Boddy on the Towpath
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boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
Boddy on the Towpath
@boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
140 followers 73 following 190 posts
Cycling the canals of Britain over 5 years, and writing a book on how to complete the rides.
Also Barrow AFC and the occasional beer.
http://www.boddyonthetowpath.co.uk
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Reposted by Boddy on the Towpath
iandunt.bsky.social
As you might imagine, this is very good. It is also very funny.
November 12, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Boddy on the Towpath
roberthutton.co.uk
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
November 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
I'm in the process of writing up for my website all 5 rides (127 miles) which comprise the full length of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. This is what I do over the winter, when I can't get out riding (although the weather's been so mild I could have done a couple more rides) #cycling #UKCanals #canals
Pencil style drawing of a brick built warehouse on the banks of a canal. The building has 3 roofs, and tall arched windows.
November 7, 2025 at 12:03 PM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
I've reached the end of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, all 127 miles of it! The Stanley Flight drops the canal down under the Dock Road in Liverpool towards the Mersey. New canal sections have been built to take boats to Albert Dock, but there is no towpath so that's me done #canals #UKCanals #cycling
Pencil stye drawing of an arched brick railway bridge, under which passes a canal, dropping down a number of locks. Warehouses and other buildings are in the background.
November 2, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Reposted by Boddy on the Towpath
zoejardiniere.bsky.social
Asylum seekers, housed in hotels in Manchester, are reaching out in their own words to address the concerns of the local community.

Please take a minute to read their letter, & share it with the people in your life who need to hear the truth about the people they are protesting.
October 27, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Reposted by Boddy on the Towpath
laurette1.bsky.social
My painting of an Autumn scene in the Lake District near Blea Tarn.
#Autumn
#ColorADay
#OrangeSun
#AcrylicPainting
#AcrylicArt
#Art
#ArtYear
A stream runs over rocks into Blea Tarn and is surrounded by autumnal grasses. A conifer is on the right with a dry stone wall behind. There is open fencing to let the water through. The fells are on both sides of my pointing.
October 26, 2025 at 12:32 PM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
The entrance to the Rufford Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool #canal. I cycled a few miles up the arm, to the marina, having believed there was no towpath further up towards the River Ribble, but it looks as if it is now navigable by bike, so I will have to return (ran out of time) #UKCanals #cycling
Pencil style drawing of a stone bridge over a canal junction. There is a ht to the right, and a wall coping to the left. A small figure walks over the bridge.
October 16, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Reposted by Boddy on the Towpath
berinfw.bsky.social
23k more members and we beat the Tories!

How quickly can we beat the conservatives?
October 13, 2025 at 8:04 AM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
In case you didn't believe me, I DO have a bike, and I HAVE now cycled over 1,500 miles along the British #canal network, with (I estimate) another 500 miles still to do to complete the set. I reckon 2 more years, and then I'll try to get the book of rides done #UKCanals #cycling
Pencil style drawing of my cycle, complete with pannier and water bottle, leaned against a fence next to an aqueduct, with trees in the background.
October 12, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Reposted by Boddy on the Towpath
robertfoxon.bsky.social
We turned around there in the summer.
October 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
The Kings Lock pub and junction in Middlewich. Turning right takes you onto what is termed the shortest #canal in England, the Wardle. However I'm not buying it, it's just the end of the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union. The shortest proper canal is of course the Ulverston Canal. #cycling
Pencil style drawing of a canal to the left, and a footbridge rising to the right over a canal junction. In the background is a white building (The Kings Lock pub), and a few narrowboats moored up.
October 11, 2025 at 11:04 AM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
I'm finishing off the Leeds & Liverpool #canal this week. Last leg into Liverpool today. A lovely old windmill (now an art gallery) right by the towpath at Parbold #cycling #UKCanals
October 9, 2025 at 6:56 AM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
Sometimes it's not about the canal: I was riding back to my campsite having completed the Trent & Mersey up to Runcorn, when I passed this church at Little Leigh, close to Anderton in Cheshire #cycling #UKCycling #canals
PS my website www.boddyonthetowpath.co.uk now has SSL!!
Pencil style drawing of a pair of wooden church gates, one open, one closed. They are protected by a thick wooden beamed porch. A paved walkway leads up to a church door in the mid distance. There are gravestones either side of the path.
September 29, 2025 at 6:34 PM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
Vale Royal locks on the River Weaver between Winsford and Northwich features a swingbridge over each of the double locks, which got me completely over-excited #cycling #UKCanals #canals
A rotating bridge with metal handrails lies over a turntable, which rotates over a lock to the left. In the background are trees, and a couple of slightly wayward lampposts.
September 16, 2025 at 1:31 PM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
A super circular 24 mile ride from Northwich up the River Weaver to the Anderton Lift, along the Trent & Mersey to Middlewich, west along the SU Middlewich Branch to Winsford, and back up the Weaver. This is one of two impressive swing bridges in Northwich #cycling #canals #UKCanals
Pencil style drawing of a large metal bridge with a arched steel girder across a river. There is a tall gatehouse to the right, trees in the foreground and background. The bridge is set on a turntable to allow boats to pass.
September 14, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Reposted by Boddy on the Towpath
ottoenglish.bsky.social
This is a huge story.

Don't let him get away with it.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nigel Farage uses private company to pay less tax on GB News earnings
Exclusive: Reform leader’s use of personal services firm is a practice criticised across the political spectrum
www.theguardian.com
September 5, 2025 at 7:43 AM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
The derelict locks at Tewitfield (aka Northern Reaches Locks) run alongside the M6 north of Carnforth, and can be seen from the motorway. Boat passage further north is blocked by the M6, although an intrepid cyclist can still navigate to Kendal #cycling #UKCanals #canals
Pencil style drawing of an empty canal lock with the near gate missing. Some of the metalwork remains. There is a stone bridge at the far end of the lock, and a metal fence to the right. The whole scene is surrounded by trees, long grass and undergrowth.
September 4, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Reposted by Boddy on the Towpath
sourdough2021.bsky.social
Well, we will see what it is like in a couple of weeks. Feeling hopeful. Pretty easy to do, lots of fun, cheap and you know what goes into it. I was horrified to see that a commercial mustard only scored 33/100 on my Yuka app. If you haven’t got this app, it is worth getting (free and independent).
September 4, 2025 at 3:48 PM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal passes through the industrial Lancashire heartland, including this beautiful example of a mill in Blackburn, now a business centre #cycling #UKCanals #canals
Pencil style drawing of am imposing mill building next to a canal which curves away to the left. There are two tall towers to the mill. There is a high stone wall curving away to the right.
August 30, 2025 at 6:22 PM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
The old wharf on the Leeds & Liverpool at Burnley, on my way to Chorley the other week #cycling #UKCanals #canals
Pencil style drawing of the underside of a metal and wooden wharf jutting out over a canal. Sturdy beams and girders all round, and a stone flagged towpath passes underneath. Around the bend in the canal can just be seen a white building.
August 28, 2025 at 2:22 PM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
Oh, wonderful!
robertfoxon.bsky.social Robert Foxon @robertfoxon.bsky.social · Aug 26
Snap. This painting was done by Brian Collins to illustrate my dad's book.
August 26, 2025 at 7:03 PM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
Day 2 in Cheshire: up the Trent & Mersey to Preston Brook, then along the Bridgewater to Runcorn, where the canal ends abruptly at Waterloo Bridge.
Drawings to follow ... #cycling #UKCanals #canals
Photo of a white brick canal tunnel entrance. A towpath on the left leads up to two white houses over the tunnel.
August 26, 2025 at 12:33 PM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
A very exciting morning riding from Northwich to the Anderton Lift, then round the T&M to Middlewich, SU Middlewich Branch to Winsford, and back up the River Weaver. On the way I came across a SWING BRIDGE over a LOCK!! You just can't get more exciting than that #canals #cycling #UKCanals
Photo of a cast iron swing bridge over a deep canal lock
August 25, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Reposted by Boddy on the Towpath
duvalbill.bsky.social
Jack White is a badass.
August 20, 2025 at 9:24 PM
boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social
I've still got the bit through Devizes to do Sarah. The towpath is so overgrown it's only possible at certain times of year
sarahhants.bsky.social Sarah H @sarahhants.bsky.social · Aug 19
That's a lovely drawing as always.
I thought of you while walking part of the Kennet and Avon this weekend and wondered if you had cycled it. We cycled it a few years ago, but ended up coming off on to roads a few times where it got tricky.
August 19, 2025 at 7:01 AM