UK long distance walker, Clive Lewis, of New Hedges, recently returned from the second phase of his 12th marathon event.

This time he covered the towpaths of the Llangollen canal and one section of the Shropshire Union canal, from the Horseshoe Falls, two miles west of Llangollen, to Hurleston Lock. From here, he continued south through Nantwich to Audlem.

Prior to leaving on March 9, he had used £5,000 of his up-front sponsorship to purchase machines and accessories for clinics, surgeries and hospitals in Pembrokeshire.

This is what he has been doing for the best part of 30 years when, to obtain the proceeds, he walks the county, meeting and talking to people in their own homes.

For his latest venture, the weather was cold, but dry throughout.

Clive saw that Thomas Telford's influence on the area was huge; the two aqueducts at Pontcysyllte and Chirk were awesome, as was the viaduct for rail travel across the River Dee, the 459-yard tunnel at Chirk, the 191-yard tunnel at Whitehouse and the 67-yard tunnel at Ellesmere.

Indeed the whole canal had Telford's stamp all over it.

"Arguably, Thomas Telford (1757-1834) was the greatest canal and bridge designer and builder of his time," said Clive. "The strength, permanency and sheer size of each undertaking takes your breath away. He was a man of magnificent vision."

Other features to note included two unusual swing bridges at Wrenbury Frith; more houseboats with wind generators; pretty villages and cottages on canal banks, including Aqueduct Cottage at Chirk and Marbury Cottage alongside Marbury Lock No2; many holly hedges in Cheshire and Shropshire; colourful marinas; pretty bridges with ivy, plus the steepest hump back bridge outside Hordley, that Clive has ever seen.

Clive met many interested and enthusiastic people, on or off the houseboats. As before, quite a number invited him for tea, but unfortunately he had to decline due to lack of time. However, in one case, near Ellesmere, he asked if he could try out the houseboat along the canal edge. Pete Hayes, the owner, gave him a short lesson. The houseboat was named 'Django', after the great guitarist D. Jango Rheinhart who played with Stephan Grappelli many years ago - good stuff, said Clive.