The day before we went to Conder Green, I went to a different part of the canal by myself (with Young Miss, of course). I'd been missing it very much and been keen to get back there all week, but it's not a place I really fancied walking in the dark, so we waited until the weekend. Also, remember our beloved flask of Earl Grey tea? That came with me on this day. It was time! We've almost come full circle and done all of the seasons. That's how long this has been going on for. But we're all acutely aware of that, I know.
So, Freya and I drove to Bolton-le-Sands and approached the canal from Shady Lane. It's lovely to just stand on the bridge and have a little look over, actually. It's a tidy little stretch, but you can also look west and see the bay and the Lakes. We do live in a lovely little valley, really.
There are many houses in these parts that make me think 'ooh, I'd love to live there' when I walk past them. This is one such house. Big old sash windows, huge front door right in the middle – that's got to be Georgian. Ahh, what I wouldn't give for a little Georgian house. I'd give a lot. Probably one of my children. Or my dog. Unfortunately, they don't sell for children or dogs, only gazillions of pounds.
I forgot the canal had tons of bridges. I don't know why this is significant, but I like canal bridges. I think I've become a bit like a trainspotter in my middle age, only I don't spot trains. More like an acknowledger of things that can be seen but might be overlooked. I do look at things for a long time that I know other people (Matthew) don't find interesting, like hedges and rows of corn and concrete structures. Usually when I'm staring at manmade things, I'm wondering about who built them – that's more interesting to do when the thing is very old and the people who built it are long gone. I can disappear into bits of the past (totally fictional, existing only in my head because I'm not a proper historian) for very long spells. That's why it's sometimes nicer to walk on my own, without someone else's chatter to distract me.
Anyway, what am I wittering on about?! We had to turn back after a quarter of a mile or so because a few miles of the canal are closed off at the moment while some repairs are going on. But that's alright. When you're just out for a constitutional, it doesn't really matter which direction your going.
I like this bit, where the canal is higher than the road below and you can look down into people's gardens. We can all pretend it's nosey and outrageously rude to look into other people's gardens and houses, but we all do it. Yes, we do – don't pretend to be outraged. I know we do because, until the brambles grew right up my front window and created a natural set of curtains, people walking down my street used to have a really good look into my living room. I would always smile and wave, especially if I didn't know them. I'm looking forward to doing that again when I cut those brambles. This year's been so weird, maybe people will wave back – that'd be nice.
Anyway, that's got nothing to do with walking along the canal. Water, innit. Lots of our walks feature water, and I wonder if that's because I really like to see a body of water when I'm outside or if the waterways can't really be avoided around these parts. We do have plenty – the river, the canal, the sea. I wonder what it's like to live in a place that's landlocked. I can't imagine that because I've never lived in such a place, like, ever. I lived right on the seafront when I was at uni in Aberystwyth – I could be in the sea twenty seconds after leaving the house. And when I stayed in America for three months, I was also near the sea, in Brielle, New Jersey.
So anyway, we walked. We also stopped a lot for Freya to sniff other dogs and be admired. I have never really expected all that much attention for her because, to me, she's just a crazy brown dog – to other people, well, she's a magnificent German shepherd, and apparently that's impressive. Also, even though she's quite big, she's very clearly a puppy, so we get a lot of 'awwwwwwwww's and people asking if they can stroke her. It's delightful! And I'd forgotten how friendly and smiley dog people are – definitely a lovely thing to experience in this strange year.
I'm sorry if you're not a dog person and you've had to suffer my blog being taken over by this young miss. But that's just a bit tough, really! The good news is that Matthew has noticed the better weather and is emerging from his hibernation, so he'll be out regularly soon as well.
And it's witchcraft, da dum dum dum, wicked witchcraft, and although I know it's strictly tabooooooooooo...
That's all I know. Frank Sinatra, is it? Swell.
Before we're done with this walk, it's always nice to have a look at the misty mountains of the Lakes when it's clear enough. I don't mind telling you that I stood here for about twenty minutes (Freya's good at waiting while I faff about with my phone camera now), trying to zoom in just the right amount, to cut out some of the houses in the foreground and show you exactly what I was seeing. But I really think it's time I bought myself a proper camera because this right here just doesn't cut it. This is not the view I saw with my actual eyes! And it's my birthday in a few weeks, so I don't think it would be too selfish and greedy of me to treat myself to such a thing. Anyone able to recommend a decent starter DSLR?
Canal time, yay! Always a lovely walk, never a disappointment. Actually, I don't think a single one of my walks over the past almost-year have been disappointing in the slightest. Every single one has lifted my mood, even if it was good to begin with, which it mostly was. In fact, some of them, as you know, lifted my spirits so much that I ended up in tears, laugh-weeping as though I'd just watched Dirty Dancing for the first time. Mind, it's possible I'm perimenopausal ...
Until tomorrow, dear hearts.
Linda + Freya
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