Bartimaeus

In the morning I decided to take some air and sit outside on the bow in the sun, legs stretched out and cushions under and behind me. I took my tablet and started to think about what Welsh song to choose as my title this time and start typing up my previous day's story. 

A man came walking past and stopped to remark on the extradinary sunny weather we were experiencing. He asked where we had come from, I said that depended on how far back you went and explained we had covered quite a distance since 2021 and we were just meandering. He told me I should write a book. "You could use that" he commented indicating my tablet. I told him I was regularly writing about it in a blog and that's just what I was currently doing. He told me about different vlogs he watched and we talked about the different styles, chatty, informative, or a camera on the front showing the front view in real time without commentary and he asked what the difference between a vlog and a blog was. I knew the difference but as I realised that while v meant video, I didn't know what b stood for book, bio..? He went on his way and I  knew I now needed to to check. No, the b doesn't stand for an initial letter at all. B is short for web. Well this is all a journey of discovery and I like finding out derivations and how language evolves.

We were moored opposite a marina entrance where a Canada goose and a Muscovy duck were hanging out. I kept hoping the Muscovy duck would come a bit nearer but it seemed to be enjoying the bank. We headed off down the towpath for a walk towards the main sights and a cafe Shane had seen marked on his map, then we found it had taken to the water.

It moved quite fast since it was going with the current and I had to jog, rather than walk, backwards to get it facing me.  

Later I recognised the man who had spoken to me earlier coming back the other way towards us. I wasn't sure if he recognised me, but he proffered the information to us, in passing, that the aqueduct was 45 minutes away if we kept walking.  Shane concluded we might be walking at a brisker pace because he thought we should be there sooner than that.

One never knows how many pauses and distractions there might be along the way.  We walked past the boat with the lady celebrating her eightieth birthday as it was cruising along and she was sitting in the bow enjoying the sun. Shane made a remark to her about still celebrating - she replied it had been the best birthday ever! As we drew nearer our destination, we passed the other boat in their party and exchanged greetings again. Soon after we approached a moored boat that had one mooring spike hanging down in the water, having been pulled out, most likely, by another boat going past a little too fast, and who knows how well-placed the pin was in the first place.  It was drifting out into the path of any passing boats. The friendly party crew was now approaching and the driver was asking someone near the front, if she would be able to gently push it out of the way, but being pointy at the front it is actually quite hard to reach from one prow to another. I walked back and took the drifting semi-moored boat's middle rope from the roof and pulled towards the bank. There was a brief clarification of whether this was our boat, and I said it wasn't but it was how to let them get past. It seemed there was nobody aboard to do the honours. She gave thanks and I replaced the rope on the roof and we walked onwards.

I now hoped we found that cafe soon, so I could wash my hands now I had handled a rope. I had a longer wait than expected as the first cafe had a sign up saying "sorry we are full" and the next was not open. We returned to the  first one and I  wondered if it had been full for morning coffee and cake, with that rush subsided. On a busy day, removing the sign had perhaps taken second place to table clearing. I saw an empty outside table and went to ask if they now had space for lunch and was told apologetically that they had no electricity and could not make tea or coffee or hot food or take card payments. I asked if cash payment for a cold drinks and sandwiches would be alright and she agreed with enthusiasm. It was their first day opening of the season and she was delighted to have customers. I was equally delighted to be directed to the toilet and that, being outdoors, despite the lack of electricity, a shaft of sunlight through the top of the door meant I was not plunged into darkness. We enjoyed a tasty lunch with a lovely view at the garden table looking down on the boats, only marred by the non functioning electricity supply, with cables dangling down on one side.

It was a good day for a cold lunch and a lucky cafe find, as this was not marked on the map. We weren't headed immediately to crossing the  Pontcysyllte aqueduct but walked in stead to a path that went below it to view the immense pillars supporting it. It is a very long way up.

We observed  a motorised hang glider flying over. I wonder if they were closer to the aqueduct than we were.

We walked to another viewpoint, that the aqueduct is named after, the bridge that was built much earlier than the canals and railways and was single width for cars, but with refuge spots for pedestrians on each side so we could appreciate the view safely. We could make out people walking over.

We crossed the bridge and picked our way down a smaller wooded path with twists and turns, and a few interesting steps over rivulets to get to the other riverbank. Not the most accessible path but very pretty and worth it. We met two women who were on a coach party but one had found the airy aqueduct walk gave her the collywobbles, so she and her friend had chosen the low level course but waved to the coach party currently crossing high above. They went back up leaving us to admire the river and view.

Meandering back up, we completed the loop back to the canal, and from the aqueduct level looked back across at the Pontcysyllte. Walking over, I kept my fingers in touch with the rail almost all the time and stopped occasionally to admire the view or steady myself by leaning on the rail or grasping it firmly. I was finding it a little collywobbling too but hoping the collies wouldn't actually fall over, I kept going and sometimes stepped aside to let some people pass next to the rail if they look to be needing that security too. I think I might enjoy the continuous view and airiness better by boat than walking.

We kept our word to return to try the cakes at the cafe. Sian was pleased we were back and had good news. The electricity was back on and hot drinks were now available so I seized the rare opportunity to have a Welsh cream tea. Though Shane had ordered coffee they also brought a spare empty cup in case he wanted to share my pot, as well as a triple sandglass timer so you could choose to infuse for three, four or five minutes, very considerate catering. 

The loose leaf tea was in its own compartment too, so no leaves went in the cup. We had also been surprised by the extra scone options and were in agreement that rhubarb and ginger was most tempting and that we would like our bara brith buttered. 

Both were indeed excellent choices and they threw in an extra welshcake so Shane got a taste of everything. I decided I could be manage it all, without using the dainty cake fork, but Shane used his to spread the whipped cream a little more - perfection on a plate!