A Season of Mists

I know Keats was really talking about Autumn, but this morning was certainly very misty as I took Jumble out at about 8 o'clock.

It had been a cold clear night so there was frost on the ground too.

By the time we had finished breakfast and were ready to go exploring Alrewas, the sun was almost showing through the clouds.

The village is quite large, with a couple of shops, Post Office and take aways,

 and a little walk away the National Memorial Arboretum.

Planting began in 1997 ready to open the Memorial at the Millennium. Over the 150 acre site many diffferent memorials are laid out. There are the obvious armed forces memorials, a Polish memorial, a Shot at Dawn memorial, a Children's Woodland and a Diamond Wedding planting.

Polish Memorial Commemorates: The memory of the Polish men and women who gave their lives in the Second World War. 

 

SHOT AT DAWN

Commemorates: Over 300 British and Commonwealth soldiers who were shot for desertion or cowardice during the First World War. Most of them were sentenced after a short trial at which no real opportunity for defence was allowed.

Shot At Dawn sits at the most easterly point of the Arboretum where it is the first place to be touched by the dawn light.

ARMED FORCES MEMORIAL

Commemorates: This stunning memorial contains the names of 16,000 Service men and women killed on duty or by terrorist action since the end of the Second World War, engraved in stone around its walls.

Through this space a shaft of sunlight falls on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
It was shining through for us too, by now we were very warm, walking around the site.  Many trees are planted around the larger memorials in memory of individuals, and placed by their families.

The hedgerows are becoming more colourful,

Once we got back to the village, we fell to the temptation of chips from the chip shop and enjoyed them sitting in the sun.

Once on the move we got to Fradley Junction and turned onto the Coventry Canal.

Fradley Junction

and are now moored in Hopwas.

11 miles, 6 locks, 1 bridge