They set off into the tunnel and we could see the hire boat that was quite a way behind us just entering too! Someone was going to have to give way! We were calling in to Chirk Marina for diesel (72p/litre with self declaration) and elsan (free emptying) so we were not too bothered that we were in a “boat train”. There were plenty of golfers out on the course just by the marina

Golfers teeing off

 

The hire boat that was following us arrived at the marina too – they had to back out of the tunnel from nearly half way as they took all that time to realise that the other narrowboats would not be giving way! Whitehouse Tunnel is after the marina – a shorter tunnel than Chirk. The canal winds around the River Dee Valley along the side of the hill to Froncysyllte.

Here there are the remains of lime kilns

 

Across the River Dee Valley we could see the impressive Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - we would be crossing it in a few minutes after we had negotiated Fron Lift Bridge.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

 

John went ahead and opened the lift bridge (windlass operated). Fortunately it stays up and he could rejoin me rather than stand there letting narrowboats through! There was a hire boat behind us and one was just arriving as we went through the bridge.

Looking back at Fron lift bridge

 

The Llangollen Canal takes a sharp right hand bend which has created a winding hole before it approaches the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Around the corner are permanent moorings and two BW water points beyond them - apparently fast fillers!

The hills of Llangollen ahead at the winding hole

 

The aqueduct was clear so we started across - an hire boat the other end thought better of his "challenge" to us and reversed a little to wait for us to cross. He was joined by three other boats as we crossed! Hard luck folks - only just room for one way working.

The famous aqueduct with Trevor village at the end

 

As we were 126 feet above the Rive Dee and its valley the views were spectacular - hills to the south west and the railway viaduct to the north east

The River Dee flowing below - to the west and east

 

Just a few facts for you - this entirely new concept, "the stream in the sky," where birds fly under fish, took 200 men to build the stone pillars and iron trough, taking 10 years. It was opened in November 1805. The aqueduct is 1007 feet long and is reputed to have cost £47,018: less than a good second hand narrowboat today!

Epiphany on Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

 

I reflected as we crossed  what could be done with iron, stones, mortar ( made from lime and ox blood); the trough joints were sealed with Welsh  flannel and lead dipped in boiling sugar. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is an amazing masterpiece! It is now a World Heritage Site and well deserved too.

 

In November 2009, the aqueduct was drained for inspection and repairs. They literally pulled the plug! This spectacular event was videoed. Youi can see it on the Shropshire Star's website here - clickey click

 

We made for Trevor Basin and the moorings beyond Scotch Hall Bridge at the old wharf. Trevor Basin in the Ruabon Arm,  is worth a blog of its own; so I shall leave you with Epiphany moored just before the Plaskynaston Canal (what canal?) on the Ruabon Arm remains.

 

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