Day 45 of the End to End took me to that amazing feat of engineering on the British canal network: the Anderton Boat Lift. It was preceded by a walk through some of the old industrial landscape of England between Winsford and Northwich. The route is now called the Weaver Way following the length of the Weaver Navigational. There were a number of ‘flashes’ along the route: sections of open water alongside the river or canal that are now a haven for wildlife. I saw a swan on her nest, many other water birds and lots of wild flowers.
One year on and I’m still walking beside water in Longdendale where the reservoirs look very blue on a clear day. It’s my first day of using the butterfly counting app that Bob has designed for me. Simpler than the one available from Butterfly Conservation and quicker than making a note on the simple note pad, after a walk of over five sunny miles I’d already clocked 29 sightings of 7 different species. I was very pleased.
As indeed I was a year ago. Day 45 have many of my favourite things including a fish and chip lunch in Northwich. Arriving at the Anderton Boat Lift I was pleased to see it was working. The small cafe proudly announced ‘Ice Cream is Good For You’. Who could disagree with that. Walking LEJOG was no easy feat but there was plenty to sustain me most days.
From the remembered bible
If God cares for grass and sparrows, both of which are hardly worth anything at all, how much more are we cared for who are valued so much.
May we value the world as God does:
grass and sparrows high on our list,
lilies of the field admired and even the small creatures,
accorded their space to flourish.
May we value each other as God does:
first the poor and broken hearted,
and seeking out the ways of the kindom
together strive for peace and justice.
JAL: 20.05.2020 in Longdendale.