Week 13 - Abandoned Boat

I stopped traffic this week! So, what else is new I hear you say. Well this time I did it with a key & a button. The power was all mine as I moved the stop gate across the road & raised the bridge hydraulically.
Well that's as exciting as it got as we spent our last days on the Llangollen trying to time our arrival into Nantwich for Thursday.
We needed to moor the boat up for a few days so we could hire a car & take off to Wales for a feast of Castles & Steam Trains. A hotel room with a bath!! What a luxury.
We were hoping to moor the boat outside the 48hr moorings but that plan fell apart when we saw the stretch of canal has concrete shelving. Can't use mooring chains, it would have to be pins. Hmm, not secure enough if you are leaving the boat for 2 nights. Plan B, move the boat twice within Nantwich moorings. The CRT man who happened to be there as we arrived hinted that he wasn't around on weekends to police the 48hrs as I explained our situation.

Anniversary weekend still wasn't a good enough reason to overstay your welcome.
Edward I is responsible for the castles we visited in Wales. He was out to show his dominance over the Welsh & protect "his lands". All are World Heritage listed & were built in the 1280's. The Queen still owns Caernarfon where the investiture of the Prince of Wales takes place. My sentimental favourite would have to be Harlech. My stair climber on my Garmin kept going off as we spiralled up to the top of the towers.
We stayed at Beddgelert in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park. Gorgeous little village surrounded by beautiful scenery. The steam train took us further into the countryside puffing to Blaenau Ffestiniog. This town is known as 'the town that roofed the world'. Talking about prized Welsh slate here. It's everywhere.

Sights/Activities
Caernarfon Castle
Harlech Castle
Rheilffordd Ffestiniog Railway

Pubs
The Horse & Jockey - Grindley Brook
The Black Boy - Caernarfon

NB Spotting
Boatee McBoatface
Bossy Lady

Total Lock Count
128