Northwich to Winwick (Warrington) 20 miles

The day started sunny as I left my B & B . I stopped a few yards up the road and tried to take a photo of the Coachman inn where I had stayed the night. Not used to the weight of my rucksack I nearly toppled over and fell into a shrubbery. I picked myself up and tried not to look to embarrassed as a young couple and their baby passed me. Next there was a discussion with the  young lad on the checkout who said he could not get himself a girlfriend these days. I just bought my bananas and offered some words of encouragement . It was good to be on the road again as I winded my way through the suburbs of Northwich and out into the Cheshire countryside. A Robin pecked at a worm in the road and left off till I passed by only to return to his lunch when I was at a safe distance. Why do I like walking? Two big influences have strongly coloured my life . A book called The Map that came to life which caught my attention at a time when I hated reading. It  also captured my imagination of  the wonder of maps and how they reveal the landscape . The other factor was my father who encouraged me to walk , cycle and explore, a gift I would come to treasure greatly. My journey today was one of many waterways, the river Mersey, the Manchester ship canal and the Sankey canal. On the Sankey canal I saw a Heron doing some fishing as

he flitted just over the heads of a family of swans. I followed the Sankey canal all the way to Winwick and arrived late afternoon . A warm relaxing bath soon revived me and I am looking forward to tomorrow's adventure.