The newly opened canal by the railway viaduct

The sun was shining when the curtains were drawn this morning and we didn't have to rush up and away. We both wanted to go to town as Pip was coming to the Stroud Farmer's Market to sell some pies and he would then come back to our house for tea and food. Woodpeckers had read that the canal footpath had re-opened from Bowbridge at the bottom of our hill between the river and the old canal and on into town.

The tow path has been closed for more than six months to allow the building of the wholly new two hundred yards section of canal under the Capel Mill railway viaduct. Recently the public were allowed to walk along the empty canal for one day which I blipped here. Now water has filled the cut and tomorrow the complete footpath will be opened along the top section of the bank where the workmen can be seen here finishing the surface.

I was so pleased to see the canal completed, although there is still a lot of work to be done before boats will get access to it. However this was the biggest obstacle to the canal's re-opening, as it has provided the biggest engineering challenge to the whole £14 million project which comprises Phase 1. Money is now being raised for Phase 2 which will link all these renovated sections to the Sharpness canal at Saul Junction, so that boats can then reach both the open sea at Sharpness and via Gloucester to Birmingham and the complete the inland waterway systems of England and Wales.

To the left of the canal lies the River Frome which flows westwards under the viaduct and on to flow into the River Severn near Saul. I also blipped a view of the river on the far side of Capel's Mill viaduct, where I spotted a kingfisher and a dipper.

A small overflow can be seen at the beginning of the concrete wall. It has had to be made to let the excess water flow down to the river, until the proper weir is rebuilt in a few months time.



I have back blipped a portrait of my old friend, and colleague, Phil W., who we met in London three days ago.