8th May 2013 - Froncysylltau to Welsh Frankton

Most narrowboaters start by hiring.  Most hirers are caring, thoughtful people.  But a minority follow the Captain Ahab/ Bligh school of boating skills - they know best.  The hire company instructor will have said to go slowly passed moored boats - but if you can't see why - then why should you? huh?

As a boat moves it pushes water in front of itself, and actually leaves a dish shaped hollow behind - which of course is quickly filled.  This means there is a tendency for boats you pass to be sucked  out from the side, to help fill the hole in the water that follows your boat.  The faster you go the more you move moored boats, banging them and in extreme cases even pulling mooring pins out.

We were - not to put too fine a point on it - miffed, when a hire boat zoomed passed us at full speed, crashing us against the bank then pulling the mooring pins out, leaving us adrift - AT 6.30 IN THE MORNING. A few silent curses followed him around the corner as we quickly had to dress and re-attach Ceilidh to terra firma.

Our pleasant crossing of the Pontycesyltte a couple of days ago in the sunshine was a distant memory. Our crossing today was in a howling gale.  Annie drove - so she had the tiller to cling on to!
Marston lock No2 was every bit as bad as our first visit.  This time the wind was slowing everyone down and it was proving quite an art even to enter the lock.

Moored up just before Frankton Locks and went a pleasant evening walk.

Re-crossing the Pontcysyllte, following a strange catamaran collecting in aid of Macmillan nurses.

Annie piloting at an altitude of 130ft