Wales

Wales.

"Noooo! Don't tell me that! Don't make me look down. Maa God ah am gonna have to see my shrink twice a week after this. Hey wait a minute, Ah am a shrink!"

This from a retired American standing in the front cuddy of a canal barge as it slowly chugged across the sky high aquaduct spanning the 'river Dee' by the 'Trevor Basin', where, if one is so inclined, one may execute a sharp left hander and carry on to 'Llangollen' here in picturesque North Wales. I was walking alongside the barge on the narrow towpath. I was carrying Tanya due to the rather large drop to one side which had robust iron railings wide enough apart to allow doggy access to the dizzying drop below. The other side of course had a very busy five foot deep 120 year old cast iron channel full of water supporting rather long and chuggy, slowly moving canal barges. No place for a small dog called Tanya.

The retired American was with a party of four and returning their barge to the basin at Trevor from where they had hired it a week earlier. He was 'height averse' and had queried me as to whether any barges had ever fallen into the valley below. I mischievously replied.

"Not for a while anyway!" This had elicited his panicky but jovial reply.

Ireland and an uneventful ferry trip was now behind us as was a day of high gales where Sadie, rocking away in the vicious gusts, slowly negotiated the North Wales coast toward Chester and a CL for the night. (Small, 5 van camping site affiliated to the Caravan and Camping Club).

Llangollen was our destination next day which was much calmer and sunnier. The Dee Aquaduct was our surprise lunch stop where we met the American holidaying on their hired barge.

Carrying Tanya over the aquaduct was as previously explained but also it was due to her having a sore front paw which is giving her a noticeable limp on hard or gravelly surfaces. Hopefully the twice daily bathing in salty water will cure it. Let us hope so.

So there I am with random passer by taking my photo in the same place on Llangollen bridge where approximately 51 years ago I stood with my brother Richard having our photo taken by Ian with my Kodak Brownie 125 camera. Ian was a friend who had accompanied us on our Youth Hostelling walking adventure. I wonder where he is now?

More old memories eh! As I looked over the bridge I said to Tanya. 

"Yup! There's certainly been lots of water flowed under this bridge since I was last here. Best not to think about it too much eh Tanya. C'mon, time for an ice cream."