Swimming

 In scouts we do swim and this is very popular with cubs which is as well as an Island country with many lakes and canals being able to swim really is important to your welfare.

Swimmer Staged Activity BadgesThe badge requirements scale as the Cubs get older and more capable:Stages 1 & 2: Focus on basic water confidence, entering and exiting safely, blowing bubbles, and moving short distances with aids.

Stage 3: Requires independent swimming (15 metres on front/back), treading water for 15 seconds, and safe diving or entering.

Stages 4 & 5: Progressively increase distance (e.g., up to 200m or 400m depending on the stage), refine strokes, and teach advanced survival skills.

Many groups hold sessions or Gala's which you can take part in at the appropriate and age and level in your district competing for cups which I did as a youngster.

It also is an equalizer for those with physical disabilities as one your in the water nothing can stop you.

Peeping out

 

Wherever the soil and conditions are right things will grow and this is true of lane that run alongside the canal where there is soil so these flowers just shot up a few days agoin among other vegetation.

 

A view

 

Looking towards lock 54 with have on the left cottages built for those on the canal in the late ninteenth century while on the right what were privately owned fields were developed in nineteen nineties with some gardens going to the edge of the canal.

While an attempt was made to kepe buildings more in keeping with the rest of development, nonetheless it does intrude on the scene.

That sinking feeling

The drops in the level of the landscape show with the stream feeding the River Wheelock in the background where subsidence has and is continuing to have an impact in the area.

Three streets including a Pub and a Salt Works collapsed into the ground and a number of properties a good half mile away are "underpinned" as during construction in the 1970's started to sink apart from twists and turns in our roads and pavements.

You need to be on your guard as pathways have had sink holes - I encountered one in the mid 1990's - and a dog had to be rescued too.
 

Foxgloves

 

The Foxglove was a constant summer companion growing up wherever we lived  from the lanes we walked to school to the streams and canalside.

It was also on the great summer reminder list at school of things not to do like jumping in pools, scrumping apples from the orchard by the school because if it gets in you it is poisionous apart from being very popular with bees which you don't want anywhere near your shorts legs.

These were just coming out near a canal lock by the start of an official walkway that does have the odd seat at regular intervals of you legs are needing a rest.

It reminds of a slide I took in 1996 at Hassall Green on a walk on my trusty Minolta XD7 manual focus film camera carrying tripod in bag.

Out and proud

 

The last few days have been a bit cooler and actually wet unlike last week which is probably as well given the ground was starting to get rather solid which isn't much good for growing things or for things that came out this time of year such as wild flowers.

Unlike yesterday when I got up I didn't see the odd honey bee about.

Recharging the batteries

 

A quiet morning before everybody is on the move you know just beyond the bridge somebody is moored up and will be planning to be using the facilities here on what's a beautiful morning aiming to cover several miles.

Others go through along the towpath such as cyclists, and joggers of which there are a good number around here of all ages and both sexes and dog walkers too so often you'll find yourself in conversation with others.