Hello and welcome back to my Blog 😊.

This morning was forecast to be a sunny one, so I decided to make the most of it, and get out for a nice easy walk along the Grantham Canal Towpath. I did a 6.5- mile walk from Harby to Kinoulton and back again.

After an initial cloudy start the sun came out and it was an incredibly mild day. Wonderful!

The Grantham canal is a restoration canal and I volunteer for The Grantham Canal Society, whose ambition it is, to restore the canal from Nottingham to Grantham. I feel a close affinity to the canal.

I joined the towpath at Harby and soon passed the old Warehouse that is still standing as a silent monument to the past.

The observant amongst you will have noticed that the canal at this point has a lot of weeds in it. This section is not navigable yet – nature has a habit of reclaiming what was once its.

Further on I spotted a flotilla of Ducks heading along the canal. It was lovely to see. I wondered where they were going?

I met a few people being walked by their dogs and a couple of runners, but on the whole it was quiet. The towpath in places was sandwiched between reeds from the canal and hedges. I enjoyed watching the reeds sway with the wind.

I was so taken in with looking at the canal that I walked past a ‘Towpath Closed’ sign without seeing it. So, further along I had to crawl under a very low bridge. I should have followed the diversion – I did on the return leg!

Emerging from under the bridge a couple of Swans were looking at me as if to say ‘can’t you read!’

I was enjoying the warm weather, the sun and the scenery. I also loved looking at the swing bridges. Dragon Flies were skittering around on the breeze.

The miles were slipping away as I headed to Hickling passing under Clarkes Bridge where, sadly, I spotted a dead swan in the water. I reported this to DEFRA when I got home.

I would soon be arriving into Hickling, passing the restored Lengthmans Hut. The hut used to provide shelter for the canal worker who looked after this section of the canal.

This section feels quite open with a nice wide path.

Hickling basin was in full sunshine with a few Anglers dotted around the outside. I found a bench and enjoyed a cuppa and a sandwich. I could see the ‘Old Wharf’ café on the other side of the basin and it was, as it usually is, very busy. I had a chat with a chap who was emptying the bins – he said that the sun always makes people happy, how true!

Leaving Hickling I headed for Kinoulton. This section of the canal was very busy with people – its obviously a popular walking spot. At Kinoulton I turned around and headed back. This time, the wind was in my face which was cooling as the sun was quite hot.

It was a great walk, I got a good few miles in and it was nice, easy walking- no boggy fields!!!

Happy Walking! 😊🚶‍♂️