Friday 7th August

We awoke to sunshine which lasted for more than 5 mins. Maybe summer has come back. It was lovely to be able to sail along without wearing fleeces and having to panic every hour to put on the raincoats. This is what summer cruising should be about.

We arrived in Ellesmere about 2pm and as it was Friday just had to have fish and chips for a late lunch.

It's good to know where we are in the country.

Four years ago we briefly stopped here on a one week hire boat holiday. It was good to have time to explore the town more leisurely and we headed for the visitors' centre at the Mere to start a sculpture trail around the Mere, adjoining woodland and back along the canal. The sculptures are a mixture of wood, metal and stone. Each had a plaque with the designer's name but it would have been nice to know what had inspired them to produce a particular piece of art. Some were more obvious than others.

This one is of the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct.

This couple did not seem to want to view the vista over the Mere ( but then it does seem a rather odd place to put a bench- the only time you can see anything will be in winter when the reeds die back).

Graham was rather alarmed when this notice caught my attention. I think that he was worried I had changed my mind about tonight's menu!