Canal Towpath, Slaithwaite — Right Plimsoll, Blue

Slaithwaite's a good walk along the canal — flat, towpath in decent condition, and in October the colours are right. I go out that way a few times a year. Not always expecting to find something. You don't always find something.

The plimsoll was near the bench about half a mile past the village. Right foot. Blue canvas, the slip-on sort — not a laced plimsoll, more of a leisure shoe. Damp, which is what you'd expect given where it was. It had been there a while. The canvas had gone stiff and there was some discolouration at the toe. I noted all of this.

Plimsolls are interesting. You don't see them as much as you used to. There's something about a plimsoll that puts you in mind of a different time, which I find worth thinking about — though again, I try not to speculate too much about how they get where they are. That's not the point.

Had my sandwiches on the bench nearby. Egg and cress. A dog came past with its owner and the owner nodded at me. I nodded back. I took eight photographs. Most of them came out reasonably well.