Cancer Research UK Walk 2001

About 2 ½ miles after the start of the walk the next aqueduct is reached which crosses the road between Stratford and Birmingham near the Navigation Inn at Wootton Wawen. Fortunately the inn was not yet open as I am sure if it had been Larry, accompanied by his brother Ken who was also on this walk, would have made a slight detour.
Bridge 49
About 1¼ miles further on we went under the Warwick to Henley in Arden Road and were soon passing Yarningale Common on our right where the canal passes over a small stream. In a distance of less than 5 miles we had crossed 3 aqueducts, and I haven't got a photo of any of them to put on this web site - shame.
But more about the Stratford Canal which covers 26 miles between Stratford upon Avon and King’s Norton. Generally it is narrower than the Grand Union and has smaller locks. While the Grand Union and most other Midland canal locks will take 2 boats side by side the "Stratford" is only wide enough to take one. The narrower width is also reflected in the size and style of the bridges. On most canals the towpaths go under the bridges. However, on the "Stratford" most of the bridges are too small to accommodate a towpath under them and therefore these "bridges" have splits down their centre.
Locks on the Stratford on Avon Canal
Soon the Fleur-de-lys Public House at Lowsonford is passed and having passed under the noisy M40, we turned right up a lane, which ascends to a T-Junction. Here we turn left and in a few yards the Grand Union Canal is reached. Over the road bridge we go to the Tom o’ the Wood Pub for midday sustenance, and the opportunity for a pint of beer, or in Larry’s case 2 or 3.
Here we regrouped and sat in the sun enjoying food provided by Jeff’s wife, Lyn. We were all happy to have the opportunity to have a sit down in such pleasant surroundings and a big thank you must go to the management at the Tom o’ the Wood for allowing us the use of their facilities.
During this lunch time break and later at our walk’s end I talked to Sue, one of the walkers, who, although I had seen out and about, I had not really spoken to for about 35 years when we were both part of a group that socialised together. Sue was walking with her two sisters. None of them had ever done such a lengthy walk before and were very keen to complete it. Indeed one of the sisters was on holiday in Warwickshire and on the completion of the walk Jeff had to get a completion of walk certificate to her with the minimum delay before she took a flight back to her home in New Zealand.

With one exception everyone enjoyed the rest of the walk back to Warwick and further refreshments at the Warwickshire County Council Staff Club located in the centre of the town. However, there was a low point. One of our regular walkers, Sandra, slipped on the Grand Union Canal towpath near Shrewley. Unfortunately she fell badly - to miss the murky waters of the Grand Union. The net result was a broken arm and the need for a metal insert. But she still completed the walk before making the unwanted detour to the hospital.
Thanks to the generosity of the walkers and their sponsors £2121 was raised.
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