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.
![Stone stork and live mallards 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row144.jpg)
![](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row136.jpg)
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.
![Approaching Bridge 228 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row137.jpg)
![Sam and James in Pacific Pete 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row138.jpg)
![Sam and James in Pacific Pete and narrowboats 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row139.jpg)
![Sam and James negotiating bridge 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row140.jpg)
![Sam and James through Shipton Bridge 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row141.jpg)
![Sam and James in Pacific Pete 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row142.jpg)
![Sam and James in Pacific Pete 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row143.jpg)
![Pacific Pete in lock 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row145.jpg)
![Sam at lock 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row146.jpg)
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.
![Pacific Pete on River Soar](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row148.jpg)
![Pacific Pete on River Soar 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row147.jpg)
![James towing Sam 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row149.jpg)
![Pacific Pete on River Soar 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row152.jpg)
![Willowherb on Bridge over River Soar 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row153.jpg)
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 mating 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row150.jpg)
![Water lilies 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row154.jpg)
![Wildflowers against wall 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row151.jpg)
Dragonflies mated; waterlilies bloomed; and a stone wall provided a backdrop for wild flowers.
![Artists at lock 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row156.jpg)
![Artist at lock 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row157.jpg)
![Artist at lock 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row155.jpg)
An art group concentrated hard on a lock as we approached Leicester.
![Disused factory 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row159.jpg)
![Disused factory 7.03](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row160.jpg)
Nearing the city of my birth, we passed a derelict graffiti-bedaubed factory,
![Leaf on waterweed](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/henleynewark-row161.jpg?w=750)
outside which a leaf lay on a bed of water weed.
![](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/henleynewark-row162.jpg.webp)
![](https://derrickjknight.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/henleynewark-row163.jpg-1.webp)
Soon Pacific Pete was gliding through the city.