Monday 21 September 2020

Along the Towpath


Making the most of this late September warmth we have continued to explore various walks along the canal towpaths,
and are now more aware that autumns colours are slowly appearing.

Shall we go under, over, or around?




The Grey Heron and a Moorhen completely ignore us.

Clematis vitalba - Old Man's Beard
It is very peaceful, it feels good,


timeless,

but is it? This wretched virus is on the rise again in several European countries.

This year there is a very strong recommendation from WHO and our own NHS that we should all have a winter Flu vaccination. Have you booked yours? My husband has already had his, and mine is due next week.

37 comments:

  1. Hello Rosemary, We have old canals in Ohio too, and they are beautiful, but the prize has to go to England for the most picturesque. How can you go wrong with old bridges, stonework, water, green plants, ancient iron fittings, and the occasional lock? The quotation sign I did not like at all, and I hope that these will not become a trend. Is this canal still working, or just maintained as a park?
    --Jim

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    1. Hello Jim - this part of the canal is not in use currently although everything is in good order. The bridges, locks, and sides of the canal have all been repaired. The only thing that happens along the canal at the moment are several old barges that regularly ply up and down removing some of the weed from the water. However, the canal did deteriorate badly when a motorway was constructed across it in 1962. This caused the water to silt up and become overgrown. Happily now, 60 years later the canal is being reconstructed beneath the motorway at an enormous cost, but soon the colourful canal boats will be plying up and down again.

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  2. I think I could just sit and look at your first two shots and conjure up a pleasant walk! They are filled with invitation to wander at will. We always get our flu shot, but the vaccine seems to be delayed this year and we have not heard from our doctor.

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    1. It is a walk that I am sure you would enjoy David. There are Kingfishers there, but my eye is not as keen as yours.
      I suspect that you will soon be hearing about your flu shots too. I enquired at our GP practice earlier in the month, and they had no news. Now, it is readily available.

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    2. Ironically, I received an email from my doctor this morning.

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  3. It's finally cool enough here to know fall is coming in. Yes, I had my flu shot early, and even if it only protects a bit, I'm for that. Your canal is beautiful, as are these photos. I love the brick bridge with the rounded passage under it.

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    1. I think that we can truly say that we are currently enjoying an Indian Summer Barbara - it is very warm.
      I am pleased that you have had your flu shot, I do think that it very important for us all to do as much as we can to protect ourselves.

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  4. Dearest Rosemary,
    That is a lovely bridge and I would have opted for going under... Great photos.
    Yes, on Thursday we both got our Flu shot and it gave me a sore upper arm for a couple of days but that was it.
    We have some sunshine again, and wind but the rain finally stopped so we could bike yesterday for 15 km. Very pleasant!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Dear Mariette - yes, I too walked under - my husband also had a sore upper arm for a couple of days as well, but I really feel that it is an important added protection for everyone to get it done.

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  5. Flu shots won't be available in Canada until mid-October but I will get one then, as I do every year. Love all your beautiful photos today, although autumn is a bit further along here. Many trees have turned colour already.

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    1. I can't even recall the last time that I had flu and certainly never since I have had an injection. Summer has lasted for a long time this year which has been a great blessing. Thank you, glad you enjoyed the photos.

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  6. Always enjoy a nice canal walk. As I think I'll be avoiding public transport in general this winter (only place I get colds normally) I might be OK. Covid 19 has made many older folk more cautious in the main and many wear masks, even outdoors in parks. I only wear mine in shops as that's the only place I visit.

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    1. The virus feels remote here as it is mostly in the north, but it comes into our sitting room every evening via the news. I really do hope, for everyones sake, that it doesn't take off like it did in the beginning.

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  7. Lovely to see autumn colours. Parts of that canal look as though it is still in use and parts look as though they have not been in use for a long time.

    We always have our flu jabs and had them, as usual, last autumn.

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    1. People used to be fairly dismissive of flu jabs, but I can't remember the last time that I had flu- touch wood. Autumn is very late this year, not much golden colour as yet.

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  8. It looks absolutely gorgeous! I must say, I'd almost forgotten that pretty much the whole country (Australia) had their 'flu shot this year since covid came in our autumn. We all dutifully went off to get it after the authorities strongly recommended it and now that I think about it, absolutely no-one we know had the flu this year, or even a cold. Probably a combination of the shot alongside diligent social hygiene practises while we were on covid-watch. We all agreed that having the 'flu couldn't help your situation when there was another virus in the offing.

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    1. I can't recall anyone having a cold either, perhaps being more diligent, washing hands, wearing masks etc has helped to keep colds at bay.

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  9. Beautiful scenery Rosemary.
    That poor old boat, and what a lovely peaceful walk.
    We both had the flu injection in early June, it was available in March but that's last years flu injection and we wanted to have the new one.
    Take care..

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    1. It is wise, I believe, to have a flu jab every year, but even wise during these strange covid days.

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  10. Thank you for this perfectly lovely walk, Rosemary. I especially like it when I walk along a river/canal. The former half of September was deadly hot here, but now I feel cool breeze at last. I saw morning glories in your previous post. On my latest post, I showed a little of morning glory curtain which you wanted to see before summer break. BTW, During my idle summer, I indulged myself in old British mystery drama on cable AXN Mystery, Poirot, Oxford Mystery (Lewis and Hathaway), and so on. I enjoyed British scenery at each and every location as well as detective stories. I suppose there must be some sites I have seen on this blog.

    Yoko

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    1. Dear Yoko - I am so pleased to know that you are back with us once again, and hope that you have had a happy summer break, regardless of the fact that we are all still coping with the wretched virus.
      My morning glories this year have had really enormous flowers, far bigger than usual, nearly the size of small saucers. I will pop over to see your post shortly.

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  11. I haven't had a canal-side walk in many a year - we don't have many around here, just drainage dykes and the odd navigable river. The countryside seems to be looking particularly green and attractive at the moment, must be all that rain we had earlier.

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    1. It does look very green and lush - however, our lawn is looking quite yellow.

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  12. What beautiful photos of the peaceful canal. It looks like a lovely place to walk. Is this the canal that passes through Stroud? We walked part of it on a stiflingly hot day in 2016 and finally gave up because the sun was so intense. It looks green and cool just now. Perfect for walking. I have never gotten a flu shot and have not had the flu for many years, but I will get one this year when they come available.

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    1. Yes, this is the eastern side heading towards Brimscombe. Soon the canal will link up with the River Severn in the west - there is a multi million pound programme being carried out currently. Following that there will be another huge project to link it back to the R. Thames, but not just yet.
      I think you are wise to have a flu shot.

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  13. I can almost smell the green of that canal.

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    1. You must have a much better sense of smell than me.

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  14. What lovely places to go walking, along a canal. It looks cool and inviting - I think we might have similar weather just for a minute: Winter suddenly vanished here, and we have Summer days this week. The stone arch bridges are beautiful, and something we never see in Queensland, and I love the Autumn red trailing over the water, just heavenly.

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    1. It was one of those perfect late summer days - very warm, peaceful, and relaxing.

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  15. Super photos...I loved taking a stroll with you xx

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  16. Thank you for sharing these amazing and beautiful photos.
    I especially loved the 1st, it is spectacular.
    Take care and stay well

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