``

Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Pontypool

This morning we moved all of 100 yard to Roadhouse Narrowboats pump-out point and Nigel was there spot on time to do the business so by about five past nine we were on our way leaving Gilwern for a second time, this time going south. The first thing I noticed was once through the bridge

IMG_2543   IMG_2547

without decapitating my self was the water was  much clearer and there were more plants growing in the canal. You soon come to a right angle bend where the canal goes under the new Top of the Valley dual carriageway, luckily its a very wide bridge as there is a boat moored under it.

DSCF0947   DSCF0948

I then had the first weed hatch moment of the trip with a load of bulrush roots round the prop and shaft, sorted in minutes, I didn’t even pull into the side.
he owner of this offside mooring has a very good collection of street furniture, I won't go into the legalities of their collection.DSCF0951

I can’t imagine this boat gets taken out very often, it wasn’t the only one we saw like that.IMG_2550

There were over a dozen Wilderness trail boats moored at Govilon Boat club amongst all the many cruisers.IMG_2555

I don’t know how frequently the busses run along this canal, but if you want one this is the place to stand.DSCF0955

With most of the full length of this canal effectively being on an embankment, its a contour canal hanging on the side of a mountain we only saw two stop gates that have seen any recent maintenance.DSCF0957

We passed this rather impressive building, it still has a davit hoist on the end, Llanfoist wharf.IMG_2561

Looking out across the valley we could see this row of spaced trees along the ridge. Sorry about the electric cable.DSCF0960

I didn’t realise that Wales also had little people who lived in the woods, I thought it was just the Irish?DSCF0961

I don’t know who, why or when these little figures were set out along the back of the towpath, but I like them. They are only tiny.DSCF0962

This is the only cutting we have been through on the full length of the canal, I know we haven‘t quite done it all yet but I don’t think there will be one now.DSCF0968

We were soon at Pontymolile Basin were we visited by car last week. Although its called a basin its actually a junction where the Pontnewynydd Arm of the Monmouthshire Canal use to go off.TheIMG_2570

IMG_2569

The white building use to the toll house and there is a gauging lock right outside it. This is just north of the old junction.

 

 

 

From here the canal runs along the back of terraced houses both sides of the canal and the only thing of real interest beside the weeds which was now slowing us down was this old chapel that has numerous plaques in the wall with names on them.IMG_2574

I have no idea about the doorway up in the air. From here it was only a few hundred yards to our mooring for the night, right outside The Open Hearth pub and as it was so close it would have been silly not to have checked out the beer and food.

Today’s Journey Screenshot 2025-06-18 180128

16½ miles with no locks in 8½ hours

No comments: