Strolling along the lush canals ...

 Everything is glorious & green with summer lushness & hedgerow flowers bursting in to bloom. 

The fields are golden yellow & the sight of harvests is evident all about our county. 

Today, my choice of a Sunday stroll was to visit the canals which snake through our county of Shropshire & Staffordshire. I treated the Godsons to a special trip on the same canals some years back, in midwinter. In winter, the canals take on a mystical view with ice & frozen water. 

They were the highways of times gone by, carrying goods around & especially the delicate pottery from the many potteries in our counties. This pottery from Coalport & Stoke on Trent was world famous & the waterways helped to move it about. 

Our canals have many interesting trips like this afternoon tea last September.  Summer is beautiful along the canals with green leaves & light filtering through the canopy of leaves.

Today it was just the local one with a deep cutting & a long tunnel that give beautiful views on both sides. 

The tunnel is long & it gets dark towards the middle before emerging at the side with elegant strands of ivy draping over the tunnel. 

As we approached the tunnel, 3 sets of canoeists were making their way towards the tunnel, a boat going the same way, hung back for them  & then an approaching boat had to pull up for the 3 canoes to safely transverse the tunnel. 

Voices echo in the tunnel & then the throb of the approaching boat reverberated around the stone & brickwork. 

We walked back to the spot where the boats moor up & I am always impressed by the handpainting details on boats. Many have solar panels on the roof now & their plant boxes are briming over with herbs, tomatoes & more. A reminder of autumn is evident with firewood stacked on top - it can be cold on the water & most of the boats have a woodburning fire in them. 

A lovely time in nature, enjoying the feeling of space along the canals. It is the little things in life that reset us ... 

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Dee ☔️🪴🚙🚣‍♀️

A relaxing afternoon tea on the canals ...

 It is no secret that I love the canals which criss-cross our county & much of England. They were the super highways of times past - an easy way to move goods around, especially the  delicate, fragile items from the potteries of Staffordshire & Shropshire. They take on different moods at different times of the year as it is lovely when frosted in deep winter.  It was my choice of a day out for my own birthday this year ... I digress ...

For my friends big birthday, I booked an afternoon tea for us both on the canals. It is a section of the canals I haven't travelled on & hubby & I did a pre-visit trip to get my bearings & see what is around it. 

We arrived in good time,  all 26 spaces booked up on the boat - Georgie's canal cruises was our choice as they do afternoon teas & other events.  Fairy lights amidst some green swags looked so inviting inside. 

The tables were set for tea & as soon as we were on board, tea & coffee was offered, along with the traditional afternoon tea of savoury sandwiches, sausage roll, scones with jam & clotted cream, a gorgeous cheesecake like treat in a glass & a cake of course. 

It was very relaxing just chatting & enjoying the passing countryside. 

Everything is very green after a wet summer. We passed through several locks before turning at the basin & making our way back. 

A thoroughly enjoyable time & a lovely birthday treat for my friend - her first canal cruise. 

Thank you for stopping by & spending time reading my blog. Your visits are always much appreciated, 

Dee 💕

Shropshire’s waterways ....

I love the eclectic motor ways of old - the canal system that winds its way through our county of Shropshire. It was such an important part of moving goods around, especially the fragile pottery goods from the many factories that the county is known for. The iconic bottle kilns are still evident - a nod to the past ... 

It was my birthday on the weekend & my request was simple - to revisit the tiny Whittington castle & then to visit the canals. I grew up with space & it is space which I love ... 

We found the Montgomery canal which connects to many of the other canals, particularly the spectacular Llangollen canal with its majestic aqueduct ... 

We came across the Frankton Locks - a series I did not know about. The locks raise & lower boats across the countryside. They are essential. 

Last May I joined Ms M & family on a canal boat for a week - it was the first time I had slept on one or got the hang of the canal gates & locks. 

The Frankton Locks are a narrow section with deep, high gates - these date back to the 1790’s which was an amazing achievement. 

We had a lovely walk along the canals & I could just feel my mind clearing in the bright sunshine.

A perfect birthday for me - just being out in nature, doing what I enjoy doing. 

Where is your happy place? Tell all & thank you for stopping by. I appreciate each & every visit & a share is always appreciated. 

Dee  💕