Pottering around the Potteries: Messing about on the canal.

When the weather is fine then you know it's a sign

For messing about on the river.

If you take my advice there's nothing so nice

As messing about on the river.

There are long boats and short boats and all kinds of craft,

And cruisers and keel boats and some with no draught.

So take off your coat and hop in a boat

Go messing about on the river.

Let's start with an admission: we didn't actually mess about on a river as advised by Josh MacRae in his 1961 hit single (was it really that long ago?) but we did have an extremely enjoyable day messing about on a canal. In our case, in a hired day boat on part of the Shropshire Union Canal. An uber-relaxing way to spend a day with good friends and a unique perspective from which to view what was going on around. It was a first for us and something that bears repeating.

It was a very still and mostly sunny day so the conditions were ideal for capturing reflections. And I like reflections, particularly when there's lots of green around. Just in case you are wondering, our boat was considerably smaller than the ones like this that were of the typical canal long boat design. Ours was more of the canal short boat type. Small but perfectly formed, with a toilet and a cooker for a fry-up at the mid-point of our trip.

Just one of the many bridges we passed under. We were not allowed to negotiate any locks which was just as well as my steering abilities hover a shade above zero. Steer right to go left and left to go right: the theory's straightforward, the practice less so.

Every bridge and tunnel has its own number. Not quite GPS but perfectly adequate for getting your position on the canal.

Most bridges had cast iron bridge guards which were used to protect the masonry against rope induced friction. Each bears the grooves produced by the countless rubbing of the ropes pulled by the horses.

Most bridges had cast iron bridge guards which were used to protect the masonry against rope induced friction. Each bears the grooves produced by the countless rubbing of the ropes pulled by the horses.

We started at the wharf at Norbury Junction and headed south for about 6 miles. At a speed of 2 mph, our aim for the day had to be very modest. Speeding was frowned upon as it causes erosion of the canal banks and upsets resident houseboat owners by making their dishes rattle.

Some rather diffuse reflections.

Bridge 33? Nah, upon reflection I think it's Bridge 34.

Sometimes the towpath had to move from one side of the canal to the other. Turnover or roving bridges allowed the towing horse to cross the canal without the tow line getting caught up in the bridge. The horse approaches on the right bank, goes up the incline, across the canal, back to the towpath on the same side of the bridge and then under it and away without a hitch. I find the smooth curves of this one to be very attractive and the reflection pleasing.

Just look at how still the water was.

The sight of these three boys fishing on the canal bank reminded me of the hours I used to do this on the Newport to Merthyr Tydfil Canal at Rogerstone. Roach were our target then, with the odd bream and carp. Presumably these boys would have been after the same mix.

Most of the house boats were very well kept and, from what I saw, seemed to be owned by those of a hippy persuasion. Lots of pony tails in evidence for the males and tie-died kaftans for the females.

At Gnosall the canal enters the 81-yard Cowley Tunnel (#33). Originally it  was planned to be 690 yards long, but after the rocky sandstone  first 81 yards, the ground was unstable, and the remaining length was opened out to form the present narrow and steep-sided Cowley Cutting.

The parents of these five cygnets have done well to get them all to this stage. It's not that common for broods this size to get through the lottery of growing up in a world full of predators.

A composite from a fairly typical day trying to get a decent shot of a kingfisher. One obscured, one out of focus and one as the target flies away. There's always next time.