Friday 25^th January 2019

We clipped Harvey. He had needed clipping for a while now but it kept getting put off. He is a lot more co-operative with us clipping him now, but it is still a major operation that requires the two of us and a lot of cheesy treats. He does look good although he has been cut a bit short, very short in fact. He doesn’t like his face or backside being done and becomes stressed, so a shower for him can wait another day.

We both dozed a bit early afternoon. We have both been having a lot of sleepless and broken nights lately. Brenda has been so down lately; I had bought her a box of chocolates to gorge on, so she was left with these and her kindle while I took the dog out for an explore of the area.

From the canal guides, Brinklow sounds an interesting place. We went up to bridge 34 so see the bat boxes, these had intrigued me since first seeing them, and the rods and plates that hold the bridge together, eight altogether. Beyond the bridge the towpath was very muddy and virtually impassable. However, we came to the section of canal known as “Brinklow Arches”. Although today, the canal sits on an embankment this was not always the case as originally it passed over a stone-arched aqueduct. he arches have long since been filled in and there are no signs of them at all.

A short arm leaves the canal here. It is now only in water for a few yards but originally went all the way into Brinklow village itself, a distance of some ¾ of a mile. It is overgrown but can still be followed and some parts are still in water. Not far from the canal itself are the remains of a bridge. Although the side walls have collapsed, it looks just like a fairy bridge out of a child’s book. The arm could not quite be followed to the end although it could be seen, the undergrowth became too thick. We trudged up a very muddy, ploughed field and broke through a hedge onto the road and walked into the village to see the canal arm terminus behind a stately looking, curved wall and gates.

Brinklow Castle is one of the best preserved Motte and Bailey constructions in the country and is also unusual as it has a double bailey. We visited this on the way back to the boat, a substantial mound of earth that rises 40 feet above the surrounding land. The 360˚ views were amazing, you could see a long way in all directions with the Fosse Way Roman road as straight as a die.

 We made it back to the boat just as the sun was going down and lighting up all the trees with an orange glow. Both of us very muddy.

Weather: a mild, pleasant day.