Well, what a cracking summer it’s been!

Lots of lovely canal closures....loads of low water problems. The sunny weather ought to have been brilliant for ‘boat watching’ along the cut, but unfortunately where I’m based we had none to watch. The water level on the main canal dropped. Tempers rose. The locks got...locked. And those who did manage to get down found themselves stuck in the basin for weeks on end. Most abandoned boat and went home. So, there’s not much action to report from the towpath.

Introduction

Back in July 2016 our ambition was to walk the whole of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal (in stages of course). I also had planned to walk the Leigh, Rufford and Springs Branches. It was an exciting challenge to have had that opportunity to learn about the industrial and social heritage along the canal and be swept away with the beautiful Pennines countryside.

It may be a purely Black Country thing, but there are whales in the cut.

‘Surely not?’ I hear you cry, but yes, it’s true. I’ve seen them with my own eyes, beached on the towpath. Whales of all descriptions. Bicycle whales, car whales, pram whales, you get the picture. I know, I know, the old ones are the best.

But, at the risk of repeating myself, it’s true! In fact there’s all kinds of scrap iron accumulating down here by the banks of the Staffs and Worcs canal.

Introduction

Back in July 2016 our ambition was to walk the whole of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal (in stages of course). I also had planned to walk the Leigh, Rufford and Springs Branches. It was an exciting challenge to have had that opportunity to learn about the industrial and social heritage along the canal and be swept away with the beautiful Pennines countryside.

So - imagine the scenario. You’ve been enjoying your holibobs in the Lake District, far away from old bridge number 38 and you get a message on your phone from something called, ‘The Pirate Boat.’

‘Ahoy there! - Meet me at Botany Bay.’

Well I don’t know about you, but I was intrigued.