We welcomed a new member and drove to Tapton Lock for our walk at the side of the canal and on to Brimington.
Unfortunately, we had to circle around for a while as Chesterfield Football Club were playing Portsmouth for a televised match and cars were parked everywhere. We had just started to walk when we spotted a massive, red fungi (fly agaric) as big as a tea plate, on the opposite bank of the canal and minutes later heard an excited roar from the football ground – Chesterfield had scored the first goal. Two rabbits heard our approach and scurried across the grassland nearby.
We reached Weeldon Mill Lock, where The John Varley II was waiting for the water to reach the correct depth before it could carry on with its journey. We passed a nicely decorated tree stump, carved with oak leaves, mushrooms and a sunflower but by then couldn’t hear any sounds from the football stadium so remained in suspense until arriving home to find that our local team had won. The water in the canal was very high due to the heavy rain recently and rippling in the same direction as we were walking, together with a few couples with their dogs, all having a relaxing, Sunday afternoon stroll in the sunshine with the sound of an ice cream van tinkling away in the distance.
We travelled over the red, bricked bridge, signposted Brimington and onto a tarmacked track, bordered by trees on each side with lots of wet, brown and yellow leaves underfoot. Down a small path and onto a housing estate and then up another path and towards the breakers yard which was full of cars in various stages of distress. Our walk brought us to a muddy field before we arrived at Brimington Road and passed the area which used to be called, and still is, the Skull and Crossbones, and back onto the canal path.
Two men were fishing from the path below us, the water was murky and further on, littered with rubbish washed up by the recent floods. We stopped to talk to a father of two small boys who were magnet fishing. They had magnets attached to a length of rope each and were throwing them into the canal. According to the father, they had previously brought up a bicycle! As we approached Tapton Lock at the end of the walk, the John Varley II sailed gracefully past us.
Whatever the weather, we all enjoy getting out in the fresh air so thank you to Bob, this month’s leader.
If anyone wishes to join us, gather at the church gates at 12pm with a packed lunch on Sunday 3rd December or ring 0779 1735 204 for more information.
Evelyn Lowe