En härlig morgon.

Looks great out.

Walkies!

Well, what started out so promising has turned into a dull day: rain! I know the farmers, and gardeners, want it but I don't.

Walked up the canal to Cinderhill lock (Duke's bridge) and then followed the footpath to Brancliffe. Last time, coming the other way, I hadn't been able to find the footpath through the wood above the Ryton and the start of Brancliffe feeder. Going the other way it's signposted. Turns out I'd been literally within feet of it! There's a quarry at the bottom of Lindrick dale, last time I went in and turned left, If I'd turned right I'd have found it!
The slideshow above is the walk: Duke's Bridge; Brancliffe; Feeder source; Lindrick Dale; Thorpe Top Bridge and back down to Duke's Bridge. Wherever you go you're sure to find an underpant tree.

Anyhow. There was a fishing match above Morse lock, Dinnington Sportsman pub. Some anglers are bloody selfish: they leave rods over the towpath and, coming back, the brollies were enormous and blocking the way.

The angling match going and coming back

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There appears to be a lack of water above Feeder lock as Quarry, Turnerwoood top and Feeder's washes were dry. Don't think it was boats using it as I didn't see any between Shireoaks Middle and Thorpe Top Treble."

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The swan above Turnerwood double has given up on her eggs.

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Didn't see the Mandarin anywhere although his "adopted" family were on Feeder's wash. see pics above re low water.

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Looked for Nb Wychwood in Shireoaks Marina: no sign.

The other boat I saw yesterday, Sloe Mo Shun was at Shireoaks Middle on the way up and just leaving Python's pitch as I came back - he's from Hebden Bridge and he and his mate, in Nb 42, were going to a bootsale at the welfare club.

I've left uploading pics until I'm sure the camera's dry. Don't want to get any water in its innards.

Thursday #2 To Brancliffe Feeder

After the walk round the pond, I took a roam up the canal to Thorpe Locks Bridge; followed the footpath over and under the railway to Lindrick Dale; across the bottom of the golf course; to the start of the feeder where it leaves the River Ryton. Map here. 8.8 miles 14.17 Km

At the pond this familiar man was fishing,
a conversation between us across the water elicited the information that he was going to be married in four weeks. He's a nice guy who's always either on the pond or the canal. He was still there when I returned some four hours later.

Below Deep lock, moored at the Lockkeeper, was Nb Lady Lee, Now, I know I've seen her before, many times, but can't remember exactly where & when. I'm looking through my (untagged!) archives to find her.
Nobody apparent on board.

T'other day I saw Nb Rhapsody approaching Morse lock. I now met her just above Deep lock on her way back.

A pleasant couple all the way from Chicago; been here since the beginning of April and not their first time on the canals.

Up the canal a surprisingly unconcerned rabbit was wandering about on the towpath.



Mrs Mallard was giving her brood a lecture at Shireoaks locks.

Feeder lock pound was low for some reason, the wash was bone dry:
The mandarin has moved up to Turnerwood above Quarry lock. He was still with his adopted "family", trailing after them but apparently being ignored.


Narrowboat Sunny was moored above Brown's lock. No signs of life.








I must share the terrific Thorpe locks:
Can there be any reason not to visit the canal?

From Thorpe Locks bridge to the feeder takes you through Lindrick Dale and across the bottom of Lindrick Golf Course:



The footpath crosses the Feeder: the bank can be followed eastward to the Ryton Weir and gate:

A cute Jack Russell, Alfie, was tussling with a branch just inside the woods.

Mommy Mallard was still with her chicks

Past Rhodesia, approaching Deep lock, a narrowboat was visible:

It turned out to be "Evening Star" from Huddersfield:

Why are (almost*) all the folk on narrowboats so damned nice?


Isn't the canal beautiful!


* One exception, I shan't name, but they're somewhere on the blog

Last Sunday in May

Went out early (6:30) in hopes of seeing the grebe with chick on back closer to the bank. No such luck, she stayed out in the middle of the pond.

Walked the canal to Turnerwood, actually to Brown's lock , and back.
Python's at the BW mooring below Sandy Lane Bridge.
A couple of tufted ducks above Turnerwood double.

	One of whom looked downright creepy

   The swan's still sitting on her eggs.


Diverted on the way back at Turnerwood to follow the Brancliffe feeder to Brancliffe Grange Farm and back to Duke's bridge. All the feeder does is add water to the canal (at Feeder lock) but the workmanship is amazing. It goes for over a mile (1.4 miles actually) and most of its way it's fully canalised but only about 3-4 feet wide.

I don't know if my admiration for these canal engineers is getting through to you. These people did things with style. Just look at the Harthill feeder above Kiveton Park:

All that just to add water to the canal.

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Couple of narrowboats passing through Shireoaks: Remus and Grumpleweed, They'd been on the marina as I walked up. Usual cheery waves.

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Now, my star of the day!

On the home stretch I saw a bird in the willows on the far bank. I thought at first it was our duckling devouring heron silhouetted against the sun , but as I got nearer I could see that it wasn't.

It was a cormorant. I've never seen one so far from the coast - it even did its spread wings thing, although facing away from the sun.

From Cormorant2 May 29 '11

I'm no ornithologist and had to confirm what it was when I got home: definitely a cormorant. I'm turning into a bird nerd!

Slideshow of Cormorant: