Friday 16th August 2013 Ramble 20: Long Itchington to Bridge 46, Emscote Road, Warwick.

Friday 16^th August  2013

Ramble 20:  Long Itchington to Bridge 46, Emscote Road, Warwick.

When we set out on this 8 mile long towpath ramble with John, Julie, Peter, Sue, Bill, Mary, Hugh and Margaret, the weather was rather unsettled. We soon met four walkers, wearing cricket attire and sporting Goochie moustaches, who were aiming to walk along the canals from Edgbaston to The Oval in 7 days for charity. After wishing them luck and posting donations into small blue plastic cricket bats, we continued over the River Itchen and past the flight of locks at Bascote. Unusually, here there is a pair of locks joined together to form a staircase.

  The idyllic Warwickshire landscape seemed to be summed up by a seeing a nonchalant duck hitching a ride on a piece of floating greenery. We noticed that the hedgerows were already laden with harvests of plums, apples and sloes. Although huge and shiny ripe, the blackberries seemed a bit tart in the mouth!







We passed big patches of arrowhead plants with a few late whorls of flowers. A source (Google) says they were introduced from US (where their tubers are eaten by beavers and Red Indians) and are considered invasive here. Other books say they are native (any thoughts, Anne?).

 
 After passing under the Fosse Road Bridge, where the Exeter to Lincoln Roman Fosse Way is now the B4455 road here, we approached the Fosse Locks. A family of swans joined two canal boats in the first lock and gracefully glided out as soon as the lock gates opened, just as if it was normal practice.

 We decided to have a break by the lock for picnic lunch and then continued our way through the peaceful countryside with the skies looking brighter. This was not before another group photo was taken (Ian setting up the camera with bigger-than-usual equipment that caused amusement).

There were many boats on the water, most with a dog aboard and a cuppa (or perhaps stronger drink) is a must for the tiller-person!

The high railway bridge 33A was a great sight and near to here is a cooperative share vegetable farm. It is from the towpath near here, too, that you can just spot the top of the rebuilt Radford Semele Church that was burnt down in 2006.

As we approached the environs of Leamington Spa, more cyclists passed us, (the towpath is part of the National Cycleway No 41) and gradually the surrounding busy-ness increased. Eagle-eyed people at the head of our party (or was it those with attuned hearing for a jingle) located an ice-cream van parked in an adjoining industrial park and we all formed an orderly queue.

It wasn’t long after that, and sensing the end of the walk was near, we again took a few steps off the towpath to sit down with a drink at The Mooring PH, with its intriguing ‘New England’ style décor and unusual art pieces.By this time the weather was bright, sunny and beautifully warm and we must admit to lingering a bit.

 
When we did leave our outdoor seats we passed over the main Birmingham to Marylebone railway line and River Avon aqueduct (which leaks from the underside!) before leaving the towpath at Bridge 46 to walk to our B&B in Warwick.