Coffee, Cats & Another Canal

Another day, another trip. We thought we had better take the cats out again, so set out for a drive. We planned to park up in a pub car park near a set of locks and take a leisurely walk along the canal. We thought that it would be good for the cats to get used to being left for a while in the bus while we explored. As usual plenty of miaowing accompanied the journey!

We parked up in the picturesque car park, the pub was closed but the small canal shop alongside was open and people moored alongside the canal were walking to and fro collecting provisions.

We sat a while with the cats as they got used to the new views from the windows, of course we couldn't resist putting the kettle on before we started, the novelty still hasn't worn off!

Coffee finished, we then put down some food and water for the cats and made our escape through the cab. We strolled through the pubs pleasant grounds and on down to the canal.

Saying cheery hello's to people coming up the path and off the boats we made our way down to the towpath.

It was a beautiful day, blue skies and white fluffy clouds, an ideal afternoon for a walk.

As I always feel when walking along canals when people are moored up, or chugging along on the brightly coloured narrowboats, I sensed the feeling of freedom, almost like a whole other subculture living alongside but apart from the world of dry land and static homes rooted in the earth.

The scenery for these people is temporary, moveable, everchanging and though they always have the comfort and security of their boat, their home, If they don't like the view or fancy a change they can just move on, viewing life from a vantage point not many of us get to see.

They can glide through the water between inaccessible banks overgrown with nature, they see things we land dwellers are not privy to.

As we walked we felt nature growing more abundant the further away we got from the road. We stopped by a lock, fascinated by the gushing water, the old wood and metal, the beauty and mechanics of it. The water looked deep and dark in its man made channels .

We headed back, thinking the cats had been alone long enough and hoping Sammy hadn't started scratching the windows and doors as he does at home, he doesn't want anything, we think he just enjoys the feel and rhythm of doing it, but as we are not sure if the window tints that Joe fitted were up to a cat claw onslaught, we quickened our step.

Joe made it back to the bus before me, as I called in the little shop to browse. He had the kettle on, the cats in the cab and the door open as I caught him up.

From where we were parked we could see cherry trees laden with cherries that the birds were making a feast of, joe had collected a few as he passed and we sat and ate them as the kettle boiled.

Coffee made, we shut the side door and let the cats come and join us as we got comfortable and recovered from the surprisingly long walk. They seemed relaxed and happy and best of all there were no scratches anywhere!

Time to go, we climb through into the cab, put the music on and we head for home. All in all a successful mission - now, if we can only get them to stop that incessant miaowing! :-)