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Europe 2013 by David  /  8h  //  keep unread  //  preview A day of Oopses I left you somewhat dangling at the end of my last effort, a result of my need for occasional food and sleep, but to continue…we left Ironbridge quite reluctantly as there was no doubt much more to this little one. We had told our next cottage people, though, that we would be in around 4ish so already being a day late we thought it prudent to make some effort. Arrived more or less on time in Meifod, the home of our next cottage, and a welcome from host, Bob. The cottage is very nice and comfortable, except it has only a bath and no shower…oh and no wifi.   Our Cottage in Meifod These cottages come with everything you need and are very good value. To date we have not been disappointed.   Kitchen of Maesnewydd Cottage Monday and it is a Bank Holiday here in Britain and to listen to the news you would think it to be the first fine one in living memory. It was indeed a little cracker with temperatures hitting 22 and lots of sunshine, so off we went in search of places to go and things to do. Now it is a fact that when you have the above combinations of Bank Holidays and good weather  in Britain, there is not one single person who stays home and does the garden, no… they all go to the beach, the castle or any old place where I may have thought to spend a peaceful day. And so it was that we joined the queue to get a carpark to park the car to join the queue to get a glimpse of Powis Castle, the former home of Clive of India. It was worth it though as it is furnished and kept as it would have been. There is also a small museum dedicated to the memory of Clive, very interesting.   Powis Castle Now those who know me, may be aware that I have always had a great interest in Morris dancing, I mean Ballet, Ballroom or Rock and Roll…all rubbish, Morris Dancing rules..OK. My god! What are these people up to or have people been putting something in their food, I saw one of them later in Tescos still dingling and dangling with every step. I should leave them alone, they do no one any harm.   Morris Dancers at Powis An even stranger phenomenon at Powis is the topiary. There are large Yew Hedges which have been sculptured in the most bizarre fashion.   Topiary, Powis style With what was left of the day we made a brief visit to Gregynog Hall but was disappointed to find that only the garden was open and this, although well presented, was in no way spectacular. Back home via Welshpool and an early night. Getting a bit tired from time to time as a result of all the driving.  This brings me today and what a right little cracker it turned out to be. Firstly we called to Oswestry, a market town which was a great place to wander around and then on to  Llangollen (p. Clang cloche en I think) in the Dale of Dee. What a place this is with the Dee River running right through town, rapids and all.   Llangollen Now this place, if you are a narrow boatman, is the Holy Grail of Canaldom. Nearby is the Pontcysyllte (p. pont…something or other) which is the highest aqueduct in Briatin at 126 ft. It was designed by Thomas Telford and opened in 1805…. still going strong. The aqueduct connects Froncysyllte (p. Fron… something or other) with Trevor (p. Trev…or). I am getting quite good at Welsh now. Today I found out that dd is pronounced th and ll as somewhere between cl and gl. But I  got Trevor without any help whatsoever. Anyway this was something that I wanted to do. Let me take you back a bit. On the way to Llangollen we were sidetracked to Chirk Castle where we managed to drive the full two miles in by way of the exit road without any incident whatsoever, caught the shuttle from carpark to Castle had a cuppa and found it didn’t open (the castle itself) until twelve, so had a look around what was open then did the garden. This was far and away the best garden we had seen, with spring advancing more each day, this helped, but this is something special and it takes little imagination to see what it will be like in a few weeks when the rhododendrons will be in full bloom.   Gardens at Chirk Castle   We decided to give the castle a miss as there were things to do. Into Llangollen to check out canal trips. The one that took in the aqueduct is all booked out this week so that rules that out, so we decided to do a short trip just up the canal a bit in a one horsepower narrowboat. Now this one horsepower came with a name, Stanley or Stan for short, a likable old Clydesdale, but none too fast. This was like being transported into another age or place. It was so peaceful and with scenery to match. So with a clip and a clop of Stanley’s hooves on the tow path we made our way along the canal and then with Stanley pulling from the other end, back again. It was perfect.   Stanley   Llangollen Canal There was still the aqueduct to deal with and although I couldn’t boat it, maybe I could walk it, it has the tow path after all. So it was then that we set sail for Trevor and the route to our goal. We could see it, but Mrs Currin was not to be fooled by my “it’s only a bit of a walk” talk and decided to take in such views of Trevor as were to be afforded from the comfort of the Astra. I promised to be no more than half an hour and set off at a good pace, overtaking narrowboats at will, glimpsing my goal from time to time through the foliage of the ever present trees. Finally the object of my travels was within my grasp. But then the tow path came to a halt and to be back even fifteen minutes late I needed to cut my losses and return. There was, however, still hope as there was a road going into a village at this point so we could drive in and have a look. Back to “I no complain” Mrs Currin and she too is keen to finish what is now unfinished business. Off we go, Astra at full revs, and find the turnoff. “It must be over there” say I, “No there it is over there” says Mrs Currin. “It can’t be” say I, “unless it goes under the road…oh it does along there.” And there it was indeed, the railway line going over a viaduct. This morning I had driven two miles “in” the “out” at the castle and now this afternoon this, it’s no wonder Mrs Currin is beginning to doubt me. All in all though we have had a jolly good day.   The Elusive Aque..oops Viaduct That’s all from Meifod, tomorrow we are off on safari to Anglesea, but back here Thursday. Take care. David