn ……

Four Counties Ring in 6 days?  With a large enough crew – what a great idea!  We were fortunate enough to have such a crew (eight of them) behind us going down the Audlem Flight and they had to get a move on ……………………. God Bless!  What luck! With lots of crew wielding windlasses and setting locks progress was rapid.  The three single-handers (two going up and one going down) couldn’t believe their luck either!

The following map is for my dear friend, Mick, who wanted to know details of the route:-

109 miles and 94 locks.

We are now moored at Audlem and there is a Music Festival kicking off tonight so that should be interesting.  It’s all been rather ’last minute’ but Mick and Lynn have managed to book a room in a hotel in Nantwich and are coming to find us for part of the weekend.

Exams

At this time of year I inevitably find myself thinking sympathetically of all those youngsters who are busily sitting exams. For the records, John used to be really good at maths.  Many years ago, it was only with his extra tutelage in my parents’ front room (!!!!), that I managed to scrape through O Level maths.  However, I don’t think he himself would pass today if he had to re-sit on account of his now very poor understanding of fractions.  I have an excuse because I was never any good at them in the first place but John USED to be exceptional.     The following picture demonstrates his current idea of half !!!!!!!!!!

“I rest my case”, as Mr Elliot would say!  I suppose it all helps the economy.

I wonder how good at fractions Mick and Lynn are? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  As good as us I suspect!

xxoo

It’s All a Matter of Choice …

Oh, the lure of the ring!  The Cruising Ring that is.  We are currently on a section of The Four Counties Ring.

I do ‘get it’ – I really do.  To cruise a circular route has most definitely got an enormous appeal.  Hey, I’m one of those who likes circular walks – I can’t stand having to come back the same way that I’ve gone!  So, yes, circular routes are great.

BUT ….. The Four Counties Ring in a week?  Actually, hirers don’t have a full week – it’s more like 6 days by the time hand-over and hand-back have been accomplished.  The Four Counties Ring in 6 days?  Clearly it can be done because we’ve met hirers who are doing just that but they tell me that they are having to be on the move for 10 hours a day in order to ensure they are back on time.  Ah!  So that’s why boats are passing us at 7am and 7.30pm!

I’m sure there’s an enormous sense of achievement at the end of it and I do appreciate that when you’ve spent a lot of money on hiring a boat you want to be making full use of it – not mooching around little villages or sitting sunning yourself on the tow path but ……………….. 10 hours cruising a day?  It’s just not for me.  Just as well we’re all different.  Each to their own.

What about the hawthorn blossom this Spring?  It’s spectacular!  Is it always as lovely as this?  Have I just failed to appreciate it in past years?

 

                       

We’ve been on The Shroppie several times before but I have most certainly failed to appreciate just how magnificent the balustraded Avenue Bridge actually is.  Bridges over the canal are not usually as ornate as this one!  It carries a driveway to Chillington Hall and was constructed for the rich landowners of the time who would only allow permission for the waterway to cross their land if such a structure was built for them.  Today, it’s in a bit of a sorry state of repair – such a shame because it’s definitely rather special.  I don’t know anything about the present state of Chillington Hall itself – is it still there?  Is it still owned by wealthy people?  If so  you’d think …………………….?

We’ve had a couple of disastrous walks of late.  One near Wheaton Aston where, in places, the bridle path was more akin to an Amazonian swamp and another where the farmer, much to our annoyance, won!  We couldn’t get through the thick hedge and barbed wire where there should, according to our map, have been access.

Lola doesn’t care! She’s a happy boater, walker and splish-splosher ………  The sun’s out, John’s in his shorts (!) embarking on the task of making a new boarding plank.  All is well. xxoo

Spring Migrants ………………..

 

                                                                                       have arrived from Cypress. 

They called in to see us for a couple of days on their way further North.  It was really good to see our friends, Chris and Ray, and spend some time with them.

We had a lovely walk together up on The Chase ………………..

                   

learned how to play Canasta employing ‘Cypress Rules’,

had a good mooch around Wolsey Bridge Antiques Centre and inevitably, parted with some money ……………………

AND ………………… made good use of their services whilst they were with us!

               

Sadly, unlike the birds, they will not be staying for the Summer.  Safe journey home you two and we’ll see you again whenever your next migration may be  xxoo

The Lovely Month of May

So far our first couple of days out of the marina have turned out to be the most eventful!  From Norton Junction to Braunston it’s only a few miles:-

• The tunnel was completely clear of fumes!  Also, the water was crystal clear – something I’ve not seen before.  The tunnel roof and sides were clearly reflected in the water and you could see right down to the bottom.  Amazing!
• At the top of the flight we found ourselves behind a single-handed lady taking professional instruction about how to work a flight of locks on her own.  So ……………… no one was allowed to give her any help.  She did really well but, inevitably, it was rather slow going for those of us following.  We ‘overtook’ after the third lock.
• A boat had to be pulled out of the bottom lock manually as, whilst in the lock, the tiller just snapped off at the bottom!
• When we were in the bottom lock the skipper of the boat accompanying us got himself caught up on the cill.  Fortunately, those of us locking saw what was happening and rapidly averted the potential disaster.

Since then nothing particularly eventful has happened – we’ve just been trundling along!  With the weather being so lovely over the Bank Holiday weekend we thought here on the Coventry canal it would be really busy but it’s been totally the opposite – so, so quiet.

It’s all too easy to take simple, but nevertheless, special things for granted though is it not?

 

The bluebells in the woods at Hartshill Hayes are absolutely stunning at the moment.

 

 

 

We’ve only seen one brood of cygnets – nine in all – but I didn’t have the camera with me.  Ducklings, however, abound.

This little family of seven ducklings were out getting breakfast in the rain and then mum decided enough was enough, got herself and them onto the bank and tucked them all under her wings. 

                                   What a mum!!  There are 7 under there, I promise!

                                         

We stopped by ‘The Little Chimney Boat Co’ to order Ben a special chimney for his barge.  Actually, that was just an excuse – what we REALLY wanted was a Cavalier –Fix!

                         I’m sure Lola would love a little sister!

                                 

Something else that caught my attention whilst walking Lola this morning was a collection of old motor cars.  There were big, posh old Rolls and Bentleys but, personally, I would choose this one:-

We are now at Fradley Junction and we’ve never seen the visitor moorings so empty.  We’re staying here now for a couple of days as our friends Chris and Ray, who now live in Cypress, are over here visiting friends and family- us included.  It will be lovely to catch up with them as a lot has happened to us all since we last saw them.  Then, onward to Great Haywood.

Back on Board

“Time flies when you’re having fun” or so the old saying goes.  Well, the last five months have certainly flown by!  We’ve succeeded in pretty much filling up a small house and have had lots of visitors.  The cows are back in the field so ……………… time to get back afloat.

It only took a couple of days to get organised and reacclimatise.  It now feels like we’ve never been away and we are looking forward to cruising again. 

It was sad leaving Crick yesterday because it has been the closest thing we have had to ‘home’ for the last seven years but we think it is definitely a case of ‘Au Revoir’ not ‘Goodbye’ – Crick Marina and the lovely Noel and Caroline haven’t seen the last of us!  After all, someone’s got to do periodic checks to ensure they are maintaining their resolve for a lesser biscuit consumption!  We will also want to check up on our favourite Scotsman, Bob, and Hookna to see how they are settling in to life in the village.

                         

Like the rest of us “Ellen” is not getting any younger and last year we seemed to have lots of boat maintenance issues so we are really hoping that won’t be the case this year.  I am struggling with a bit of a maintenance issue myself at present – dodgy knee – and just hope it won’t make lock wheeling too much of a problem.

Life is full of 1st’s.  In all the times we’ve gone up and down the Watford Flight we’ve never seen a workboat doing so ………… until yesterday.  Help was on hand to descend the flight.  It was a joy to see some healthy Horse Chestnut trees in flower along the tow path.

           

This is where it all began over ten years ago:-

Welton Hythe Marina. 

We bought “Ellen” from their brokerage.  Well, strictly speaking, John did.  I had only seen pictures.

SO much has happened since that day.

And now?  Heading North …………………. first!

Braunston Tunnel and locks in the rain – definitely NOT a first!

xxoo