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LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOODDerek Harwood's Walking Records If you have any queries about the pictures or discriptions e-mail me at: derek@harwoodonline.com | |||||
GRAND UNION CANAL WALK LEICESTER LINE - Crick to Elkington Thursday 29th July 2004 ...............Walk No. 590 |
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Grand Union Canal Walk No. 60 Total 233.5 miles Time Taken: 2.25 hrs Distance: Enjoyment: Weather: Hot & Humid 5:40 pm - 7:50 pm 6 miles 80% Threat of Thunderstorms Temp: Cloud: Rain: Visibility: Ground Conditions: Wild Life: 22oC 95% 0% Good Excellent Heron, Canada Geese Total AA: Total MH: Total LD: Total AW: Other: Total Distance: 796 mls 808 mls 1706.5 mls 140.5 mls 898 mls 4349 miles Companions: (Derek) Points of Interest: Crick Village Crick Canal Tunnel 1528 yards long Crack's Hill Bridges 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 Skew Bridge, 20, 21, 22 Haddon Road Bridge, 23 Darker's Bridge, 24 Smart's Bridge, 25 Chester's Bridge, 26 Clay Barn Bridge, Bridges 27 & 28 Yelvertoft Winwick Winwick Grange Manor Farm Yelvertoft Fieldside Covert Elkington Zero Locks Seven Moving BargesGeneral: Parked at Bridge 28 near Elkington at 5:05 pm and started biking to Crick. Passed Gipsys on roadside just before Yelvertoft Village with old cart horse and traditional wagon. The women were collecting water from the brook using a small cart. Cycled through very pleasant village of Yelvertoft with its broad main street. Photo of village Cross/War memorial. Straight road into Crick, over bypass and through a delightful village with several public houses. No time to sample the beverages only time for a few photos. Old large wooden fingerpost at the main village crossroads on the old A428. Main A428 road now via the bypass. Locked bike to fence by east end of bypass near to canal bridge and Crick Wharf at 5:40pm. Walked south from A428 bridge 12 towards North Tunnel Portal. Passed a man fishing near bridge 11 who was struggling to land a large fish. A Perch approximately a pound in wieght. We discussed and admired the fish when suddenly the conversation changed when the man asked me, 'What was I doing last Thursday.' It turns out that the man was from Rugby but has emmigrated to Wellington New Zealand. He is here on holiday and last Thursday he was fishing on the nearby Watford Estate when the weather turned ugly with thunder and lightning. While driving home a tree fell on his hired car and nearly crushed him. I expect he will return to New Zealand soon. Continued north east around several large meanders where the canal follows the contour of the land. Shirted right around Crack's Hill, Flint Hill Farm & Winwick Grange. Canal passes under Yelvertoft Road three times in under a mile. Walked faster than and over took a slow barge near Chester's Bridge 25 Winwick Manor Farm. No map to follow only instinct, so I was beginning to wander which bridge I had parked the car when Bridge 28 appeared at 7:50pm. Good views from canal across valley towards Yelvertoft. Towpath generally in good condition, wide and not overgrown. Narrow in a couple of places with signs asking for care while passing. www.streepmap.co.uk, start Crick 459415/272540, finish Elkington 462290/276615, - via Yelvertoft 459745/275465. Hazards: Always carry a map of the area, even when the walk is straight forward and easy. In theory nothing can go wrong, in practice the unexpected usually happens. Towpath not well trodden but in good condition. Take care in wet weather, high & steep banks in places. | |||||
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Derek Harwood: Copyright 2004 Devised: August 2004 |