Here are further images of the journey through England’s midland waterways taken by me walking alongside Sam and James in Pacific Pete in July 2003.
This stone stork beside the Cherwell section of the Oxford Canal seemed amused by the attempts of their mother to draw her offspring away from him.
Small bridges, narrow locks and a few narrowboats on this section required careful negotiation by the rower. Navigator James looked quite thoughtful in the third picture.
The River Soar for part of the Oxford Union Canal stretch. The towpaths here were better tended than some, which was fortunate for James when he took a turn at towing. Willowherb thrived in the brickwork of this bridge.
Dragonflies mated; waterlilies bloomed; and a stone wall provided a backdrop for wild flowers.
An art group concentrated hard on a lock as we approached Leicester.
Nearing the city of my birth, we passed a derelict graffiti-bedaubed factory,
outside which a leaf lay on a bed of water weed.
Soon Pacific Pete was gliding through the city.
A fascinating journey, I would love to travel this canal!
Thanks very much, John
These are beautiful photos! They took me on a peaceful journey :)Jen
Thank you very much, Jen
Such wonderful images and beautiful countryside. I was amused by the stone stork with live mallards. The wildflowers by the wall photo is beautiful.
The art group made me think of my mom.
Thank you so much, Merril
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Amazing! And you walked all this distance! Well, we wouldn’t be seeing such lovely pictures if you didn’t!
Thank you so much, Joycee
Quite pastoral. How many days did this trip last?
Thanks very much, Pat. 11
The lock was quite a tight squeeze.
Many of them were, Rosaliene. Thanks very much
Whenever you get a group of artists, somebody always does that trick with a pencil, as if they’re trying to get a better signal.
🙂 Thanks very much, John
What idyllic scenery. Looks like a perfect day.
Thanks very much, Judy
A carefully guided journey, and no easy task! That water weed you see looks like duckweed. It can cause a fish kill by eliminating the oxygen in the water.
I saw on my news that the UK now has a new strain of Omicron Covid called X E. They said it is not as dangerous as the original Covid-19 and there was no cause for alarm. Just take care of yourself.
Thanks a lot, GP. Yes – that is all there is to be done. I think you are right about the weed – now we were going through an industrialised area
As soon as I was thinking how the wildflowers against the stone wall would make a beautiful painting, the next three photos were of artists!
A Happy juxtaposition, Liz. Thank you very much
You’re most welcome, Derrick.
Amazing photos, amazing adventure.
Thank you so much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Looks like some tight spots the boat barely fit.
Yes – many. Thanks very much, Mrs W
Something very typically English about the gorgeous photos
Yes. Thank you very much, Sheree
Under the bridge, it looks very small. I wonder how deep it is?
Thanks very much, Bridget. On average canal water is 1 to 2 feet deep. It doesn’t take much to float a barge
With scenery like that the traveling-adventure was not boring! 🙂
Lovely photos, Derrick! My faves are the stone stork with the live ducks, the bridge, and the wildflowers!
HA! I, also, love the expressions on the artist’s faces! 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thank you very much, Carolyn X
I am enjoying this journey.
I’m pleased, Andrew. Thanks very much
Fascinating photos. That lock was definitely narrow! 😯
Thank you very much, AnneMarie. Certainly not built for ocean-going oars
A beauty of a water way.
Thank you very much, Laurie
Those bridges are so pretty and kept the guys on their toes. Your eye for nature shots is consistent in any situation.
Thank you so much, JoAnna
The epic journeys continue, those of Pacific Pete and your parallel trekking through wilderness and obstructions of all sorts. Wonderful photographs.
Thank you so much, Uma
This was indeed a very interesting journey and very well documented 😉
Thank you very much, Ribana
That was a journey down memory lane for you as well as the canal for Sam and James. I love the ducks and stone stork.
Thank you so much, Lavinia X
These photos and your creative writing are superb! I especially found poetic this part of the post:
“Dragonflies mated; waterlilies bloomed; and a stone wall provided a backdrop for wild flowers.” You paint pictures with your words. Beautiful, {{{Derrick}}} ❤️👍🏽
Thank you so much, Jan X