5th May 2013 - Maesbury Marsh to Weston Rhyn

Yet another lovely day!  How long can this last?  We had to leave at 9am to give ourselves enough time to get back for our booked passage through Frankton Locks at 2pm.  At Aston Lock No2 we met a chap from the Shropshire Union Canal Society who was just letting down more water into the pound above.  When we came through yesterday we were rolling along the bottom with water levels clearly down about 12 inches.  Apparently it had gone down another 6 inches overnight - but a bit of re-filling and we were fine again to continue. Arrived in good time for Amy to help us back up the Frankton flight.  She and Annie had a play with Duck on the way up!

The dreaded Llangollen queues hit us at our next lock - New Marton.  As we arrived there were boats literally all over the place!  Five or six boats ahead of us and a set of idiots parked up in the lay by at the bottom of the lock having tea! with everyone having to move their boats around them.  When the idiots packed up, then set off passed us at full throttle I felt compelled to admonish them and requested them to reduce their speed as people controlling their boats on the bank with ropes were being pulled over.  Only I don't think I quite used those words.

The rest of the day had a theme - HIRE BOATS.  Now don't get me wrong, we all have to start somewhere.  But this being a bank holiday weekend, everyone and his dog had chosen today to partake of their very first canal boating experience.  At one point ALL the bots in the queue, both up and down (except us) were hire boats.  That was the problem they didn't know what to do, and were doing that so slowly - the queues were building.

The next lock we cam upon a party of 10 Chinese (lovely family) who had decided to take photographs of their boat in the lock - rather than actually do anything to actively get it through.  Next came a party of Americans.  The three crew were all shouting different instructions at the poor helmsman, who had done well getting thus far but was becoming flustered.  We offered instruction to at least 1/2 dozen boats on lock operation, boat handling and safety.  Decided we have found a niche market and could put a sign on the boat offering tuition.

Stopped next to the Lion Quays at Weston Rhyn.... I wont call it a pub, more a restaurant/mini resort.  Nice beer, good internet but terrible service.

Arty Farty picture

Weed was a problem.  It gets wrapped around the prop, and has to be removed the hard way

Owl houses along the Monty - saw 2 barn owls too but couldn't get to the camera fast enough

The queue