Llangollen Monday

We woke up early so we had time to give the boat a basic clean. The water was so still that the reflections were amazing. Minor cross words from the “plastic” cruiser behind us about our    starting the engine at 6:30. The engine needs to run for about 1/2 hour to heat the water for our showers. We keep the engine running to make sure that there is enought hot water for all of us. We also need the motor running to provide power for the vacuum cleaner. The complaint from the occupants of the boat behind was that they come for the peace and quiet. Not sure why they choose a place with many berthed boats, beside a road and next to a hotel for peace & quiet. A couple of hunderd metres up the canal, or around the corner in the Droitwich canal would have been a much better option. No matter, they weren’t in a real boat.

This is the view from the bow of our boat when we got up this morning.

We managed a reasonably good reverse into the boat yard berth, unloaded our stuff from the boat, handed in a list of minor maintenance stuff and headed to the laundrette. We managed to wash some things on the boat, but the 4 of us still had a machine load for each couple. Off to Chirk Castle, with a detour to Ironbridge. Built in 1777-79, it was  advertising for the skills of the ironmasters from Coalbrookdale.

As we were approaching Chirk Castle, the big cast iron gates looked familiar, then the ticket building, then the entry hall of the castle. We were then convinced that we had been there before, in fact it was in 2015 with Gary & Jan. Still good to see it again. Had a very amusing guide who gave us a history of the castle, as well as some appropriate jokes. The castle was built in 1310 and was a border fortress until 1595 when Thomas Myddleton bought it to create a family home. We spent almost 3 hours there and could have spent more.

Off to Llangollen for 2 nights. We had booked the Cambrian Guest House where we had stayed on 2 previous occasions. It will be great to sleep in a proper size bed and have a normal size shower after the boat. Still rather the boat. The local servo shop just down the road has all their wine in refridgerated cabinets, so we thought we should show our gratitude and buy a bottle of sparking wine, a very nice prosecco. The 4 of us walked down the main street to the Dee Side Cafe, just the same as when we went there 2 years ago with Gary and Jan. We started out sitting on a tiny patio overlooking the River Dee, had a chat with one of the waiters who came back soon after saying he has a much better table inside, beside an open window with better views. He was right. Just stunning. Llangollen is just as pretty as it was for the last 2 times we stayed there. Walked to the wharf to check out where we pick up the day hire boat tomorrow, then back to our room.

                            View from our “dinner” window                                                                The bay window is where we sat for dinner.