Wednesday, 10 August 2016

watching the birdies

above our first lock
Strolling Heron
We cast off at 8.40 but moored up less than an hour later. 

On the way to Kinver  we passed a heron fishing, and a moorhen feeding a chick in her nest. I was delighted to get a clear view of these shy birds as they creep through overhanging foliage. The father moorhen meanwhile was escorting another chick through the tangled web of branches overhanging the canal.
feed me!


We wandered into the village as we had a birthday card to post. After finding the post office we wandered back puzzling Lottie. Normally shops mean buying food, and the last time we stopped here we trekked up to the church which has a lovely view, but this time it was just a pavement walk and no bulging bags to sniff on the way back.

almost invisible chicks


We moved on again, up through the lock and stopped at the services. the Captain filled with water, I emptied the rubbish and recycled our bottles and Lottie mooched around the bushes.
Off again we went but only through Hyde lock were we moored for an early lunch.

Kinver
We set off for the fourth time after a long lunch break. We wound through some amazing sandstone formations and went through the shortest tunnel. At just 25 yards long it didn’t get dark in the middle.





The scenery is spectacular on this section and the twisting canal keeps the helmsman on full alert for oncoming boats as it is also narrow but we only met two boats all afternoon. Where were they?




sandstone cliffs
We arrived at Swindon visitor moorings to find them full, so that was where the boats were. The Captain left me holding the boat before the moorings and went ahead to look for a space.


The brightest Tunnel



















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