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LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD


Derek 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
29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - Crick to Elkington  - Map Courtesy www.streetmap.co.uk

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 Barges
General:
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.
29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - Yelvertoft Village Cross/War Memorial
29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - The Royal Oak Crick Village
29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - The Wheatsheaf Crick Village
Recent Walks Index Page
29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - Wooden Finger Sign Post Crick Village
29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - Leicester Line Sign at A428 Bridge 12
29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - Fisherman & His Catch nr Bridge 11
29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - Fisherman's Perch nr Bridge 11
29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - Tunnel North Portal nr Crick Village
29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - Leicester 36 Mile Sign
29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - Barge at Bridge 28 End of Walk 29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - Sheep at Chester's Bridge 25 29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - Knightley Arms Sign at Bridge 19 29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - Cottage at Yelvertoft Bridge 19 29th July 2004 - Grand Union Canal - Barge near Bridge 14 with Bridge 15 ahead

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Derek Harwood: Copyright 2004
Devised: August 2004