Our slowlife 5-day week – how does yours compare?

This is a week designed to get Steve to the start line of the London Marathon for Sunday morning. Unlike others taking trains or cars, we’re going by narrowboat and starting this leg of the journey from Leighton Buzzard.

Monday – Set off from Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire in steady rain accompanied by a strong wind which by the first lock had developed into a downpour.

We weren’t the only idiots out in this weather – another boater whose view of Britain and its weather was expletive – such was his lack of any additional words forced us both to laugh out loud. We also met the Aussie Boater to shout to – about the weather of course! Rain and wind battled us until suddenly the sun came out and we forgot about the rain and the wind. Passed watersides being developed, boats whose owners have a sense of humour (I think) and strangely shaped bridges.

Met a pair of ex working boats who gloomily passed on the knowledge that Berko (alias Berkhamsted) has little water resulting in problem navigation so tomorrow should be fun…

Moored up for the night in woodland on the Tring Summit so it’s all downhill from here. Also handy for a supermarket which Steve volunteered to trek to as part of this week’s training! 18 locks and a swing bridge for exercise today. Plus 10 miles, 5.5 furlongs and sorted rather a lot of emails.

Tuesday – Set off in rain but fortunately it cleared during a Bushes Lock no. 50 drama. The bottom gates of the lock were wedged slightly open and nothing we could do would close them, so opening the paddles would just pour water from the pound above the lock into the pound below draining one and flooding the other. We called CRT (Canal and Rivers Trust) for help, put the kettle on, made a cuppa and sorted invoicing which I had been putting off whilst waiting for them to appear.

Prevarication over, invoices sent and bang on time CRT arrived. They had had to overcome a diesel theft from the van and find a place to sell them more fuel so they could get to us, and to others needing help. With the aid of a 3-extension-pole rake expertly manipulated from perched atop a gate, the cause of the problem was found and extracted – a chunk of wood embedded in gravel which had stuck the gates fast.

Off we went once more, now in sunshine and alternate showers making up for lost time with lots of small children waving at the boat from the tow path as they walked with parents and grandparents.

Through Berko in the rain, a famous canal town and indeed apparently renowned as the place where sheep dip was invented.

No sign of the low pounds that were threatened but we faced a torrential rain storm which called for an early stop for lunch, and encountered lots of locks which were empty when we arrived. Long term problems of leakage means they have to be emptied – at least coming back this way they should all be in our favour!

Even allowing for the extra time required, we made 7 miles 7.25 furlongs , 18 locks and another swing bridge today.

Torrential rain struck again as we moored up for the night opposite Boxmoor just outside Hemel Hemstead and it rained almost continuously until the early hours, which should help the water shortage.

Wednesday – Right opposite the moor was a petrol station with a tanker delivering. No queues when I took the picture below, but by the time we set off in a beautiful low autumn sunrise which called for peaked caps so we could see where we were going, the word had gone out and cars were queuing down the road.

Sorted plumber for a property boiler issue on the way, and headed under the M25 feeling hugely sorry for all those way above us, working on scaffolding or whizzing along in cars and lorries.

Just minutes from the madness of the M25 the canals are peaceful, tranquil and utterly beautiful. Herons,kingfishers and coots delighted us as we chugged along, through little bridges enjoying stunning autumn colours.

We made the most of today’s sunshine – according to the forecast it could be the only good day this week. En route we filled up with water – always a necessity and emptied the loo (also vital!). Towards the end of the day we found a cruiser floating loose which we remoored, and a large narrowboat blocking a bridge – we also remoored that! Good deeds done for the day we ended our 10 miles 5.25 furlongs and 20 locks to moor just outside Rickmansworth near Stockers Farm, a location for Downton Abbey, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Midsummer Murders and Black Beauty to name but a few.

Thursday – As promised – the rain returned to start the day so clad in full waterproofs we headed out once more.

Rain always slows things down – you need to be extra careful on locks which become slippy – it’s better to be slow and sure than risk an accident which could derail plans altogether. This was underlined by a single-handed boater we met and helped through two locks – he was literally single-handed having cut through his wrist with a Bushman’s axe the weekend before. He managed to get a tourniquet on his arm and tighten it, administer first aid and call for help. He was blue lighted to St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington and has now disposed of the offending axe as being too sharp, too dangerous and yet there he was with his arm strapped up, having to move his boat because he needed diesel for his stove and to keep the boat mobile.

Having done our good deed for the day we then encountered another single-handed but two armed boater and went through the next lock together. We also found a rubbish store that wasn’t overflowing and emptied the bins, but no chance of separating the recycling and general rubbish. Cannot remember the last time I saw a recycling place at a CRT rubbish store.

It was slow going today because of all the moored craft of all shapes and sizes, and in all states including right across the canal.

Requirements to slow down for them all made it slow going, but we made it onto the Paddington Branch and up to Southall, to moor in the rain for the night. Completed the final 7 locks of the journey today, 13 miles in total.

Friday – Started with lateral flow test as Steve has to register one with the NHS and the London Marathon in order to compete on Sunday.

Daft but it seemed really stressful after all this training, all this fundraising to think a line in the wrong place could cancel out all his efforts. Bedecked ourselves out in full waterproofs after heavy overnight and early morning rain, whilst we were waiting for the test result to appear. It was negative and by then the weather had cleared – it stayed clear for the rest of the journey but we didn’t stop to take the gear off just in case!

One moment of high excitement and tension and I didn’t have the camera with me. A squirrel overreached itself on a tree overhanging the canal and fell PLOP! straight into the water alongside the bloat. As I went for a net to fish it out, it rose to the surface and began determinedly swimming for the opposite shore where it managed to scramble up some grasses, shook itself and then headed off to explore its new location.

London grew up around us as we headed in. Boats here are residential accommodation in the main, whatever state they are in. From plush and floating Grand Designs to shacks almost afloat, they are homes.

Arrived at Little Venice after the slowest journey ever through moored boats as far as the eye could see. Travelled the whole of the last few miles on tickover. At least it meant we ate lunch gently on the go! The visitor moorings (2 of them) are next to Rembrandt Gardens and right opposite the island, Puppet Theatre Barge and convenient for the zoo, and Camden Market. So we are here at last!

This however is a weekend for supporting rather than sightseeing! Once moored we sorted out the fix to the boiler thanks to the engineer, wrote this blog, reviewed a journal article, responded to a magazine editor about a commission, introduced ourselves to our neighbours and Steve headed off to collect his marathon number/deliver his kit bag from ExCel. A 5-day week of worklifebalanced covering 53 miles, 7.25 furlongs and 63 locks, and now we are in place – marathon ready!

As you can see I discovered a fabulous new motto this week. Hope your week was as good, with as much challenge and fun.