Passing Days and Banks of Butterbur

The days pass quickly but quietly and mostly with the persistent patter of heavy rain on the roof. While along the waterlogged edges of the  canal saturated banks of Butterbur drip soggily into the water, the large rhubarb shaped leaves glistening in the still air. The clouds have been monotonously grey for many weeks frequently with large splashes of black making the day as dark as a winter’s afternoon.

And the rain has visited us every day.

 

Banks of Butterbur with rain on the lens as well as on the canal

 

Wrenbury Church on another grey start to the day

 

But today has been different.

We have basked in at least half an hour’s Sunshine overall as we travelled slowly along the Llangollen Canal from the sleepy village of Wrenbury towards the junction with the Shropshire Union at Hurleston and it appears that the weather is on the change. All the forecasts foretell a weekend at least, to bask in.

Since leaving Chirk after travelling from there to the end of the canal and back on ‘Roots and Wings’, happily to discover ‘Futurest’ waiting as patiently and ready to go as ever for me and with batteries fully charged through the solar panel, the little flotilla has progressed steadily north eastwards without any delays other than a stop overnight.

 

Blake Mere by the side of the canal

 

One afternoon we moored for the night alongside beautiful Blake Mere which was smooth, quiet and very mysterious like the back drop to some Arthurian Legend. Unfortunately there is no footpath that can take the walker all the way around, so Janis and I walked about half a mile along the towpath and over the bridge to the larger Cole Mere which was encircled by a wonderful woodland walk that took us past the sailing club and a small Victorian Church.

The Sun came out briefly and immediately the butterflies appeared as well, to allow us a photograph of the Ringlet as it spread its wings in the sudden unexpected warmth. Then the Sun was gone as were the butterflies.

But this evening we are tied up at a beautiful pastoral setting about a mile from the junction and its four locks, which we shall tackle in the morning.

And at the end of today the sunset, though unusual was heart-warming.

It’s the first we’ve seen for a long time and its promise is enormous.

 

Sunset

 

…. through the cratch