As i asked the question and had some sensible replys i thought i`d let you know how we got on.
Fri, left the boatyard and turned right. had a very pleasant couple of hours cruising and moored up at The Narrowboat Inn for the night, nice pub, good food and beer wer`nt bad either.
Sat, friends joined us in the morning and we pushed on to Llangollen, really really enjoyed the trip, couple of locks, aquaducts and tunnels. not to many queues or delays and the sun shone the whole time. took us about 6 hrs.
Sun, what a contrast in the weather !!!!! rained the whole time but still a good day. we left Llangollen about 8am and dropped our friends back off at The Narrowboat Inn about 15;30. Pushed on to Ellesmere and moored up in the arm ready to return the boat Mon morning.
have to do it again some time soon