A stroll to Aylesbury

Yesterday we took a few hours to walk up the Grand Union Canal to Marsworth, and then along the Aylesbury arm. It was a delightful day for walking, slightly cool,with occasional bursts of sunshine, but not too hot. Here are some of the photos.

This unusual duck had a small number of ducklings in tow. She has pretty and unusual colouring and I wonder what breed she is?

This part of what is now known as the Grand Union Canal was originally known as the Grand Junction Canal. This marker is a reminder of that history.

This metal bar is one of a pair that seem to have been built into the brickwork on the towpath side of the bridge.We puzzled about the grooves in the iron because they are unevenly spaced and of different depths. Our favourite theory is that the grooves were made by barge tow-ropes, and that the iron was placed there to protect the brickwork from damage.

Cow Roast Marina looked scenic and peaceful, albeit rather crowded.

Just north of Bulbourne is a popular tourist spot.

This is the junction with the Wendover arm. Last year we met a group of people taking their boats to the Wendover arm to spend their Bank Holiday weekend working on the Wendover arm to re-open it. In 2003 I remember walking past one part that was silted up,so maybe our next adventure will be to look at progress to date.

A brief peek down the Wendover Arm. Yesterday it was the towpath not taken.

When we reached Marsworth junction we decided to take the Aylesbury Arm, some of which we have walked previously. My memory of it was of an uneven surface filled with hardcore;quite hard to walk on, but yesterday it looked as if parts of the path had been smoothed over. As we moved away from Marsworth the general busy-ness was left behind us,and we moved back into a world of relative quiet and solitude.

A lot of the time we had the company of a powered glider overhead and a heron alongside. This clump of grass and rushes was actually a floating island and the heron was travelling elegantly backwards downstream.

Here it is coming into land opposite us. In the field opposite we saw a flock of Canada Geese with goslings.

Several times we disturbed the heron as it stood under the bridges fishing. Presumably there is less glare in the shadow of a bridge, and the canal narrows to single width, so there is nowhere for the fish to hide.

We created some interest among a herd of cows, stopping them in their tracks.

Overall it was very peaceful.

This was the end of the journey at Aylesbury basin.

Easterthon 2010 - Days 36 to 50

Easterthon 36 to 50
Tuesday, 1 June 2010


Three days out with a cold, then at least one mile each day until Pentecost.
Effectively that counts as 'I did it'.
The cold developed into a cough,and I gained an infected eyelid to accompany the sinusitis. Lucky me.
In the middle of May I had a broken filling repaired, so that got rid of the earache...
The cough has almost gone, the eyelid infection is improving daily, and I've started a new challenge - Juneathon.
Rather than say what I am doing, I'll blog what I have done. It seems less likely to set myself up for a fall.
So, in preparation, may I record the following:
4 miles walking on Sunday night - from home down to Bourne Endand back- via canal and road.
13.16 miles (yes,that .16 matters) walking yesterday- 31st May. From home to Aylesbury via the canal network.

Easterthon 2010 - Days 29 to 35

Easterthon Day 35
Saturday 8th May 2010
1.28 miles


Phiggles clearing up nicely. Wellard decided to come and greet me by rubbing damp and dirty fur across the leg of my trousers, then attempting to climb my leg and bite me. When I put my hand down to stroke him he did the same to my coat sleeve. Mad cat.

Easterthon Day 34
Friday 7th May 2010
1.40 miles

Left leg and foot both feel battered. Tightness around knee is improving. Despite discomfort all is working, and the cold is receding.

Easterthon Day 33
Thursday 6th May 2010
4.10 miles

Walk into St Albans. Woken several times during the night with random muscle pains related to PFS. Woke with pain in left knee, yet it behaved normally when walking. Slight head cold, coughing, short of breath, joints aching, left foot inflexible, feels a bit bruised inside, but no memory of any injury.

Easterthon Day 32
Wednesday 5th May 2010
1.00 mile

Woke with left knee painful and collapsing under me when straight. OK when bent. After a short sleep it has gone back to normal operation, with the usual PFS pain that I haven’t experienced for some weeks now. Wonder what set it off?

Easterthon Day 31
Tuesday 4th May 2010
1.10 miles

4am, entered the VLM 2011 ballot

Easterthon Day 30
Monday 3rd May 2010
3.80 miles

Saw 5 Coot eggs in the latest nest, Swans are still sitting in their nest. Three goslings are getting very big, and the duck that had 11 ducklings yesterday now has only 9. Also saw an aerial fight between a heron and a crow. I think the crow won. Very cold earlier today.

Easterthon Day 29
Sunday 2nd May 2010
3.00 miles

Wandering around town, saw a photo exhibition – excellent.

Easterthon 2010 - Days 22 to 28

Easterthon Day 28
Saturday 1 May 2010
1.54 miles


Easterthon Day 27
Friday 30 April 2010
1.10 miles
Still no cygnets. Maybe the 35 day incubation is incorrect information?

Easterthon Day 26
Thursday 29 April 2010
9.63 miles
Walked across Mundens to Hartspring Lane for lunch and then back through Garston via Vue to watch The Ghost.

Easterthon Day 25
Wednesday 28 April 2010
1.42 miles

The swans are still nesting and I can't find any female ducks. Where are they nesting?

Easterthon Day 24
Tuesday 27 April 2010
1.26 miles

Streak-saver. Need sleep.

Easterthon Day 23
Monday 26 April 2010
3.34 miles

Walking (in court shoes - not a good idea) Almost half-way through the challenge.

Easterthon Day 22
Sunday 25 April 2010
3.10 miles

Walking, including 4*joggle70 to get heart-rate up. It's my birthday.

Easterthon 2010 - Days 15 to 21

Easterthon Day 21
Saturday 24 April 2010
3.78 miles


Decision made today to attempt London Marathon 2012 with PinkSparkie.
What are our chances of getting an entry? Or even being able to enter the ballot?
Given the above – more running breaks need to be introduced now. It may be worth spending twice as long toughening up (and speeding up) before starting the marathon training. Weight and age are two disadvantages – one of which I can do something about.

Easterthon Day 20
Friday 23 April 2010
1.12 miles 

Easterthon Day 19
Thursday 22 April 2010
3.44 miles

Easterthon Day 18
Wednesday 21 April 2010
1.62 miles

Included three short sections of running. The goslings now look as if they are big enough not to be heron-food, and they are taking on more aggressive behaviour, mock-hissing at threats.

Easterthon Day 17
Tuesday 20 April 2010
1.10 miles

Easterthon Day 16
Monday 19 April 2010
1.50 miles

Easterthon Day 15
Sunday 18 April 2010
1.30 miles

Easterthon 2010 Days 11 to 14

Easterthon Day 14
Saturday 17 April 2010
1.10miles
Only three goslings left.


Easterthon Day 13
Friday 16 April 2010
1.85miles
 

Easterthon Day 12
Thursday 15th April 2010
2.25 miles

Easterthon Day 11
Wednesday 14th April 2010
1.10 miles

Easterthon 2010 Day 10

Blog written 9.17pm Tuesday 13th April 2010


1.72 miles this afternoon, in trainers, with camera, No running today.

Lady Pen is still nesting.

I had a long chat with Adrian about his boat and life on the canal, and he introduced me to Bonnie, his pedigree Doberman; she mouthed me and was very friendly.

The boat moored next door is the home of a cat that I have called Wellard, although she has a more socially acceptable name.  I call her Wellard because she is territorial and aggresive to any dog that has the temerity to come too close to her boat. She is very good at jumping in and out of the 'houdini hatch' and catching the noses of any canine that tries to follow.