Since we were at the end of the Llangollen Canal, we are heading back the way we came, then will continue past our starting spot for week 2. This morning took us back over the 2 aqueducts and through the 2 tunnels. We’re feeling like pro’s now!

We stopped at the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and had a wander down under it. It’s quite the impressive structure! We also walked across on the tow path, so 4 times across for this trip. It’s a long way down to the River Dee!!

We motored on for a bit and moored near the town of Chirk. The first thing I noticed was the smell of chocolate. After a bit of speculation – were they processing cocoa bark mulch? were they actually making chocolate? – google confirmed that there is a Cadbury factory here. this is where the cocoa beans come to be roasted and processed for use in their other factories. It did smell really good!

Since we need to see more of the area than just the canal, we took a 40 minute walk up the hill to Chirk Castle. The castle was built in 1295 and is still completely intact and habitable. The last owners lived there until the 1980’s, and their family had owned the castle for over 400 years. The rooms open for tours still have the original 1700’s furniture that the family purchased when they did a “remodel”. We also got to venture down into the dungeon – but managed to make it out safely.

It’s always good when you return from a wander to find your boat still moored along the canal!

Then back to the boat and a short trip to a mooring spot for the night. Dinner on board, but the dessert menu, “puddings”, at the canal-side pub look really good. I think we’ve earned that tonight.