Tag Archives: Kennet and Avon Canal

Pictures

Grass Snake going for a swim on the canal

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Having only taken pictures from my windows for a few weeks I ventured out along the Kennet and Avon Canal when the lockdown restrictions were eased a bit. I stopped near Frouds Lane to try to take a few pictures of birds crossing the canal. That wasn’t very successful. I was just about to leave when I got lucky, although not with a bird. I noticed some motion on the other side of the canal and suddenly a Grass Snake swimming across the canal came into view:

  • Picture of a Grass Snake swimming on a canal
    (1) Grass Snake approaching
  • Picture of a Grass Snake swimming on a canal, seen from the side, tongue out
    (2) Grass Snake swimming
  • Picture of the head of a swimming Grass Snake reflecting on the water
    (3) Head of a swimming Grass Snake reflecting on the water
  • Picture of a swimming Grass Snake with the tongue out
    (4) Swimming Grass Snake with the tongue out
  • Picture of a swimming Grass Snake turning around, showing us the back of its head
    (5) Swimming Grass Snake turning around
  • Picture of a Grass Snake swimming past a twig floating on the water
    (6) Grass Snake swimming back past a twig
A Grass Snake swimming across the Kennet and Avon Canal. Click the pictures for the larger versions

I must admit I didn’t know that snakes can swim until I saw this one doing it. This snake had to cross the canal twice (and did it quite easily it seems): It came across only to realise that on the other side was a retaining wall about 2 ft high, so it couldn’t get out. It had a brief look, then turned around and swam back where it disappeared into the undergrowth (no wall on that side). The tongue was nicely visible several times and the head nicely reflected/mirrored on the water. I hope you like and enjoy these pictures. I certainly enjoyed the moment and watching the snake.

Pictures

Cat on the towpath

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As you probably know the internet was invented to share cat pictures on blogs and social media. During today’s Sunday morning walk (with a mixture of sunshine and clouds) I came across this cat. It was quite friendly and photogenic, so I took a few pictures which I’m now sharing here:

Click on the pictures for the larger version.

Pictures

Sunny summer Sunday morning walk in West Berkshire

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With some nice early morning sunshine and clouds forecasted for late morning and the afternoon I decided to head out for an early walk today. What was originally planned for a 1-2 hours stroll turned into a 3 hours walk as the sunshine held up longer than forecasted and I discovered a few footpaths I hadn’t used before. My route took me from Aldermaston Wharf via Mill Lane to Home Farm near Padworth College. I then followed the road south until the junction before backtracking to Upper Church Farm, where I took the footpath west towards Aldermaston. Reaching the road a short stretch along the road, then turning north again on the footpath towards Fisherman’s Lane. On Fisherman’s Lane back towards Padworth Mill. A short stretch on Mill Lane before taking the footpath over to Padworth Lock. Then back to Aldermaston Wharf along the Kennet and Avon Canal. A few impressions from my walk:

Click on the pictures for the larger version in a gallery. The map for the area is:

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Heart Surgery, Pictures

March walk in Woolhampton

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Yesterday I bought myself a new ‘travel and cargo trouser pocket camera’ (a [amazon_textlink asin=’B01AAU7T3A’ text=’Panasonic Lumix TZ100′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thearmingrewehom’ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’e6a0b17f-0748-11e7-8240-c53967e2d49c’]), as my old one simply wasn’t good enough anymore and was starting to show signs of its age. Today was a ‘walk day’ as part of my ongoing recovery from my heart surgery, so I took the camera out for a walk to the gravel pit lakes near Woolhampton. Here are a few early spring impressions from the walk:

(Click on the pictures for the larger versions)

Heart Surgery, Pictures, Thoughts

A frosty November Rose

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Time to revisit my November Rose, as it presented a new photo opportunity this morning. The last few days have been very cold and sunny, yesterday morning I used the opportunity for my longest walk yet: Over three miles in beautiful sunshine walking back from my GP appointment/review (taxi is ridiculously expensive as mentioned earlier). While I must admit some of the inclines were rather tough the flat parts and certainly the downhill sections were beautiful (especially as they were south facing in the sunshine). Quite motivating after some not so good days before (more about that some other time). When I arrived home at lunchtime the Rose was bathed in beautiful winter sunshine, so I took a few pictures. However, they didn’t turn out too different to the ones I already had, so I didn’t do anything with them. Good thing I didn’t, as this morning after a very cold night for here (-6°C, we don’t get that often in West Berkshire) ice crystals had settled on the Rose, giving me some nice views:

(click on the pictures for larger versions, including a bonus picture of a view over the canal)