Jones the Boats

We had to laugh at this sign tied to a railing on the edge of Ty Mawr Country Park when we took a walk in the vicinity of Trevor Basin / Froncysyllte this morning - yes, we are definitely in Wales!

Tonight moored just before the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and it’s cold and frosty ---- but, we haven’t seen any snow at all, while the rest of the UK seems to have been blanketed.   


Haven’t moved far since last Wednesday but we did pass “Border Control” finally yesterday.    As you travel along this canal, you are in and then out of Wales as it twists and turns between Wales and Shropshire.   

Walked around Chirk yesterday as we had to pick up some mail sent to the Post Office there by my sister.    Not a very big place but does boast a butcher, baker and greengrocer and a Spar supermarket.    Lovely stuff purchased from the greengrocer and homemade sausages / dry cured bacon from the butcher -  who also sold cakes and bread so we treated ourselves to some Eccles cakes and a loaf which were both very obviously homemade as truly delicious!    Must get some more on the way back!


Did a bit of an explore from our moorings earlier in the week near New Marton locks - over the fields to St. Michaels.    Could only find a vets, Chinese takeaway and petrol station selling basic grocers - oh, and a fish ‘n’ chips shop which hadn’t opened for lunchtime trade when we walked by.      Went again over the fields a different way the next day and this time found the Post Office and a huge Nisa supermarket but rather a long uphill/down dale trek to do any serious shopping there!


Six Nations rugby comp started last weekend so we’re obviously cheering on Wales - especially after their impressive win in the first game!


Since last blog we have done … 8 miles and  2 locks
Total since Setting Off ….. 1597 miles and  1259 locks  

we kept checking the water point
hadn't frozen by keeping the tap dripping

then the day we went up new Marton locks
to the water point, someone had turned the
tap off completely and, yes, it had frozen.
After some hot water treatment though
the water flowed again

but then our water hose had frozen!
Plan A:  bash it with the hammer

Plan B: manual twisting, turning, pinching
Plan C: use the spare hose and put this
one into the shower to thaw !

Chirk Aqueduct with the "last pub in England"
in the foreground

Chirk Aqueduct -
one structure is the canal, the other is the train line

Going over chirk aqueduct one cold and frosty morning