Sunrise at 08:30 on Tuesday 20th ...
... and a bit brighter at 10:10 as we were ready to up-sticks and cruise on!
I walked a couple of miles with panoramic views ...
... of the Staffordshire countryside
The Wrekin ... 15 miles away
Apart from startling hundreds of Fieldfare who were feasting on the remaining hawthorn and rose hip berries along the towpath and surprising a Pheasant to flight behind the hedge, this was the first sign of life that I'd seen since setting off - New Brighton Bridge (51)
The Swan family also enjoying the sunshine
The village of Goldstone in the distance ...
... as I arrive at Fox Bridge where George will pick me up
Snug as a bug in a rug!
Approaching Woodseaves Cutting where the canal is dug deep into the rock formation ...
... and where I spy Chas and Ann on Moore 2 Life catching up with us
?? fantastic!
- a click of the camera that was not intended! (we really weren't traveling that fast!)
You can see clearly now by the height of the bridge how deep the cutting becomes ...
... dwarfing Moore 2 Life
Tyrley Locks - and we all stop for water - the tap has been out of action for a couple of years!
Spot the difference ...
... the NO sign has gone (something to do with joining the European Common Market I think - ironic that it's disappeared at this time when the Euro is in such difficulties) (picture taken April 2010)
The water tap is so slow Geoff Seyella starts a game of fetch ...
... and all three dogs join in ...
Meg always brings it back for another throw ...
Big Molly in front and little Molly in the rear ...
... whoops, little Molly has it - typical terror though ... she will not let go!
... and now big Molly has it ...
... and she won't drop it either! Meg just wants to know what's going on, they keep pinching the ball
Our water tank eventually fills and we move off down the Tyrley locks, here looking back at lock number 2. no-one in sight yet ...
... and forward to the next one
The same crop was growing in this field the last time we passed this way ...
... on the 20th November 2010 - and asked if anyone knew what it was ...
Sue said...That field is bamboo I think, I walked through it last time I was here.. you know the sticks they use to keep runner beans up
James said...The crop is probably Miscanthus (commonly called Elephant Grass), it is now being grown as a biomass crop for renewable energy. It grows through the Summer but isn't harvested until the following early Spring, then the next year's crop starts to grow.
In lock 4 looking down onto the last lock of the day ...
... who's that helping
Moore 2 Life down behind us?
It's a chap with his own windlass and a liking for working locks for the boaters - good of him.
We arrived at our destination just after 2pm and have settled in well hopefully for the duration of the festivities.
dont believe you
ReplyDeleteHello Anonymous - what don't you believe?
ReplyDelete