Mysteries of the canals no.1 Why is there seemingly endless supply of green apples floating towards Ellesmere? Been here an hours or so and about 100 have passed.

We paused for a fungi forage at Colesmere.

The Hanging Gardens of Frankton lower lock were impressive. Now moored outside the Navigation, one of the best pubs on the network.

Just managed to sneak into the crowded moorings at Crickheath.

Rammed here. Must be the weekend effect. 😂😂😂 Walked from Crickheath to Llanymynech 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 and back. 15,200 steps. Now knackered. Canal restore is impressive tho

We inadvertently gatecrashed a VIP visit to the volunteer works at Crickheath. Some tremendous efforts being made here. I hope the chap from IWA was impressed!

Finally…! Stopped at the Queens Head. Lunchtime slurp en route to Frankton. Nice pub (good Welsh beer!)

Told you. Sinclair’s. Phones banned.

Ah, damn. RIP Herbie Flowers. So many great basslines - imagine having played on Space Oddity, Walk on the Wild Side and Rock On…

Early-ish start to catch the locks at Frankton but the weather is really foul so an early finish too. Moored at Hampton Bank under grey skies.

Not stopped raining all afternoon. Hope all you fellow boaters are safe and sound. Meanwhile…a lifter from Mcr approaches. When the going gets tough etc etc

48 hrs ago it was 25degs and glorious. Now…

Approaching Quoisley lock and whoomph…yer throttle cable has snapped m’lud. Awaiting RCR and realising how noisy the traffic from the A49 is!

Thanks for the messages about our busted boat. RCR did a great job…guy turned up on time, worked quickly, fixed it. Now at Marbury bridge and it’s a lovely evening.

Sz’s 70th today! We’ve fled to Aymestry in Herefordshire for a three day jaunt. Food, drink, history, walk, drink, food…repeat.

Another “search for the ancients”day. This is where my great-great-great grandparents lived in the 1880-90s. Nr Wigmore in Herefordshire.

Just read on Fbook that the Barbridge Inn is closing at the end of the month. Big shock for boaters in the area. Heard any rumours 𝔻𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕕 𝔹𝕣𝕒𝕞𝕝𝕖𝕪 𝐧𝐛 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 ?

Visited Hay-on-Wye today. Shan’t be returning. What a dump. 100% tourist tat. Sad because it used to be a lovely market town.

The ancestors, Pt2. My paternal grandparents shared a surname name with two castles. Bob Colcombe and Gladys Powis.

We visited one of the ancestral sears today. The other is now a pub in Devon.