The Enville Show

Not all walks have to be from A to B. You can have fun walking round local events.

And here I am at Enville's Annual Show.

It had been raining very hard, but people began to arrive as the weather cleared slightly

Dogs everywhere. 

 People had fun, whatever the weather!

A live band in the beer tent

Inside the main tent, there were lots of exhibits.

Red card indicates first place, with blue second, and yellow third.

Impressive flower arrangements,...

needlework,...

 photography,...

and more photography.

The veg are my favourite

Amusing vegetables! 

Bright chillies

I could just eat those tomatoes.

Who knew potatoes could look so good?

Looking out of the tent - the weather was only just ok.

There were old vehicles on display

 Children's races - the egg and spoon

Someone needed a bit of help, and someone was more keen on looking at the crowd.

Inside the tea tent - the cakes were fabulous

...and there was a war-time style singer.

The crowd were mostly in waterproofs, and accompanied by dogs.

Er, those bales were supposed to be for sitting on!

A pooch keen to visit the dog food stall.

More khaki, and more dogs.

MP Gavin Williamson braved the elements to talk to constituents.

Grey skies, but still plenty of people.

I wonder how you become a judge? I'd love to try all those cakes!

These local events are great fun to visit, whether you are a local or not.

Here's a similar event in Cornwall, where I was in the early part of August. It was in St Keverne. Again, after torrential rain. The band played in the village square - they are very well-regarded, and have won many local and national titles since their foundation in 1886.

Again, clothes more suitable for autumn than August.

St Keverne is on the Lizard Peninsula.

The celebrations go on into the evening, with the local pubs serving outside. There is also an ox roast

Both events are excellent - even in  poor weather. I hope this might inspire you to try similar events in your area, or on holiday.
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A beautiful walk in Wolverhampton

I was expecting a fairly urban walk, with perhaps some industrial architecture, but instead, I got this! A beautiful leafy walk - I could have been deep in the country.


My walk started here, in Compton, on the outskirts of Wolverhampton.

I took the towpath along the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal towards the lock, passing lovely old Compton Bridge

The canal overflow...

...complete with a duck ladder

The whole walk was very green and seemed very rural. This is Graiseley Brook railway bridge, now a walkway, rather than a railway line.

Surprising scenery - not much more than a mile from the town centre. 

Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, just glimpsed through the trees.

Tettenhall Old Bridge

Tettenhall New Bridge

The former Cautauld's Sidings Railway Bridge

Beyond it, the Wildside Activity Centre, with its own narrowboat.

Most of the bridges are like this old one

Reflections

We reached Aldersley Junction. (The sign to Birmingham is just poking out through the trees)

The canal goes this way to Birmingham - but that's a walk for another day.

We carried on, past some lovely wild flowers (Some kind of bellflower?)

Underneath Oxley Railway bridges

...and on to this rather extensive piece of work, which seemed to be new support for a pipe bridge

This is from the other side

Our walk finished at Oxley Moor bridge

...near to Oxley Marine

Oxley Boatyard

The view by the bridge - how many cars pass over here without realising what is underneath?

We returned by the same route. The canal passes Dunstall Park Racecourse, but this is all you can see from the canal. (The spotlights)

A heron walked a few feet in front of us.

This picture is typical of the whole walk - a calm green oasis.

Right next to the canal is the Smestow Brook.

Back at Compton Lock, the circular weir, a regular feature on the Staffs and Worcs Canal

Compton Lock

Back at the start, we admired these buildings - old canal architecture being made into flats

There are more pictures than usual this time: that's because it's such a lovely walk. If you've never done it, you're missing a treat. 
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Today's walk: park at Compton (there's a public car park by the canal bridge) Turn left on the canal towpath, and follow it. Most of the surfaces are good - and obviously the walk is flat! It's just over two miles to Aldersley junction. I walked to Oxley Moor bridge and return, which was 5 miles in total (well 4.97 miles!). Highly recommended.