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Walk On By
Jan. 19th, 2014 08:44 pmAt the launderette, when I opened the dryer to take my clothes out they were wet. The two ladies there apologised profusely and said that a flap at the back must have malfunctioned. They put my stuff in one of the other dryers, but the problem was that that meant I missed the 12.25 bus and would have to hang around in ?Linslade or Leighton until 2.25.
As I needed to get my half-hour power walk in, the ladies agreed to mind my bag while I went for my walk along the canal path. It was the first time I'd been down there; it's true that, so often, there are great places on our doorsteps that we don't think of visiting. I loved it along that canal. The sight of the many moored boats, a couple from places further afield like Upton-on-Severn, and the single old metal sign indicating 'Braunston 46 miles' (why Braunston was a landmark for canal boaters I have no idea, but I love things like that) were a taste of things I love about Britain.
By an opening in the fence leading to Tesco and Aldi was a sign 'Shopping Stopping Point, maximum 2 hours'. Romantic visions of a life aboard a canal boat, coasting along the waterways of England, stopping at towns to stock up on food, swam through my head as I kept powering along the path.
I saw the blue-painted fleet of a barge hire company, and a boat painted green and called 'Googly' moored outside a house - clearly the owner is a cricket fan. I had to dodge round a few people out for walks at a more leisurely pace, and make way for a couple of joggers - the path is clearly popular on Sundays. After I passed Leighton lock, the path got thinner and there were only a couple of people around.
Arrived back at the launderette for my bag, wiping off beads of sweat. The ladies said 'well done' with a smile. I still had an hour before the bus, and knew I wouldn't make the Heath Inn before they stopped serving food at 2.30, so asked if they knew anywhere I could go for lunch. They recommended the Ship Hotel a few hundred yards down the road, which did a carvery.
The Ship was jam packed and I was only able to find a low table in the bar area, at which I had to perch awkwardly on a square seat that was a bit high for the table. Lovely roast beef and veg though.
As I needed to get my half-hour power walk in, the ladies agreed to mind my bag while I went for my walk along the canal path. It was the first time I'd been down there; it's true that, so often, there are great places on our doorsteps that we don't think of visiting. I loved it along that canal. The sight of the many moored boats, a couple from places further afield like Upton-on-Severn, and the single old metal sign indicating 'Braunston 46 miles' (why Braunston was a landmark for canal boaters I have no idea, but I love things like that) were a taste of things I love about Britain.
By an opening in the fence leading to Tesco and Aldi was a sign 'Shopping Stopping Point, maximum 2 hours'. Romantic visions of a life aboard a canal boat, coasting along the waterways of England, stopping at towns to stock up on food, swam through my head as I kept powering along the path.
I saw the blue-painted fleet of a barge hire company, and a boat painted green and called 'Googly' moored outside a house - clearly the owner is a cricket fan. I had to dodge round a few people out for walks at a more leisurely pace, and make way for a couple of joggers - the path is clearly popular on Sundays. After I passed Leighton lock, the path got thinner and there were only a couple of people around.
Arrived back at the launderette for my bag, wiping off beads of sweat. The ladies said 'well done' with a smile. I still had an hour before the bus, and knew I wouldn't make the Heath Inn before they stopped serving food at 2.30, so asked if they knew anywhere I could go for lunch. They recommended the Ship Hotel a few hundred yards down the road, which did a carvery.
The Ship was jam packed and I was only able to find a low table in the bar area, at which I had to perch awkwardly on a square seat that was a bit high for the table. Lovely roast beef and veg though.
