I have written poetry for most of my life. It seems to be a way of expressing myself. This was written a few years ago just after my terminal diagnosis that proved not to be terminal. It was quite a cathartic feeling at the time and it was one of the ways that I came to believe that I could cope whatever happened.
I hope you like it.
I will be posting more, there are quite a few in the back catalogue and a couple of new ones I am writing at present.
My last post left you all with a little info on what you can expect from me. It has taken me a while to get this site up and running so my first few stops and stories have already been posted on my FaceBook page. Its worth quickly reading the posts through if you haven’t already.
The view from my boat just outside Congleton.
I left you all at the point where I was moored up just outside Congleton, where once again I found a beautiful place to moor and posted a little video of the view from my boat. I have re-posted that above because it was just an absolutely spectacular view. On top of that the view on the other side was also amazing. The Cloud is a 1,000 ft above sea level peak that dominates the landscape of this area and can be seen from various spots along the canal.
It really is a most impressive sight, and changes both mood and look as the weather changes.
So after stopping a couple of days at Congleton I moved up to the bottom of Bosley Locks. This is the only real flight of locks along the whole of the 27 miles of the Macclesfield Canal and is really an area of outstanding beauty. There are twelve locks in the flight spread out over a mile of Canal. The total climb is 118 feet and it takes the canal over 500 feet above sea level.
Where I moored there were more spectacular views including the centre picture above. The view from the other side of the boat was also beautiful, with an even more spectacular via-duct for a railway than the congleton one.
Along the way up the canal the grapevine was operating at breakneck speed and I was told at least ten times that the locks were closed due to an accident with a boat getting caught in the first lock in our direction (the number twelve lock).
I chose to moor-up just past the last winding-hole (a winding-hole is a place on the canal where there is a cut out on the non-towpath side of the canal which means you can turn a narrow-boat around. It is winding as in winding a baby not winding as in winding up). I walked up to the locks the next morning to talk to the lock-keepers and find out what exactly had happened.
Apparently whilst travelling up the locks a boat had entered lock twelve and a fault with the entrance gate meant that water was flowing out of the lock when the gate was meant to be closed. This happened because the gate had not shut securely and the fact that the pond feeding the lock was not filled sufficiently.
In normal operation a pond or side pound in a lock will hold enough water to compensate for any leaks in the lock gates. Quite often the gates leak enough that the pound for a certain lock will not be filled enough, especially in the morning and so we are all well used to the lock keepers first filling the ponds/pounds before travel up or down can start in the morning.
According to the boat owner the front was lodged on the sill as the water emptied from the lock which meant he was left stuck in the lock until RCR (River Canal Rescue) could get him out.
A lock engineer visited the site on Sunday and found that the damage to the lock gate was not too bad but that there was detrirus under the gate, not allowing the gates to close properly. This was attended to on Monday morning and the volunteer lock keepers managed to get the boats that were waiting through the locks. I was actually the last boat allowed through before they shut the locks for more assesment.
It was an uneventful journey up, except after I had got up the top I could see a lot of moored boats that were pointing as though they were waiting to go down.
The canals are really filling up with babies now, geese, duckings, fish fry and tadpoles. With fields filled with lambs and calves the new life is amazing.
So after the locks it is on to Oakgrove where my carpenter Mike will meet me tommorrow morning to put the finishing touches to my bedroom.
So here I am, I was sitting and doing a post when I thought a coffee break was in order. Coffee made, I joined Blizz on the back of the boat.
Smoking a ciggy and talking to Blizz I noticed a Heron against the bank on the other side of the canal. I thought it would be a good opportunity for some photography, but little did I know that I was just about to make a new friend…..
I grabbed the camera and took a shot or two and thought, wow he is quite settled there and quite close.
Edwin
“Oi” he shouted…”names Edwin, are you taking my picture?”
“Yep I answered, as long as you are prepared to pose”
“Wait a sec” he replied “I’ll come to you”.
With that he flew across the canal and landed on my side. He was wandering towards me and saying “Get a couple of full length shots, they will look great cause I am such a looker.”
Then he stopped and walked into the margins, and stood with his upper body on show right on the edge of the canal…
“How good are you” he said ” You wanna go for some action shots? I can see a little tasty fish just down there”
“I’ll try” I said.
“Take your cue from me ” and he laughed “Right, little fishy… you ready to be my tea?” he shuffled but his head was still and sharp.
“Right … are u ready… here we go” he dived in but his head was hidden by the grass, even so he came up with that little fish in his mouth.
“Did you get it?” he asked, without giving me time to answer ” Well he said I am taking off and going in a minute. Get ready for more action shots”…
With that he changed the fishes position in his beak and then started getting ready for take off.
As he passed, he shouted ” See you another time, when and if I can be bothered ….. Byeeeeeeeeeee”
Riverwolfe and Life is a place to share the quiet pleasures of travelling through England’s canal system, where each lock, towpath, and waterside village invites a gentler pace. This journal begins with a simple idea: that slow travel reveals details we often miss, from early morning mist over still water to the warm conversation waiting at a canalside pub.
The view from my boat just outside Congleton.
What You’ll Find Here
Here, you can expect personal travel stories, route highlights, practical notes for exploring by boat, and reflections on the character of England’s historic waterways. Some posts will linger on scenery and atmosphere, while others will offer useful tips on planning a canal-side day out, choosing stretches to explore, and noticing the small landmarks that make each journey memorable.
Travel stories from journeys along English canals
Route inspiration for scenic walks, boat trips, and waterside stops
Practical tips for readers curious about slow travel and canal culture
Why Canal Travel Matters
England’s canals offer a different way to experience the landscape. They connect industrial history with wildlife, quiet reflection with local character, and movement with stillness. Whether you are a regular boater, or simply someone who loves discovering places with a story, the waterways have a way of making travel feel more personal.
“The best journeys are not always the fastest ones. Sometimes they are the ones that give us time to notice where we are.“
Come Along for the Journey
If you enjoy reflective travel writing, practical inspiration, and the charm of England’s waterways, this journal is for you. I hope these posts encourage you to explore a towpath, plan a canal escape, or simply pause long enough to imagine life moving at the pace of the water.
I wanted to talk about how my journey came about. Often when life seems to be moving along nicely it suddenly throws a curve ball. For me it wasn’t just one but a series of events that led to a decision to shake up my life and change things.
My series of curve balls started with a very minor stroke just before Covid. It hasn’t affected me particularly and physically you wouldn’t know that I had one.
Getting home on Christmas Eve and then discovering I had bought Covid with me from the hospital (Thank You NHS)
Next curved ball, while I was still recovering Caroline had one of her breakdowns and moved out. We are now divorced thank goodness.
Then a couple of months later a collapse in Ely whilst walking the dogs, not a stroke, more likely a TIA. During the scans they discovered a growth on the inside of my skull, which was first diagnosed as a cancerous tumour and I was told I was terminal. The diagnosis changed a couple of times but at last they decided it was a Giant Arachnoid Granulation. This explained why the headaches and double vision that started the year before happened.
A GAG is not terminal but the visual and physical pain it caused meant that I was advised to give up driving. When the treatment took hold I did try again but have decided it is too dangerous and am again not driving at all.
So what to do ….. vegetate in front of a tele? No way.
So I looked at alternatives and settled on buying a narrrow boat. This changed my life, it has given me a kind of peace I have never known. My life is gentle, relaxed and very very happy.
So why Blog, after all isn’t everyone trying it now?
My background is photography and it is a love I have had for most of my life. Couple that with the love of nature and wildlife photography and it is the ideal companion to my blogging.
