Llangollen Canal day 7

 

Thursday’s day of rain was a distant memory as we enjoyed another day of excellent weather. The air was cold but it was warm in the sun and we even applied sun cream. The nights mooring was a quiet spot between the two lift bridges. We had plenty of time as the days cruising to Ellesmere would only take around four hours so the Brompton’s were deployed after breakfast for a short bike ride which we extended to around 8 miles. The country lanes were good for cycling and we must return with the bikes and do a longer route. We started by cycling past the wetland reserve. Unfortunately the new bird hide was still under construction and  gate locked. We crossed the Llangollen canal on the lift bridge and then cycled do the tow path to the viewing point over Whixall Moss. The lookout tower was closed for repair so we had to be contented with a view from the ground level The moss had been used for peat extraction but the area is now being restored.  We then retraced our steps and did a large loop thought the lanes eventually arriving at the Whixhall marina café. We sat outside and enjoyed a coffee and shared and excellent raspberry and chocolate fudge brownie. The café was a popular spot with the local cyclists as a steady stream arrived when we were there. The boat was only a short distance from the café and we were ready to set off at about 12:30 once the mud had been washed of the Bromptons’ wheels. The only lift bridge of the day was 200 yards from the boat. Having successfully negotiated the bridge it was then a left turn after about half a mile back onto the Llangollen canal. The jacket potatoes for lunch were put in the oven before we departed. We continued cruising until they were ready so had a late lunch and moored for lunch at a mooring spot by the 70 foot turning circle at a spot with excellent views and would have been a good place to moor for the night on a future trip trip.

We don’t have to get the boat back until 10:00 am on Sunday morning so decided to moor up at Ellesmere about 90 minutes from the marina. The Bromptons were deployed again for a ride into the town. We decided to eat on the boat again. The excellent Vermeulen delicatessen had closed for the day but the Moolah local store was a good substitute. Olives and smoked garlic aioli were purchased for a starter, chicken and chorizo pies for a main course and Italian pastries for desert. We returned to the boat for a cup of tea and to start packing ready for our departure tomorrow.   

Another quiet day on the canal with us only passing one boat coming towards us. We did keep passing one one boat who overtook us when we were moored on the Prees branch and who are moored a few hundred yards from us at Ellesmere.