Fluffy cloud reflections

 Nestled in the Staffordshire Moorlands is a 2.5 mile long lake of fluffy cloud reflections and jetties of colourful boats moored in bobbing lines. This was the 'Blackpool of the Potteries' where the North Staffs train chugged in bringing 19th century day-trippers aplenty in their promenading best.

The Aquatic Fete was the Bank Holiday attraction, watched by spectators all bodiced and bustled or Dundeary whiskered and frock coated. Marching bands trumpeted by lakeside views and a tight rope walker triumphed across the ripples. He is still remembered in a carved 150 year old beech tree. 

Built as a reservoir for the Caldon canal system the lake is surrounded by wooded hillside and dotted with wondrous boat houses built by wealthy Victorian worthies. Through lake margins of reeds and the ivy that clambers oak and the silvers of the birches, a whisper of a cold breeze murmurs a little giggle of those fish jugglers and mermaids that wooed the crowds.

A bridge of love locks leads to a bench where I catch a new romance sat talking and parallels a love that started here in 1863 between the parents of a man all Jungle Book'd and Just So'd. Will they call their child Rudyard too?

Five miles of magic paths, speared green with spring bulbs through dark winter earth, booming with the squeaky wheelbarrow woodland of the Great Tit and oars slicing through skyscape water. Funambulism, fancy frocks and fish in the imagination for a little while.

An evening walk

 Whilst the evenings have been balmy, we've been making the most of it and exploring places local, finding new pathways through the countryside on our doorstep and discovering tucked away places. By fields and rivers and along canals as the sun started to dip behind the tree line. Grass tickling legs and gnats trying to have a feast, successfully according to the backs of my knees today - aghhh! Little clouds of biting chaos above the water.  As the end of the day draws in, there is still plenty happening by the canal although at a slower pace. Boats moored for the evening are a light buzz of chatter and clattering dinner plates, folded chairs on the canal side with glasses of wine beside them and dozing dogs.Out on the still water the swan family are eagerly awaiting one of the boat ladies to start throwing some water fowl to them and soon there is a gathering of ducks loking for their share too. A damselfly flitted about but too quick for me and my camera.  Chirping amongst the bulrushes with cotton wound tails and gently movement, an ever so slight breeze to take away the languid stickiness of the day.  For me, the excitement of the canal network are the pathways and adventures that it opens up. You see a secret side of the countryside, passing bridges, farms and it's a whole new area to learn about. I've learnt the names of bridges, discovered goods train lines I didn't know existed, found babbling brooks through parted trees and old disused buildings. 
.   Views across the river valley, rolling fields of greens and yellows. Places that are unknown when sticking to roads. Every so often a boat came chugging down the canal, people relaxing and waving to my little boy.
I really hope we get many more of these sunny evenings to venture out and soak up the golden hour before bedtime, tread through soft grass and waft hands through flower spikes and dancing white umbellifer heads. There's the other direction to explore now into the town's industrial heritage, the remains of a salt industry intermingled with nature and another evening's canalside activity to peek at. 

Caernarfon charm

 An ancient town in North Wales, on the mouth of the River Seiont where the imposing stone castle was built for King Edward I in 1283, this is Caernarfon. A pretty walled town brimming with history and superb buildings to see around every corner. 

Miles of sand

Swan update July

Just to recap on our resident swans who last year and indeed for several years before have not had any cygnets but this year as I reported back in June, they had 8 young.

West Kirby Marine Lake

 It was a sudden decision last weekend to head out to the Wirral Peninsula, another reasonably local destination that we have rarely explored yet there is so much to do there. We had a walk along the promenade, exploring the gardens and then went to take a look at the crabbers on the small jetties by the marine lake. Even the seagulls were joining in as we saw one gull quickly swoop down and in a few seconds guzzle a crab right down. 

Two little gardens by the promenade

Following on from last week and the secret garden I found in London, this week I was ambling along on The Wirral Peninsula when I came across two public gardens tucked away behind the promenade at West Kirby. 

Down to the River - Part 1

I thought I'd take you on a local walk, just 10 minutes from my home. I live in between two rivers and this walk is along part of the River Weaver. We start guided by the weather vane of the art college, past grand Victorian houses until you see a chink of light through a secret passage.

A little peep into a lovely river garden.

And a look at the river houses, what a view they have every morning. 
Daddy Bird wants to live here.

We cross a wondrous new swing bridge and look each way, hearing a train in the distance.
There are always plenty of ducks here and if you look carefully, you might spy a heron silently waiting.

I would love to canoe down here in the evening sun too.

Crossing the bridge we arrive at the locks. 

Powerful wooshing of water, chattering of the lock keepers, canal boats bumping their way through and swallows screeching and swooping above.

The viaduct runs close by, such industrial beauty.

Proud boat keepers with their little rooftop gardens, so pretty. My local college runs a course in canal art that I did a couple of years back. Here we learnt how to paint the pretty roses that you can see on the side of this canal boat.

There is a large boating influence in my town, it's what drew me here to settle.

 My first ever view was driving across the main bridges as a single woman with no ties and breathing in the marina. The image stayed with me and I eventually found my way back many years later finding Daddy Bird on the way.

Another day we will head over to the nature reserve but today we must get back for tea as my tummy is rumbling.