I was reminded of a line from the theme song to the film “Flash Gordon”. If I remember correctly it was “For God’s sake strap yourself down!” Poor Jan didn’t get that opportunity on the mooring as the Anglo-Whoosh hire boat passed whilst making the jump to light speed. At least she was able to hang on. Neither of us could understand why the need for speed when there was a line of moored boats behind us followed by a right angle bend.
We prepared Waiouru and decided to cross the Pontsycyllte Aqueduct.
The passage wasn’t quick as we seemed to be pushing our way through leaf porridge. Last time we cruised this way I missed the left turn on the far side and ended up in Trevor Basin. It was Day 1 at the tiller of a hired narrowboat and I think I did a 56 point turn to get back out. Yesterday I walked the same route and found the arm into the basin almost full of hire boats. Probably not surprising as the hire season is over.
The basin is beyond the bridge behind the hire boats. To my surprise it was empty, hence our decision to move there. Actually I had looked a the mobile phone and TV signal coverage and the basin appeared to have good coverage for both. Today I hadn’t anticipated the arm being completely blocked by hire boats.
There was a considerable amount of boat shuffling and juggling to clear a path for us to the basin.
You may be able to see the Telford Inn in the above photo (white building centre left). There is a second photo below.
The inn was constructed in the late 18th century as a residence for Matthew Davidson, the supervisor of the construction of Pontcysyllte aqueduct. Apparently rooms were kept here for Thomas Telford’s use during his visits to the site. Telford subsequently used Davidson to supervise the construction of the difficult northern entrance of the Caledonian Canal in Scotland.
The inn is reputedly haunted.
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