.. Spring Boat Rally 2006..

    Saturday 29th April 2006

A `Spring Boat Rally` was held today at the 5 Locks Moorings, Pontnewydd, it's aim was to promote and heighten awareness to the enviable asset we have within Torfaen.

The event was organised jointly, by the Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust and the Goytre Boat Owners Association and ran from 11 a.m to 4.30 p.m .... There were several stalls, where one could purchase items related to the canal, or try one's luck at `hooking a duck` (Plastic of course) to win a prize, maybe picking a `lucky number` to win a huge `cuddly` Shark, Snake or `furry` Dog, or a `show of strength` by `bashing` a peg to try and ring the bell !!!.

If one wished to test out their `Sea Legs`, then boat trips were available throughout the day, running every 30 minutes aboard the `Enid- Elizabeth`......  The only way to see the inside of Cwmbran Tunnel, (Cadw Grade II) - as there is no towpath through the tunnel.

When the canal was in commercial use, if a barge was horse drawn, then the horse would have been unhitched from the canal barge and `walked` over the top....... in the meantime the barge would have been `legged` through the tunnel; two men (bargees) lying shoulder to shoulder along wooden boards and literally `walked` the barge through the tunnel.

Visitors were also entertained throughout the day by a trio of talented musicians, which included Tony Breen and his wife.

.. Below is a selection of photographs I took on the day ..

Trip Boat emerging from The Cwmbran Tunnel      The Enid-Elizabeth Trip Boat    Chis Morgan aboard BOGWOPPIT 

 

.. Click on each of the photographs to enlarge ..

... A thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all ...

All photographs are copyright�cwmbran.info2004 - 2006