Special places
The Grand Union Canal is, thankfully, within walking distance of my home.
The tow path walk is a pleasant experience at any time of year. The colours change but the gentle pace is sustained and beguiling. It is a mood enhancing tonic.
The electric dart of blue from the Kingfisher is a welcome distraction. So fast, a frustratingly brief encounter and usually out of the corner of the eye.
The fields of undulating emerald meet the gentle banks of reeds. Swans and moorhens go about their business unfazed by prying eyes. Small patches of woodland keep the landscape varied and enticing.
On the waters I catch glimpses of roach and the perch with its stunning tiger stripe – only when the water is clear and the light is just right.
I have walked these paths in the stifling heat of summer and in the dead chill of winter when the water has frozen over. The calm remains like an invisible blanket. There is much to recommend it any time – each season brings its own unique character to the land.
