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LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOODDerek Harwood's Walking Records If you have any queries about the pictures or discriptions e-mail me at: derek@harwoodonline.com | ||||
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| GRAND UNION CANAL WALK LEICESTER LINE - Elkington to Welford Friday 6th August 2004 ...............Walk No. 591 |
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Grand Union Canal Walk No. 61 Total 241.5 miles Time Taken: 2.75 hrs Distance: Enjoyment: Weather: Hot & Humid 5:10 pm - 7:50 pm 8 miles 85% Perfect Evening Temp: Cloud: Rain: Visibility: Ground Conditions: Wild Life: 24oC 15% 0% Good Excellent Insects, Dragon Flies Total AA: Total MH: Total LD: Total AW: Other: Total Distance: 796 mls 808 mls 1714.5 mls 140.5 mls 898 mls 4357 miles Companions: (Derek) Points of Interest: Elkington Village Jurassic Way A14 Trunk Road Cot Hill Bridges 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36 Downtown Bridge, 37, 38, 39, 40, Bridges 41 Sparford Bridge, 42, Welford Arm, 1, 2 Gilbert's Bridge & 3. Hemplow Hill Downtown Hill Downtown Village Disused Railway River Avon Welford Canal Arm Welford Marina Wharf House Hotel One Lock on Welford Arm Six Moving Barges Plus Two Moving Pleasure BoatsGeneral: Parked in Welford Marina Visitor's Parking by Wharf House Hotel, just inside Leicestershire, at 4:35 pm and started biking to Bridge 28 near Elkington. Small diversion in Welford Village for photos of church and thatched houses. Steep hill upto A14 Trunk Road bridge. Stopped for photos of fine views. Even more photos from Cot Hill towards Rugby transmitter aerials and A14/M1/M6 junction. Locked bike against fence at 5:10pm next to bridge 28 and finger post for Jurassic Way. Shortly after start of walk and between bridge 29 and A14 I heard a very strange noise which didn't equate with the normal piece of the countryside. The noise became louder as I progressed along the towpath. Then I realised what was happening just before I saw the hedge cutter. The hedge was so high I didn't see the farmer or the tractor. All I could see was the cutting arm slowly progressing along the hedge. I continued under the A14 bridge to bridge 30. I walked onto the bridge for a better view of the traffic on the A14. The very same traffic that I am normally with when I am travelling east towards Cambridge. The weather was perfect as I continued passing under the red brick bridges. The towpath was not well worn but newly cleared and cut. Found two videos between bridges 33 & 34, right in the middle of the towpath. Two interesting metal rods protecting the corners of bridge 34. As I passed under the bridge I noticed several notches in both rods, then I realised the notches were deliberately manufactured into the rods to guide the rope between the horse and the barge around the bridge. Several barges and pleasure boats passed me in the warm sunshine upto the Welford Arm. Many good mooring places especially on the aqueduct over the River Avon. Passed many couples sat out of the barge on the towpath drinking a bottle of wine. Just before the Welford Junction a small dog barked at me and the lady with the dog said that the dog had barked at me in Crick. I was surprised but she was correct. When I thought about it I could remember the couple near the canal bridge in the A428 where the Grand Union Canal sign read 'Leicester Line'. I nattered for a couple of minutes and continued down the Welford Arm. Unusual ducts near Bridge 1, not mallards. A 'Virgin' air balloon came down near Welford Lock but I didn't quite see it land. Diverted right around Welford Marina due to bridge closed over barge entrance. Good footpath signs and billboards near car park and Wharf House Hotel. Put map and camera on top of car while took off my boots at 7:50pm. Yes, you have guessed. When I had driven a few miles I wanted to stop and take a photo of birds on a wire. To my amazement the camera was still there on the car roof but my map had gone. A smoother driver than Jenson Button. www.streepmap.co.uk, start Elkington 462290/276615, finish Welford 464375/280860, via Downtown Village 461380/280200. Hazards: Never put your belongings on the roof of the car. No-one can be as lucky as me. I wish I was as lucky in love. | |||||
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Derek Harwood: Copyright 2004 Devised: August 2004 | |||||