Goodbye Summer.........!

Wow, I think this has been one of the best summers we've had in the seven years I've been here! It's been just gorgeous! Last weekend, we managed yet another bar-b-que, it was a brilliant, sunny, warm day. We keep thinking, ok, this is it, our last chance to get out for a picnic. Even after school started, we have still managed a few.
  This is where we often go, when we don't want to go too far from home.

The little village is called Lapworth, it's built around a canal, and at Kingswood junction there's a picnic area, right on the edge of the canal basin. There are several locks, and loads of canal boats are moored there. It's quite a busy junction, and the kids love to watch the boats go through the locks.
    Then there's this cute little cottage.

   It's so pretty, with it's rounded roof. There's a sign that says the roof is rounded, because the canal builders were so used to building rounded bridges, they just automatically made the roof in the same manner.
  We also met a delightful older gentleman, working the locks while his wife steered the boat through. He and I started talking, and he proceeded to give me a little history lesson, all about the canals! Apparently, before engines, the boats, which were loaded with cargo, were pulled by horses!!  I was fascinated, and just had a lovely time, chatting with him. All in all, it was a lovely day out with the kids, and I shall miss this particular summer very much!  Here's to hoping that there will be many more to come.