Canoeing the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct: The Stream in the Sky

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Completed in 1805, The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a most amazing and unique paddle. Mind you can go across on a canal boat or walk the footpath. It is near Llangollen in North Wales. You are not allowed to paddle a sup across it (sups must be towed from the footpath).
The Aqueduct and canal were listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2009.
Pronunciation: I struggled a bit with this one so I ask my Welsh friends for a degree of understanding and forgiveness. My daughter Maya, a Welsh speaker, did her best with me.
Many thanks to my friend Richard Grieve for the drone footage.
If you enjoyed this then consider supporting the channel by making a small donation at: www.buymeacoffee.com/RayGoodwin
Paddling the Prospector from www.venturekayaks.com
Paddles are made by freebirdpaddles.co.uk
PFDs and Gear by www.nrs.com
My website: www.RayGoodwin.com
Signed copies of my illustrated book 'Canoeing', are available direct from me or from Amazon. It covers far more than my RU-vid channel.
Outside of the UK the cheapest way to get my book is via the Book Depository which does free postage worldwide: www.bookdepository.com/Canoei...

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Опубликовано:

25 июл 2022

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Комментарии : 79

@mplsmark222 Год назад

What a sweetheart, and a brave girl! I know adults that would not be able to handle looking over the edge of that trough.

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

I will tell her. Thanks for your kind comment

@abupinhus Год назад

Wow! What an adventure!

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

It is quite special and a little mini adventure. Thank you for commenting

@pardon_this_1 Год назад

Loved the "We have to wait for a narrow boat."

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

It still makes me chuckle

@ianthomas8809 Год назад

To do that is on our bucket list ! We are on the Wirral so not to far away ! Thanks 😊

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

So not far away at all. Have fun when you do it.

@robmackins2111 Год назад

Definitely on my bucket list

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

It is a good one to have on the list.

@DavidWillis Год назад

Wonderful watching - simple pleasures, vicariously is nice, but somehow I think doing it for real may be a little different 😉 thanks for another fab video!

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Glad you enjoyed it! And no video or photo can really do it justice, it is just amazing to look over that edge.

@CourtAboveTheCut 5 месяцев назад

Having crossed this today the thumbnail gave me incredible anxiety!! More guts than me!

@RayGoodwinCanoe 5 месяцев назад

If you walked across then that feels a lot more exposed than in a canoe. Those railings seem very little protection. In a canoe you are down in a trough and the side is solid. but walk or canoe it is an incredible crossing.

@CourtAboveTheCut 5 месяцев назад

@@RayGoodwinCanoe yes I walked, the most worrying bit was passing people with my camera backpack on!

@meetmedog Год назад

Surely the Nanny State should have made the wearing of helmets for such an elevated crossing compulsory by now! Though of course you would have had to agree in triplicate to make sure to land head first. Good one Ray

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

At least a helmet would allow them to work out which end was which.

@jameswilliamstreet Год назад

Love that place. Used to abseil off there fairly regularly back in the 90's.

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Where did the abseil go over? Must have been a great experience.

@KartsHuseonica Год назад

That is so friggin amazing 👍

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

It is pretty spectacular

@Macken5678 Год назад

Looks absolutely amazing! Great video, Ray

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Many thanks!

@rwiart Год назад

What a great spot and fun paddle. Thanks for sharing.

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Thanks for watching!

@martinoutdoors6941 Год назад

Thanks Ray and Maya. Must be nice having that on your doorstep

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

It is! The canal and aqueduct are quite special.

@jaysway2346 Год назад

What a spot! Your video's inspired me to complete a solo canoe intro to white water course last week.

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

That is awesome! I hope your course went really well.

@tonywrobleski5185 Год назад

Thanks Ray

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

You are most welcome

@Tim8o1 Год назад

We have gone over the aqueduct a few times now, both in a canoe and by foot and every time we do wept into the Telford Inn for a beer :)

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Yep it is a good place for a pint. A good way to finish off a trip.

@colinbroadway7814 Год назад

Brilliant I still remember the first time I crossed. Can't help noticing the difference in your paddling style between your earlier trip and this latest one. Just because your bow paddler has improved so much doesn't give you an excuse. Ha Ha

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

I have got to have some sort of excuse. Time Maya paddled me about.

@jameswilliamstreet Год назад

When it was built the joints were made watertight with hemp rope soaked in treacle.

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Don’t forget the ox blood in the mortar

@Alasdair54 10 дней назад

I couldn't even walk across - I did try - knowing there was no railing on the channel side. Was fine on the tourist barge from Llangollen though.

@RayGoodwinCanoe 9 дней назад

I think it feels safer padding across in a canoe. The barrier between you and the drop is solid rather railing. Mind a lot of folk don’t like walking across: you are not alone

@cfx3 Год назад

chonky and lovely

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Not sure I want to be chunky. Maya will settle with lovely🤣

@MrMjt888 Год назад

Lovely watch during my tea break. Which reminds me….. I need another brew, yes I do, dum dee dum dee doo.

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Yes you do.

@unclejohnthezef Год назад

I love everything about this... except leaning over the edge looking down!

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Yep it’s a long way. Unique for a canoe paddle. A lot won’t look

@BuckMckawtheotherone Год назад

Impressive foresight of these two engineers to provide such a panoramic, adventurous bridge, rather than conventional locks, in the early 1800's. That would be breathtaking. Now I see why you're such a quiet man; Maya can talk for the both of you. lol. Thanks for sharing, Ray.

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

The Llangollen Tourist Board were very far sighted back in 1800. Yep I had a drive in the car when Maya wasn't talking... I thought I had gone deaf.

@BuckMckawtheotherone Год назад

@@RayGoodwinCanoe ha ha ha ha.

@adventureswithjosie Год назад

That is so cool! What an amazing place to paddle!

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

It really is! Very special indeed.

@adventureswithjosie Год назад

@@RayGoodwinCanoe I'd love to visit there someday, even just to walk across!

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

@@adventureswithjosie On that stretch there is a tunnel and another aqueduct so it makes for a good little trip. I think the walk across is even more scary for a lot of folk. Anyway another thing for you to add to a bucket list.

@adventureswithjosie Год назад

@@RayGoodwinCanoe Yes for sure! Sounds awesome!

@demondunk Год назад

Looks fantastic. I have walked across it, but yet to paddle across.

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Oddly enough it feels less exposed in a canoe than on the walkway.

@demondunk Год назад

@@RayGoodwinCanoe will definitely give it a go

@markl2815 Год назад

Nice one fella

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Much appreciated

@johnhowes375 Год назад

I think there should be a fence, the same as for the foot path.

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

It is actually safer than the footpath. The railings are a little far apart and a small child could easily squeeze through. In the trough the side is high enough to make it safe when seated in a canoe. However they have banned sup being paddled across it: stood up on a board would have serious risk attached. Sups must be towed across from the footpath. Don't worry the authorities are really on the ball with the risk.

@wilfmeier6685 Год назад

Wonderful video Ray! How is the traffic controlled entering from either end?

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

You have a clear view from one end to the other so only go when the whole thing is clear from at the other end. No different to a narrow bit of road. At a busy time that can be quite a wait as a line of narrow boats clear it, but once clear it is you turn.

@mattmoore1311 Год назад

Stone masonry and bolted cast iron. That's some "pucker up" construction!!

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

It is particularly staggering when you think the first ever iron bridge was only built in 1779. The construction of this started in 1795 just 16 years later. Also only one life was lost in the building of it. These workers and the engineers were amazing. Not short of the ability to pucker up.

@mattmoore1311 Год назад

@@RayGoodwinCanoe I was a commercial/industrial carpenter when a young man. I've gotten to work on a couple of bridges and a dam. We had lots of heavy equipment to help us. I'm impressed they did this with steam and manpower.

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

I don't think they had steam! I think it was just too early. But I can find no confirmation. But construction was used to cranes without steam.

@mattmoore1311 Год назад

@@RayGoodwinCanoe you're right about steam not in use yet. This animation popped up on my suggestions, and I thought you'd find it interesting. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nqeCu6jd9W0.html

@TheJnetnunez 3 месяца назад

Wow this looks amazing. It’s on my bucket list to cruise the canals of wales. How does an American navigate this?

@RayGoodwinCanoe 2 месяца назад

Are you intending to hire a narrow boat for a cruise? Easy to find rentals on line: Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart cruised the Llangollen Canal some years ago having hired a cruiser. You can jump on a half day cruise by hire boat or hire a canoe or join a half day canoe trip with one of the local companies. You can just walk across. Lots of options. It is just 4 miles from the lovely town of Llangollen. The aqueduct is a tremendous highlight of the Llangollen Canal. I live just 12 miles from it and cross it with friends or customers a few times a year, it never disappoints.

@akcarlos Год назад

not only was it a narrowboat it was short too your daughter is looking more like you as she gets older @Ray Goodwin

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Not too much I hope. Yep you can certainly see the resemblance. I did love the little narrow boat.

@DeeKayBrewery Год назад

I'm putting this on the bucket list! Is the rest of the canal worth the paddle?

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Very much so. Bring a very strong torch for the Chirk Tunnel (shows other craft you are already in the tunnel and not to enter). Chirk Aqueduct as well. And I really enjoy the paddle down from Llangollen. So much great scenery.

@grewal0013 2 месяца назад

its looks good but not feel safe my self for some reassons :)

@RayGoodwinCanoe 2 месяца назад

A lot of people are nervous around big drops 😳 so that is understandable. But sat down in that trough it feels better

@Azlorn Год назад

pickle rick hat

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

Well spotted.

@richarddevaottien7724 Год назад

Obviously a Tartarian structure from the previous civilization of giants.

@RayGoodwinCanoe Год назад

😅 Not sure about Tartarian but Telford was a giant amongst engineers. Some of the grandest engineering projects in the Uk were undertaken by him: Caladonian Canal, Menai Bridge and countless others. He is was known as the Colossus of Roads. A true giant.