Today one of the tasks on my to do list was to take some photos for my blog.
A good excuse for a walk along the canal, down my favourite stretch, an unused section now blocked at one end. I love this part of the canal because the waterway is slightly overgrown. Occasional fallen trees have become part of the landscape. There are ducks, geese and sometimes a heron.
On the other side of the canal rabbits play in the field. In the hedgerows, honeysuckle blooms are intermingled with the hawthorn, foxgloves stand to attention in a very photogenic fashion against the wooden uprights of the rustic fences dividing the path from the adjoining pasture.
I’m often found, head almost in the shrubbery snapping some tiny detail or trying the capture the light and shade.
My well trodden path takes me up towards the locks. I pause for a moment on the bridge to take in the view of the canalside houses (with their own moorings) and some of the canal boats passing through.
Around the corner I stop to take photographs of the orange blossom with its masses of white flowers. It always strikes me as incongruous and I wonder how they came to be there.
Today I noticed that, what I call, the Monet bridge had been renovated with the old wooden beams replaced and repainted. Workers from the Canal and River Trust were repairing another bridge further along.
Along the way I passed a few dog walkers who nodded and said good morning.
I almost come full circle and I could cross over the road at the little hump back bridge and continue along the corner. Only I never do. To me it’s a wide open space – I prefer trees and more of a wilderness trail. Instead, I walk past the old 18th century farmhouse, recently sold and in the process of being renovated, and turn right down a track signposted public path.
I notice the garden at the old house, which once belonged to an architect, is overgrown with weeds. I used to love this house. It was slightly dilapidated as the elderly couple could no longer maintain it but the garden was beautiful, well established with plants, including the proverbial roses around the front door. Eventually sold and then some of the outbuildings demolished, work seems to have ground to a halt and the building now stands incomplete and cordoned off with metal fencing. Such a shame.
I always admire the end cottage opposite with wisteria doodled across the front of the building. Not in flower now but stunning when in full bloom.
This track is lined with trees coated with lichen and entwined with ivy, and shaded with lots of dappled light. It’s amazing how much you can see if you look closely.
Before I set off for home I watch a mother duck with her babies paddling about on the canal.
A great way to start the day!
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