A busy day today - the van got a wash ( not by us!), I visited Whitchurch, shopped, canal-watched, walked and finally barbecued!
Left The Walker to his own devices (walking, I presume) and thoroughly enjoyed my couple of hours discovering Whitchurch , famous for its clocks, Victorian illustrator of children's books (Randolph Caldecott) and a composer called Sir Edward German. Actually, what most interested me was the fabulous old church, St. Alkmund - the same saint as the church Jamie and Andy were married in six weeks ago. We'd never heard of this 9th century saint before but he has a few churches dedicated to him and strong links with Derby!
After having taken refreshment with The Tireless Walker, the van was scrubbed clean at the campsite, while I whiled away an hour by the canal watching the lasses armed with windlasses and the lads pretending to be captains standing proudly at the helm! Though, with 6 locks to go through, it was as bad as the M6 and the wait for some was going to be a few hours! The Walker says that it's a good job there's a pub close by! One poor woman I spoke to said she hated being on the canal and that everything had gone wrong! Hope things improve for her!
Left The Walker to his own devices (walking, I presume) and thoroughly enjoyed my couple of hours discovering Whitchurch , famous for its clocks, Victorian illustrator of children's books (Randolph Caldecott) and a composer called Sir Edward German. Actually, what most interested me was the fabulous old church, St. Alkmund - the same saint as the church Jamie and Andy were married in six weeks ago. We'd never heard of this 9th century saint before but he has a few churches dedicated to him and strong links with Derby!
After having taken refreshment with The Tireless Walker, the van was scrubbed clean at the campsite, while I whiled away an hour by the canal watching the lasses armed with windlasses and the lads pretending to be captains standing proudly at the helm! Though, with 6 locks to go through, it was as bad as the M6 and the wait for some was going to be a few hours! The Walker says that it's a good job there's a pub close by! One poor woman I spoke to said she hated being on the canal and that everything had gone wrong! Hope things improve for her!
Top of Grindley 'staircase'!
From Bernie:
Today's walk 15.3 miles : Cumulative 498.9 miles
Second part of a cross-country connecting route &, again, the day's highlights revolved around the canal. But, even more significantly, I'm finished with my Welsh dalliance! Crossed the border, into Cheshire, for the last time on this walk but, disappointingly, in the village of Higher Wych there wasn't even a Wales-England sign to mark the event!
Completed the 'Maelor Way' at Grindley Brook, picked up the 'South Cheshire Way' (which I'll follow again tomorrow) before returning to the Shropshire Union Canal to finish the day's activities. Knew I'd fancy a mid-afternoon pint so called in at the very smart village of Marbury where 'The Swan' has a good reputation. I'd rate it quite low on my list - it doesn't open on Mondays unless it's a Bank Holiday.... I could go on for hours about pubs, inns, travellers & who it is who's providing the service. A few miles further on, at 'The Dusty Miller', I had to wait a while for the publican who was busy doing other bits & pieces.... but he was open, & was picking up quite a bit of passing canal custom. End of moan.... but only until the next closed pub!
Marbury - beautiful village.... shame about the pub. Hmm - Mondays off, must be doing well
Highlight of the Day: has to be Grindley Brook. We stayed here last night & I walked through the village (?) today. It's not a village & I suspect the cafe, craft shop, pub, campsite & garage have only sprung up because of the lock staircase & tunnel which create something of a bottle-neck for canal traffic. There's a constant procession of narrow-boats up & down the locks, always a different story, often a different nationality & all great fun... though I think I'd still rather be walking!
View down the Grindley Brook 'staircase'
Beer of the Day: another pint from 'The Horse & Jockey' at Grindley Brook - 'Deliverance' from Aspinall's Cambrinus Craft Brewery. If my internet was working better I'd investigate that for you! Similar to the'Harvest Pale' I tried in Kington - very pale, sharply bitter & a very good beer.
Good Pub - though they need not fear 'muddy boots' at the moment!
Jamie: well done - first to notice the French influence on our National Trails! As always I was carrying my small screw-driver set (in case of problems with my glasses.... spectacles, that is!) & considered correcting their error but then remembered I was in Wales & thought it might have been done deliberately..... so left it for others to photograph!
Stuart: looks like I'll be in Bollington on Thursday - hope you've arranged my safe passage!
Stuart: looks like I'll be in Bollington on Thursday - hope you've arranged my safe passage!
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