First time in ages I have been on a canal towpath today - not fishing.
That was a mixture of persistent angler's cursiosity and unpleasant walk.
In regards to what I've noticed, some stretches have become very clear, so the bottom can be seen until the middle. I was surprised by the amount of weed!
Most of the canal however looks like an unhealthy pond demanding oxygen, the lack of water renewal is having an effect.
Apart from that, i was unpleasantly surprised by the boat owners attitude. Wherever a common path leads to the towpath, tons of signs advising people that they are really, really unwelcome. I doubt those signs have been installed by the council or the canal trust. Old road signs, handwritten posters.
The canal belongs to us, go away.
"Residents only" (bad news for anglers, joggers, walkers, council-tax payers who paid for the large renivated towpath: the canal is now private)
"Vulnerable people here" (most of those residents were young people having a beer in their new private garden)
"Towpath for locals only" (no way you should use it if you go for work)
"Diversion road" (just go away, we're traffic officers as well)
Never mind, I ignored those signs and had my walk, keeping my distance!
