July 2nd – The day was also characterised by the animals met along the way. I’ve always loved canal animals, and these were all spotted nearby; the border collie waiting for his mistress outside the canalside farm shop at Haywood, the cat living at the canal cottage near Cowlick, and the two boater dogs watching silently as I passed.

I loved the terrier and venerable old collie on the boats particularly. They were clearly doing their job and looked happy and content with life.

Sometimes, it’s the animals you meet who make for a good ride, not the humans…