April 27

We are in Chirk- the ancestral ‘home’ or fortress of the Mortimers- who in the 1380’s were a powerful, ambitious, and well regarded family. Edmund and Roger (of various generations) were the Earls of March, and the Welsh Marches was the frontier of defense of England. We will provide any further details as we explore Chirk Castle.

In the meantime, Nicole has developed such skill with locks and lift bridges, that the hire boat (rentals) people ask her for guidance and assistance. She is a fantastic and enthusiastic crew member, and really makes lock work go well. There are lots of lift bridges, which make for even more energetic work.

Short tunnel on the Llangollen canal

filling the lock

one of many lift bridges

England’s green and pleasant land

We have also experienced almost every kind of weather- in one hour. While in one lock today, the wind got up, the sky darkened, and the rain/hail mixture came about horizontal. Ed ducked into the boat, but Nicole was helping another (VERY rookie) pair of ladies with the lock, and there was no escape. She got back to our boat looking just a little (??)bedraggled and chilled.

Nicole still thinks boating is fun (the stove was lit and she warmed rapidly!) We have good clothes, and the experience is really part of boating!