More boats!

There are more than just narrowboats and barges on this canal.

These folks were paddling their own canoe!

Today's nature lesson

The hawthorns are simply laden with berries!!

Legend has it that a lot of berries foretells a harsh winter, but as I am writing this in January, we have had a particularly mild few months so far.

Maybe this was just an old wives' tale!

A worrying bit of nature now.

The canal bank was strewn with feathers in many places today.......a cause for much distress!!

What has become of their owners, I wonder?



Scarisbrick

This area on the canal is very popular with the boaters.

Above is the marina, home to a variety of boats.

Below, Allan is admiring the boats moored along this stretch, dwarfed by the magnificent trees of Scarisbrick Hall woods.

Relaxation

This is why I haven't been near this site since New Year.

Our son bought me this lovely jigsaw, entitled Siberian Tigers. It has taken hours and hours of my time but was certainly worth doing



Daily feeding time

The couple feeding the swans live in a caravan right by the canal and have watched---and helped--- these five cygnets grow up. How wonderful is that?

We had our feeding time too around here. A welcome coffee break on a convenient bench. Weather a bit cool; a glove day for Allan.



Catch-up Time

Walk number 4 took place way back on August 31st 2011. We are now in 2012! Luckily, photos can bring back happy memories.

Ready and raring to go at bridge 25----Halsall.

Just by this bridge are two stone sculptures, only commissioned in 2006 to commemorate the the cutting of the first sod of the canal in 1770.

It took a long time to acknowledge such an important event!

This is the Halsall Navvy, in recognition of the hard labour that went into the digging of the canal.

Allan is sitting on the Halsall Bench. The details on the stone behind were designed by local schoolchildren.

Maybe the bench is in recognition of the hard labour that goes into walking along the canal!!!!