A Walk From The Book

Its the first walk in the book at a place called

 Grindley Locks near Whitchurch  

As with all the walks in the book it starts at a pub and is a round walk ending back at the start.

Our starting point for this walk was

The Horse and Jockey
On the A41 between Whitchurch and Chester.

Quote from the book by Robert Smart

"The Horse and Jockey is a typical roadside inn. Rather too close to the town to ever have been a coaching inn, it nevertheless would have been used by road and canal travellers. built about 1780, most of it appears to be original with very little in the way of recent additions".

The book was printed in 1995 so in that time I think there have been some additions,

 but they are in keeping with the old part of the pub.

We had to cross the main road to get to the lane.

"Dad your pulling me the wrong way!! its up the lane Can't you see the sign post!!"

Oh this doesn't look to good, lets go though the gate.

Looks like they are doing up the locks in the winter months!



We carry on along the canal



This is the first unfenced lock we come to, heck that looks a long way down!

Ducks!

This is the next lock we came to, you can see the semi circle of bricks, well when the water is level on both sides of the gate you can open it up by putting your butt against the wooden arm which is the white part, and push backwards and use the bricks for grip.

Mom and Dad know how to open and close locks they have been on canal boats, but this sign even had mom scratching her head!!! 

 

This bit is taking us under the main road, you can see the start of the staircase Locks,

 that's the lock gate at the end.

We get there only to fine these are also being done up!

This is the view that's in front of us, there's me and dad reading a sign.

Looking back, you can just see the fenced off locks on the left if the photo.

 This bit of the canal is like a car park for boats!

In busy times you would have to wait your turn to go down the locks so you can moor up here and wait.

Come on lets get going.

We've been walking for about 20 minute's, when we get to that bridge the book tells us to turn right.

A quick sniff and a turn right

 Right into a muddy field!

"what did you say dad? the tree in the middle!"

Ok that's where we have to go, to the tree in the middle and turn, right ,RIGHT

"Mom what you doing I don't like it when you get to far behind"

Fresh dug rabbit hole's. I didn't see any!

A quick right at the tree, and we end up on this funny road made up of strips of concrete in the middle of the fields, we can only think it makes it easy for the farm machinery to get to the crops for harvesting

Then we pass some very big holes, that big they might be badgers!!

 Mom was screaming to get my head out lol!! 

Another 10 minute's walk and we join a lane that takes us to the main road

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Because there was a Welsh Terrier behind it!!!

Just a couple of yards and we are back at the pub

Now you might be looking at this and thinking why didn't I go in the pub?

I was allowed in because the barmaid said to mom,

that I would be more than welcome. 

But mom thought my feet where just to muddy and I needed a rest!!!

 The Cheek of it!!

Just look who gets to go in with them!! and sits on the table!!!

FG!!! well I'm not having that next time, if the pub lets dogs in

I'm going in and thats another RIGHT!!! MOM!

So here ends the first walk in the book, hope you will join me when we do the next one.

See Yea George xxx