Head for the Hills

We left the Jack Mytton mooring at 8am on another cold grey day ( cor anybody would think it's February or something ) our aim was to get to Chirk before lunch for our forecast claimed snow in the afternoon.

On route would be two locks, our first proper aqueduct and a tunnel of 500 meters by now we were beginning to notice the flow of the cut against us as the canal gets narrow in places ( you always meet another boat coming towards you on either a narrow bend or a blind bridge it's the rule or so it seems ) and in particular where the canal narrows to go under a bridge the flow has to increase as the width squeezes the water through.

 As his confidence increases Barrie is tempted to take the narrowboat under the world's smallest bridge - no Baz don't do it!

Chirk Aqueduct was quite an experience, practising for the 'Big one' - Pontcysyllte,which we will probably do on Monday

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Two views of Chirk Aqueduct from the boat.

As soon as the Aqueduct is crossed the canal enters a tunnel, the boat tunnel light goes on and we also switched on some internal lights as per Boating Manual recommendations. The notice at the entrance of the tunnel warned us to check that there wasn't a boat coming towards us before entering, we could just see the light at the far end and no approaching tunnel light so bravely we entered the longest tunnel we've been in so far! It did feel spooky and seemed to take forever, mainly because of the aforementioned canal flow which is peculiar to the Llangollen. The dogs were not at all keen and needed lots of reassurance. Half way through Baz said "I can smell chocolate!", no we weren't about to enter the strange world of Willy Wonka, there is a Cadbury's Hot Chocolate factory in Chirk and the smell permeates the tunnel! 

As we emerged from the tunnel into a wooded cutting, mixed with the smell of chocolate was the distinct aroma of recently sawn wood (although the trees seemed intact) making today's cruise a very sensory experience,it's a wonder Ali didn't immediately set to and make chocolate cake as soon as we moored up. Apple and cinnamon cake is in the oven as we finish today's blog so all is not lost.

Snow is falling as forecast, tomorrow we will have a lazy Sunday here in Chirk,

The very aromatic tree lined cut near Chirk

Bye for now

Ali and Baz