We decided to take a day off the water and stay on land. Our first adventure was the historic Llangollen Railway. The train running this Friday was a 1950's era motor coach, but in the summer on the weekends they bring out the steam engine.
It seemed like a mostly volunteer operation, retirees in railway uniforms. The station and equipment looked great, well maintained.
We motored our way up to Corwen, accompanied by an extremely mannered and slightly odd conductor, who would tell us fairly unremarkable things in a way that begged us for a remarkable response.
Corwen is trying, but was also not that remarkable. Pretty, pleasant, worth a quick stroll.
Then it was back on the train. There were two cars and we switched to the other one, but alas our strange conductor followed us.
From many points in Llangollen you can see a ruin on a hill. After lunch we hiked up there.
Castell Dinas Brân, or at least the bits that are still left, was built by Gruffydd Maelor II in the 1260's. (aside: "Gruffydd" is more or less pronounced "Griffith". See, Welsh isn't that hard) It's an obvious spot for a castle, so there were various fortifications on the hill since 600 BC. Anyway, Gruffydd built an impressive new castle, only for his sons to light the thing on fire 15 years later so it couldn't fall into English hands. Such was life in medieval Wales. It's been a ruin ever since.
That evening we went to dinner at the Corn Mill, a really nice and friendly restaurant on the river. As we were enjoying our after meal peppermint tea...
Up walks Peter and Margaret, who were seated next to us. We had a friendly chat. They were starting to sell me on the narrowboat life, at least as an alternative to something like a motorhome.