Canal Anniversary

The Union Canal is celebrating its 200th birthday with festivities planned for the weekend. We went along to the canal centre at Linlithgow to se what was happening.

Unfortunately we were too early to see the flotilla but were advised that the Western half were approaching just a little distance away, so, as the café was not yet open, we walked along the towpath to meet them. After reaching the Preston Road bridge with no sign of them we turned round and headed back to the café for coffee.

This boat overtook us, not one of the flotilla but the band on its way to meet the Western section, they were rehearsing and gave us a cheery wave as they went past; the swan, unimpressed, decided to follow humans on foot. In fact nearly all the humans we saw gave a greeting, it seems to be a friendly towpath, the cyclists diligently pinging their bell in warning. 

Instead of narrow boats to blip I found plenty of alternatives, see the extra photo - clockwise from top left; the canal basin from the Manse Road bridge, just as heavy rain began, a common carder bee feeding on vetch, honeysuckle already in bloom, the same swan, with a dismissive expression, as we approached, and in the centre a lovely sculpture of Dudley. His plinth reads:- Dudley was the much loved cat of canal side resident and local benefactor Liz Burrows. This sculpture by David Annand was erected by Burgh Beautiful Linlithgow using part of her legacy.  Cast at Powderhall Bronze in Edinburgh, the statue was erected 19 July 2018.

Having hung about for some time we decided we might catch the Eastern flotilla by driving to Philpstoun but we must have missed them so we returned home for a very late lunch.

It's aye an outing, as they say.