A welcome pause

 At rest.

People that spend several days on a canal cruise need to stop at least every other day to pick up supplies although within reason they can "tie up" anywhere and you need to remember it amy take a good day or so to get to the next major town or large village that has shops and other facilities.

Fortunately we are situated convienently so it is common sight to see narrow boats moored while people stock up and not a few take an overnight stop.

Just passing through

 

Springs really is here even if we've had some heavy rain of late with temperatures being high enough to despense with wearing a coat such as on Monday when the sun was quite strong out.

I went out exploring by the canalside where it was quite busy with quite few people about and a lot of narrowboat activity as folks were waiting to go through the various locks, getting into position and turning the handles.

Here the boat is being steered avoiding moored vessles as it makes its way southwards.

Then their were ducks out and about, some in nearby gardens backing on to the canal

The canal in Autumn

Weather was rather good this week so I've been out around the local canal exploring the nearby meadowland where I noticed this enjoyable view come together.

Often when you look at a scene you tend to notice just the main objects but often it is the details that make it and here it is the reflections of the sky and part of the tow path that adds to the overall picture.

It is still very busy on the canal so apart from those boats moored up no doubt taking advantage of local facilities such as shops and a post office you will see others going through like this on going towards Kidsgrove.

The boat decoration is a bit sparse compared with many but the floral display at the front  is a very nice touch.

From Canalside to on the canal view

 Been rather a warm week here being mindful about then and how long to go out in.

While out one day watching many species of butterflies and fighting of what seemed like an army of biting things, along the canal I observed a good number of craft going through the locks, some leaving their overnight moorings.

This was a well observed scene shot in very contrasty conditions against the light that required a tiny amount of tweaking as the narrowboat came through the manually operated lock immediately behind it.

Note the reflection in the water too.

A stroll along the cut

Phew it's been a pretty warm few days here.

I went out exploring around the local canal (or 'cut' as we say around here) where it was very busy over the Bank Holiday period where I spied this narrow boat that had travelled down from deepest Lancashire with its colourful decoration.

Lighting is a very funny thing being most changeable and making or breaking a picture.

Here it is working with the scene providing reflections within the canal itself with the slow moving stream flanked by the trees and vegetation in full bloom taken before the light got too harsh along the Trent and Mersey.

Moored up

 Following on a bit from Monday here's a view anyone around the district could of observed.

Although it has been a bit cool for the season, it has been quite sunny so while an a bit of ramble I thought I'd try a bit more Contre Jour photography working with subject behind the light for a softer more diffused effect.

I think it works well with the reflections in the canal.