Tony visits at Whitchurch and a meeting at Grindley Brook

Old Man’s Bridge (38) to Willeymoor Lock via Whitchurch Arm, Llangollen Canal, 5 miles 7 locks

We pulled the pins early this morning to cruise down to Whitchurch to wait for son Tony to arrive from Portsmouth.  I thought we better get down the Whitchurch arm early as the last time we passed it was absolutely chocker block full of boats “If we get there about 9.30, some of the boats will have left” says I to Vic.. so the right turn before the swing bridge then..

Not one boat in the arm!!.. I couldn’t believe it.. so we went to the end..

We seem to be going to a lot of ends of canals lately!

Wasn’t long ‘till Tony arrived and we reversed back to the winding hole (turning point) a little further back and faced No Problem in the other direction.  Going out of the arm, there was no way that we could turn right, too tight a turn to go through the swing bridge, but there is a handy winding hole just west a bit, so round we came again.. and on through the lift bridge..

So quiet today, in fact as we approached Grindley Brook staircase locks the lock keeper saw us coming and opened the locks ready..

Tony and Vic were discussing this and that while the lock keeper was shouting up to them to let the water out of the top lock! .. Hey you two, concentrate!!

Dropped down the staircase and round the corner to the next lock.. and who was approaching but the two E’s with Bendigedig.  Elsie saw us and opened the gate as the lock was full and in our favour.  We dropped down through the lock then moored up in front of the waiting boat and sat on the bench chatting a while over a cup of coffee.  Not one boat in sight, unbelievable.. there would have been no way that we could have done that a couple of weeks ago, it was jammed with boats on this stretch then.

After exchanging news and hugs we parted company to go our opposite ways..

Elsie and Eric are wintering on the Llangollen this year.. not a bad choice me thinks.. bye you two for now, was great to see you today, we will catch up with you next year when we will get to drink that bottle of wine!  

Onward to Willeymoor Lock where we are taking Tony out for a meal.. I enjoyed a walk with him this afternoon after putting the pins in.. once again the Shropshire countryside is beautiful, although some of the paths are very overgrown.. We got quite a surprise as we went round one corner..

Right then, gotta go, time for munchies in the pub..