From Tim_Boddington@compuserve.com Mon May 3 18:56:35 1999 Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 17:50:02 -0400 From: Tim Boddington Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org To: NGc canals contribute AA Subject: Trip report - Blue Heron part 3 (long) [The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] DAY THREE (9/5) Stone to Fradley A sunny morning turned into a sweltering hot day of brilliant sunshine. We were not to know that it would be almost the last sunshine of the trip although the forecast did say it would be cooler from Sunday on. This length is one of my favourites. Few trains here on Sundays, this quiet pasture beside the headwaters of the River Trent with its grazing cattle, pleasant views to gentle hills. Occasional but small habitations. Widely spaced locks. You can't beat it. I was in my element. Hoo Mill was mayhem - boats in every direction below the lock. This place has a special place in my memories. When I first considered a boat the whole family (my parents included) took a day boat from here to see how everyone liked travel on the canal. Needless to say they all did and we subsequently bought a boat. Great Hayward was busy as always and we passed without stopping. We have a painting of the bridge and surrounding landscape over our fireplace painted about 15 years ago by Harley Crossley and I always try to find the spot from which he painted it. Alas the growth of foliage has been so great that it could not be done today. I haven't heard of Harley for some years now - does anyone know if he is still painting waterway scenes? Below GH I became very much aware of the good work done by BW to cut back the foliage on the off side of the canal. In many places the water width has been severely reduced by trees and bushes. I can well remember this contributing to countless collisions with, particularly, first-timers who invariably try to reverse out of trouble rather than steer out of trouble when the course becomes frighteningly narrow. While all this foliage can look very attractive the canal still looks lovely when it is carefully cut back and in a year or two new growth will cover the scars. This work has also been carried out along much of the Coventry Canal. We stopped twice at Rugeley for a few minutes firstly to photograph the Brindley aqueduct and them to obtain a few items, in particular ice creams. At bridge 66 I recalled that my brother once worked for my childhood best friend at his engineering works beside the bridge. This employment ended shortly after my brother reversed a van over the yard edge and landed on top of a passing boat! One of my favourite lengths is Ravenshaw Wood between br.54 and Woodend lock. As always it was beautiful and bulging with birdsong that could be heard even over the sound of the engine. We moored for the night above the top lock at Fradley. We regularly call at Fradley to break trips home from my mother in Warwickshire, and have several times taken dinner at the Swan. We always enjoy it though I appreciate the motor cycles lined up outside more than Thea does! It was while walking down the tow path to the Swan that we heard a fearful droning noise that both Oma and I instantly recognised. In the sky above us was a flight of piston engined aircraft of WWII vintage, I counted seven in dual line formation. They were too high to recognise the type of aircraft but to us both that sound was instantly recognisable even after more than 50 years. Very earry; the hairs rise on my neck even as I type this. Sod's law - while Fradley was heaving with boats, double moored in places, the best mooring place of all, right outside the Junction House, was empty. It was too late to start moving again. After my last pint it is my habit to take a short walk off the canal using the local public footpaths. There are a couple leading from br.52 (below the top lock) and I set off across a fine field of grass which clearly didn't see many walkers. In due course I lost the track and found my way through nettles, quagmire and electric cattle fences in the enclosing dusk. My father was a farmer and he had the habit of holding the electric fence behind his back when offering his hand to unwelcome salesmen! Don't miss part 4 when Tim joins an episode of the Archers! Tim Boddington 'The Macclesfield Canal - 1998/9 Guide' Now published at UKP1.95 or UKP2.50 post paid in UK 'Preparing for BS 7799 Certification' Now published by BSI DISC at UKP27.50