Further exploration of the Lancaster Canal north to Kendal.
Sunday 18th November. Westmorland Show showground to A590 underpass.
One would expect this to be a repetitious exercise having the canal as a backdrop, but there seems to be something different on each visit.
Today reflections in the water produced the most perfect, natural, mirror images I remember anywhere. The combination of a sharp, blue sky sunny day, and no wind were the contributors.
The scenery also changed because I reached the end of the canal as a water bearing entity, after which there is a short stretch near Sellet Hall where volunteers are working on reclamation, and after that the canal has been filled in, but the footpath continues and I went as far as the underpass for the A590, and then returned by minor roads.
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Memory Map Adventurer 3500 GPS. I bought this last May with the whole of the 1:50000 maps on board. It has now stopped working properly. It only runs for about an hour and a half on full charge, and then cannot be turned on. I will report progress on what reaction I get from Memory Map when I have contacted them.
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| It is difficult to believe that these are just reflections in the water |
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| Stainton Beck which runs under the canal, autumn colours are now waning fast |
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| Another magic reflection |
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| This is the end of the water bearing canal going north - next pic is just through the bridge |
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| Volunteer work in progress attempting restoration - I think the water arises from recent heavy rain only. Another dramatic reflection |
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| A few yards further on the canal is now filled in, but footpath continues |
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| Footpath goes under A590 and turns sharp right - my furthest on this trip, I returned by minor roads. Reconnecting the canal here would be a major engineering job |
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| My starting point next time |
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KATIE UPDATE
Katie was one year old on 25th October. Here are is a pic from her birthday, and a link to a video on YouTube -- http://youtu.be/-CatkBuS580
Why are they filling in the canals, Conrad?
ReplyDeleteThe Crow - For the benefit of other readers I should explain that you reside in the USA.
ReplyDeleteA network of canals was built in the UK during the 16th and 17th centuries. They were used for transportation with boats being pulled by horses. With the advent of railways their use declined, but they still played a huge role in our Industrial Revolution, and their commercial use continued certainly up to the period between the two world wars.
There is a rich history of the community who operated the “narrow boats” with the involved families going back for generations. After that there was a period of decline and neglect, but post WW 2 they were used increasingly by pleasure craft including the cult of buying, or having built from new, the old steel hulled “narrow boats”, fitting them with engines, and converting them into pleasure craft with all mod cons, but by that time a lot of canals had been filled in, I suppose for agricultural use, and many important links to the main network from smaller canals were blocked off. With the increasing use of canals for leisure, succeeding governments have invested to some extent in restorations, and many pressure groups and volunteer restoration groups have blossomed.
It is still possible to cruise through a huge part of England on the complicated network, and often retired people will spend many months doing that.
Thank you for that explanation.
ReplyDeleteWe have some relic canals, too, though not as elaborate a system as yours seems to be.
Am loving the upside-down sheep and the magical portals formed by the bridges and their reflections.
All those upside down sheep are making me feel QUEASY [?new word for The Crow]- don't think my brain can handle it. At least there will be less pictures of ducks from now on!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely had better weather conditions on Sunday than I was experiencing 20 miles away. Lowland walking does have its advantages over the hills at this time of year.
to bowlandclimber:
ReplyDeleteOh, no - not new. Old family favorite. Mother tried hard to teach my brothers to say queasy instead of puke-y. Lost cause, I'm afraid.
Conrad, doesn't Katie have a birthday coming up soon, or have I missed it?
BC - I have already passed the duck border. I'm worried about what I WILL be able to take photos of between now and Kendal.
ReplyDelete--------------------------------------------------------
The Crow - It's great to get my commenters interacting with each other.
Katie was one on 25th October and we had a small family celebration. I have put a Katie update on Upside-down Ducks. (this post).
Feeling PUKE-Y with all those duck pictures.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed opening the present - what a scary beast for a one year old.
BC - That was Gruffalo. Katie has the book. I am told he is a modern children' s classic, so I Wikipediaed to reveal some dramatic statistics and facts:
ReplyDeleteThe Gruffalo is a children's book by writer and playwright Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, that tells the story of a mouse's walk in the woods. The book has sold over 10.5 million copies, has won several prizes for children's literature, and has been developed into plays on both the West End and Broadway.
Well, what do you know!