Writings, comments and photos from the Canalside Inspiration Walks and Inspiration Cruise in 2026
Words for walking: saunter, stroll, wander, dash, stride, trot, pace, soujourn, trundling, spomp, pilgrimage, hike
The Wooden gate
Wooden gate on the opposite side of canal
A secret garden?
Pink foxgloves peeping over the top
Beckoning folks in to explore.
Tall trees reach up behind … in the distance,
Sun shines on their dappled green leaves
Red, yellow and blue bunting tied to the wooden fence
Splashes colours …like a paint box.
Who lives behind this gate?
Do children play in the garden?
Sail a canoe on the water?
Family life behind the gate on the edge of the canal.
I stared and stared and went in deeper
Down amongst the clover now
Down into reed weed
And riding on a single duck feather
I take shelter under willow and calm her in her weeping
We watch the water trundle citywards a while
She shows me how she dances leaf by leaf on the surface edge
We stared and stared
And dove in deeper
Walking Slowly
I walk slowly like a swan gently swimming along the canal
People pass me.
On a mission.
Whizzing past on bikes… ringing bells.. shouting to each other.
I am quiet.
Joggers run past me
I hear the thud of their feet as they pound the tow path.
They huff and puff.
Some spit … unpleasant to see and hear. Did they swallow a fly?
I am quiet.
The chug of a narrow boat passes… a calm soothing sound
Releasing tensions and niggles
The chugging engine … no hurry.
The sound fills my calm space.. matches my space.
I am quiet.
Long days have worn away at me
Like the countless waves on a beach
Another headline of impending doom
Another story of death
Another termite bite in infested wood
Yet, cradled in a boat
I wrestle with my softer self
To tell this stranger that it's not so bad
And the sun still shines
The gentle chugging of your Narrow boat engine … soothes me… relaxes me…. as you slowly move along the canal.
A Bee Heaven
A bee heaven along the canal.. unexpected.. a bright surprise.
Planted by a lady on her knees digging the earth and sowing the seeds.
Watering them.
Now the Foxgloves grow tall.
Pink and red Poppies reach out for attention.. showing off their bright colours.
Bees buzz amongst the Lavender.
Delicate pink Corn Cockles stretch up tall to the sun.
A small space but so vibrant and so full of life.
Onwards now to Glasgow
Trade and brick and industry
Silenced now by moss and quenched fires
What does a swan know of coal? And empire?
What do I know for that matter?
Tall monastery on the flat sands
Semi see through on the horizon
Fully formed stone masonry
In the barren coast
A self contained city within it’s walls
Proud sculptures stacked on top of each other
Totem pole queued
With a proud church on top
And atop the church a spire
And upon the spire, tippy-toed
Perches Michael
Gilded gold general of heaven
Shining blade of Yahweh
Smiting the most foul black star
Draconic satan
They also have nice croissants.
What participants said:
“It was. Magical, a sense of peace, like being cradled”
“eye catching and soothing, beautiful gentle people around”
“today time stopped”
I could write a dissertation on bicycles
Each Thursday as we walk
“bike”
“Bike!”
“BIKE!”
Says the chain of walkers from the back to the front
as we all move to the side away from the water,
like a hydrophobic snake of happy humans.
I asked Sandy where we could read any of her work and she said I could share her instagram that links to creative projects and the website. @sandybennetthaber
This is the 5 trees publication through Porty art walks: https://artwalkprojects.co.uk/publication/5-walks-5-trees-5-poems/
This is the link to North bridge Where We Travelled. https://jedapearl.com/north-bridge-where-we-travelled/
Both contain creative writing with writing about local places.
We are already dreaming of future Inspiration Events, please get in touch with your suggestions and keep in touch via our website.
Anne said she’d be delighted to see new potential members at the writing group! Our first session back is Thursday 17th September, 3-5pm, Tollcross Community Centre.
There’s no cost, and no obligation – if a person finds it’s not for them, no worries. If they can only come now and again – fine. Suitable for every stage of ability!
Many thanks once again to Sandy for leading us, the Heritage Lottery Fund who supported this work, and Polwarth Church for the use of their canalside garden
These writings were part of a series of Canalside Inspiration events in 2026 Inspiration Walk (Wed 27 May) and Inspiration Cruise (10 June) and Walk (24 June)
thank you to Rosie, Jack, Raine, Fiona and those who contributed anonymously.