When I was young , every time my parents moved home, our new house was always within walking distance of the Grand Union Canal ( Tring, Northolt, Uxbridge )so I was lucky enough to be able to cycle many stretches of it.
On my last visit home in April, the weather was perfect for cycling so I took my new camera out to take some pictures of the stretch near Uxbridge. Looking at the pictures remimded my of something I've always wanted to do, namely cycle its entire length then head north on another canal network to my other old home in Bury, north of Manchester.
It would be nice if any other members have pictures of the canal to add to the thread since it cuts through some beautiful country and takes in a lot of history as it makes its way north.
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A brief history from Wiki :
This is where it begins in London. I found this picture on the Wiki site so credit
to the original photographer.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...C_20050113.jpg
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 220 km (137 miles) with 166 locks. It has arms to places includingLeicester, Slough, Aylesbury, Wendover and Northampton[.
The Grand Union Canal was also the original name for part of what is now part of the Leicester Line of the modern Grand Union: this latter is now generally referred to as theOld Grand Union Canal where necessary to avoid ambiguity.
With competition from the railways having taken a large share of traffic in the second half of the 19th century, improvements in roads and vehicle technology in the early part of the 20th century meant that the lorry was also becoming a threat to the canals. Tolls had been reduced to compete with the railways, but there was little scope for further reduction. The Regent's Canal and Grand Junction Canal agreed that amalgamation and modernisation were the only way to remain competitive.
The (present) Grand Union Canal came into being on 1 January 1929, extended in 1932. It was formed from the amalgamation of several different canals:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Union_Canal
This first picture is looking south from the junction of the Slough branch towards West Drayton.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...9/DSC00040.jpg
View down the Slough branch from the pedestrian bridge.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...9/DSC00041.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...9/DSC00033.jpg
Just down this branch on the left is an old pillbox, now overgrown, designed to stop those pesky Germans an easy passage to Slough industrial estate. Used to act as a short time hotel for local teenagers but now bricked up.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...9/DSC00034.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...9/DSC00036.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...9/DSC00037.jpg
On the opposite side to the pillbox they have reclaimed a lot of derelict land and built a nice marina and park where a friend of mine has a barge moored. A good use of taxpayers money as it is very popular with families on a weekend.
The Marina entrance :
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...9/DSC00035.jpg
Bridge into the marina and nearby park :
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...9/DSC00032.jpg
Nice to see a compete absence of discarded plastic bags that spoil so many Thai beauty spots.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...9/DSC00038.jpg
Mr and Mrs Daffy , out for a walk.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...9/DSC00042.jpg
Looking north up the canal towards Cowley.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...9/DSC00039.jpg
Moving up the canal to Denham Lock, where there is a very nice tea house. Meant to take some pictures of it but was in a bit of a hurry.
https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...d_2010_026.jpg
More to follow.....tea break first.