Stroud to Saul, 18th June

The weather forecast threatening a dollop of rain around 10am before the main event in the evening,  we set off fairly promptly on the 2 mile walk to Whitminster bus stop. 

This is St. Andrew's,  Saul, looking imposing in the murk:

It was great to be back in Stroud, checking out the shops, old and new,  and the market. Prices pretty fierce but treated ourselves to local  honey, and a Tree of Life silhouette.  We had lunch at an old haunt, The Retreat. 

It brought back memories from Rotaract when we had a number of lock-ins in the downstairs room.

While there, we got the news that our train on Friday was cancelled. Worse, the first train north was not until 12 noon - hopeless. So we had a brainstorm and decided to travel from Saul on Monday, as we are on 14 day moorings. Booked tickets and sorted refunds then and there.

The main event, though, was of course the canal. We finally got around to becoming members of the Cotswold Canals Trust, and caught up with all the news. While enjoying some coffee and gluten free cake in the Lockkeepers cafe we also enjoyed this poster:

and then decided to see how far we could get along the towpath back towards Saul. The finger post was encouraging:

and off we went.  The first section through town was great: excellent towpath and canal looking ready to go, save for a narrow channel on what was supposed to be a wide canal.

Side note: many shots of Andrew's backpack as he was not prepared to stop for photography!

It was a lovely walk, liberally equipped with noticeboards. No wonder everyone in Stroud is clued up on the project! Here is one example:

Bridges and locks all reinstated:

and canalside development encouraged by Stroud District Council,  who have moved their main offices to a restored mill complex at Ebley:

That's it on the left, and on the right is new housing and retail.

A really lovely park adjoining at Cainscross, what a spot for visitor moorings!

Onwards, and the Ryford double locks, a staircase arrangement where the upper lock fills the lower one. Interesting  (to us canal nerds) paddle gear.

At Nutshell Bridge was this house built for canal employees, with its tall lookout point keeping an eye on traffic.

Onwards towards Stonehouse and its picturesque church, St Cyr's.

The latest big step forward was the replacement of a culvert with a proper boat channel and towpath,  under the main Cardiff to London train line! It was done in three days flat over Christmas.. check out the time lapse on YouTube! https://youtu.be/rt6_waf6aPs

And here it is:

and beyond that, a break in the navigation. 

Towpath starting to need attention and work done, ongoing and to do:

After a jungly section, we arrived at the first part to be restored, back in the 70s, with a trip boat starting the job of raising awareness. 

But then it all came to a halt.

and we had to leave the canal to fight our way back to Saul.  This wasn't worse than some of the challenges we faced, but not far off!

On the other hand, plenty of pyramidal orchids about:

 and we contemplated this beast blocking the canal's path:

By the last two miles we were definitely flagging - Alison's step counter flagged up 26522 steps and 16.4km by end of day - and the rain caught up with us at last.

A gorgeous sunset even as the rain continued to rattle down:

Phew! What a day!