LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

Grand Union Canal  No. 59              Total  227.5 miles

Time Taken:  1.25 hrs   Distance:   Enjoyment:    Weather:  Sunshine
   1:00 pm - 2:15 pm      3.5 miles           75%             Sunny and Warm

Temp:     Cloud:     Rain:    Visibility:    Ground Conditions:     Wild Life:
  21oC         5%        0%       Very Good         Very Dry            Ducks, Lambs

Total AA:    Total MH:   Total LD:    Total AW:     Other:    Total Distance:
676.5 mls    730.5 mls    1675.5 mls      100.5         889 mls       4072 miles

Companions:   (Derek)   Sylvia.

Points of Interest:
Rowington Village       Rowington St. Lawrence Church
Grand Union Canal       Rowington Hill Bridge No. 62
London Birmingham Railway Line      Ivy House
Turners Green Bridge 63      Tom o' the Wood Public House

General:
Good Friday.     ????2 moving barges, ????no Locks
Fifty Seventh day's walking on 'Grand Union Canal'.  224 to 227.5 miles.
Parked in Tom o' the Wood Public House car park and started walking
from Turners Greeen Bridge 63. Perfect walking way, pleasant sunshine,
little breaze and generally dry underfoot. Ivy house on the right, a very
pleasant cottage on the canal and a goat farm on the right. Round the first
bend and another cottage on the right, this time the owner was taking on
running repairs, sawing a piece of wood. The cottage garden was on two levels,
running down from the canal. The higher garden lawn was covered in daisies
and the lower garden lawn was covered in dandilions. We continued slowly
passing many couples walking in both directions. After a short distance the
canal continued in a steep and deep cutting, with large tall trees on both
banks. Plenty of wildlife but not enough time to see the animals emerge from
the banks and trees. Towpath very muddy in places in the cutting where
springs emerge from the bank and the water collects in the hollow of the
towpath. Walked to the Rowington Hill Bridge No. 62, glanced at the view
beyond the bridge bringing back memories of the last section with Matt,
Clare and the dog William, and returned to the cutting and Turners Green.
We sat on an upturned boat for a rest at the cottage where the man was
working on the outward walk. We went into the Tom o' the Wood Public
House for a drink and a meal, but unfortunately we were too late for a
meal. The kitchen staff had given up, or they didn't like the colour of
our money. Photos taken next day when weather deteriorated drastically,
back to normal for time of year.
grid start 123456/123456, finish 123456/123456, via 123456/123456
 
Hazards:
Usual precautions required when walking alongside water.
Watch out for cyclists approaching at a speed.