Wednesday 6 February 2013

The Cuckoo Way ~ the eighth day [part 1] ... Shireoaks ~ Worksop

Parking at Shireoaks Marina I walked past some of the narrowboats that were moored there ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]  

I turned left towards Worksop and almost immediately reached Shireoaks Top Lock ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop] 

  A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]

Before long the canal passes under one of the roads that links Worksop with Shireoaks ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]

 A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]

The canal runs parallel to the road for some way as you walk towards Rhodesia but before you get there you reach Doefield Dun Lock ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]  

Then you enter Rhodesia ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]  

That's the railway line crossing over the canal by a bridge in the picture above. Underneath it I turned round to look back at Doefield Dun Lock ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]  

There are usually one or two fishermen [or are they anglers ? I've never worked out the difference ...] on the canal. I know there have been problems with some newcomers to our fair land taking fish which they shouldn't have taken. I think this notice is explaining the position ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]

... or it may just be saying 'don't forget you need to buy a rod fishing licence'.

 The old canal is then crossed by the A57 ... 

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]  

One encouraging modern feature hereabouts is the provision of 'dog waste bags'  by the local authority though I'm not sure that every dog owner makes use of them ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]

I was now walking between the canal on my left and the A57 on my right ...  and approached an 'A' frame barrier ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]  

I believe their main purpose is as a 'motorcycle inhibitor' !

There were no motorcycles anywhere to be seen the day I was there or indeed anybody ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]  

I passed under the bridge beside The Lock Keeper [a pub] ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]

 I was now heading towards the centre of Worksop ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]

 Milestone No. 20 was reached ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]

 ... and I was able to study some modern housing on the far side of the canal ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]  

As I reached the hustle and bustle of Worksop itself I was at a slightly lower level ... canal level and Worksop Town Lock ...

A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]

 A walk on the Chesterfield Canal [from Shireoaks Marina to Worksop]

This is where today's blog ends but this is less than half of the walk ... and I had still to meet someone I knew online but who I'd never met in the flesh, completely by coincidence.

12 comments:

  1. I would enjoy this walk Charlie especially on a day like that, I wonder what stories it could tell,I imagine it was a hard life..Ann

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    1. I am sure there is a whole host of stories to do with the canal Ann.

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  2. I would dearly love to go on a walk and accidentally meet you for a wee chat. Do the narrowboats actually fit through the narrow spots along the canals? A friend and I were dreaming about doing a 2 week vacation on a narrowboat in England. Keep your eye out for the best routes for us. It will probably never happen, but I could win the lottery, and then it would. After or before a spell of relaxation in the Cook Islands. It is Bucket List wishes.

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    1. Narrowboats are usually 6' 10" wide but long. I have stayed on a narrowboat for two holidays and they are surprisingly comfortable. We travelled from Worcester down to the River Severn before cruising up it to reach Stourport and transfer to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. We cruised up this onto the Shropshire Union Canal before turning round and heading back. On some of the rivers and cansl you can do a round of course depending on the amount of time you have.

      I would take another narrowboat holiday tomorrow ... but it's not for everyone and that's why I won't be taking one tomorrow, or the next day.

      You should try it Karyn ...

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  3. Excellent walk, one I would love to take myself. You know I'm a fan of canals, and it's great to see such a well-maintained one. Great shot of the narrowboats in the marina. Looks like you had a really nice day for your walk, too.

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    1. Glad you like the photo of the marina Mitch. Yes, it was a good day ... with more to come.

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  4. I wonder which Rhodesia came first - the one by you, or the one in foreign climes? Did someone come here from Rhodesia and name it so, or did a local go out to Rhodesia and name it so - or maybe the name came from something else entirely - in both cases! I'll bet it causes some confusion when Rhodesian residents have to give their address over the phone. lol

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    1. The country came first ~ it was named after Cecil Rhodes wasn't it ? Wales is near to Rhodesia too !

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  5. Thanks for taking us on your walk with you, Charlie. I think if I saw the sign saying Rhodesia I'd be tempted to get out a spray can, cross it through and write Zimbabwe!

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    1. There are laws against that sort of thing Ian !

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