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.

Easterthon 2010 Day 9

Blog written 8.37pm Monday 12th April 2010 (Happy birthday Nicoletta and Joanna, whom I haven't seen since schooldays. Isn't it odd how certain birthdays stick in one's mind.  Rhoda's birthday was 2nd April too, "We're the Aprilites, the Aprilites, we're the Aprilites")

1.43 miles this evening, in trainers, with camera, and three very short running sessions - just to see how to do it.  Trying to focus on centre of gravity and mid-foot striking.  Strange as it sounds, it takes less effort and feels smoother.   Maybe there is something in this POSE/Chi stuff?

I wore the Garmin and it reported to me that my maximum speed was 12mph - which is what it felt like. Legs were OK, twinging knees as always, and the stiffness that seems to be a part of ageing for several others my age, but nothing to stop me from going out tomorrow.  The area to work on now is CV system as it hasn't done any real work for quite some time. A gentle build-up seems sensible.

Lady Pen is still on the nest, delicately rearranging the swansdown around the edge of the nest.  Beautiful and peaceful looking, but very vulnerable to dogs and humans still, despite the good camouflage. It can't be long now before the eggs hatch, can it?

Easterthon 2010 Day 8

Blog written 5.35pm Sunday 11th April 2010

1.1 miles today, in court shoes, on a dry towpath.  More photographs of the geese and swans. Lovely warm day.

Easterthon 2010 Day 7

Blog written 11.55am Saturday 10th April, updated 10.20pm

1.04 miles this morning after the Prayer Breakfast, wandering around the canal photographing the new goslings. Court shoes and mud.

A further 0.8 mile this evening taking more photographs of the delightful balls of fluff that are now cheeping, and displaying separate personalities. The swans are still guarding their nest...

Easterthon week 1 - 23.26 miles

Easterthon 2010 Day 6

Thursday 8th April 2010


Blog written 10.28pm Friday 9th April

2.09 miles on a cool evening.  It was good to be outside. 

Photographed the goose family with the mother sheltering the remaining goslings under her wings, and the other two standing guard/sleeping.

The rhyme, 'Goosy, goosy, gander' came to mind.

Easterthon 2010 Day 5

Thursday 8th April 2010

Blog written 12.10pm Friday 9th April


Wandered around Watford - probably a couple of miles, but those weren't counted. Later in the afternoon we walked around the block' at home and Garmin said 1.07. Legs were dead. This morning I have labyrinthitis - mildly - dizzy but no nausea.

Easterthon 2010 Day 4

Blog written 6.45am Wednssday 7th April 2010, updated 12.10pm Friday 9th April


Woke feeling refreshed and normal with legs that work. An 'easy' day turned into another busy day so a late 1.36 (guess who has found and charged the Garmin?) down Berkhamsted High Street and back before driving home for my day off.

Easterthon 2010 Day 3

Blog written 5.10pm Tuesday 6th April 2010

1.3 miles on legs that are sore from yesterday. Quads have DOMS, knees are a bit twinge-ier than that. Kneecaps clicking a lot mean more strengthening exercises for that weak VMO are needed.  If this were running it would be called a streak-saver. Overall not tired, and a sense that things will harden up and revert - given time and common-sense.

Easterthon 2010 Day 2

Blog written at 7.27pm Monday April 5th - Easter Monday

13.4 miles and my legs (mainly knees) are protesting.  We walked from our Berkhamsted flat to Sunnyside Church, then on to St Albans Abbey for the Easter Monday pilgrimage.

The route is pretty in places - we chose to go along the canal to Boxmoor, then through the centre of the Hemel 'magic roundabout' and up the hill to Tesco (quick stop off to buy fruit and drink), and then through Leverstock Green.  It was the shortest but not the safest or most scenic route, so next-time we may start earlier and follow some footpaths instead of the main road.

Leverstock Green looked spring-like and picturesque.

An unexpected treat was being investigated by a red kite.  It soared and circled over us for some minutes before I could get the camera out, and then lost interest and moved higher up in the sky. They are a joy to watch.

Much to my delight, when we arrived at the Abbey we met some people from both churches and lots of friends from other churches in the diocese.

The grounds of the Abbey Orchard soon filled up, and by the time we came to process into the Cathedral it was clear that there were even more people present than in recent years.  The queue to get into the building went on and on, and the service started with six hymns instead of three to give time for the people still streaming in to find a space. 

So many people arrived that the nave of the Abbey was standing room only, and the crossover in front of the High Altar - where we ended up - was packed full. Some people even had to sit on on the steps of the High Altar.

I love these events where the Cathedral is filled to the gunnels. Tourists were standing outside looking at the queues of people waiting to enter with their banners. It must have been a puzzling sight to the casual visitor.

As the Abbey was full-to-bursting, a general call went out for all clergy and readers to assist with communion.  I think there were around 15 distribution points, each with one ciborium and two chalices.  I had one chalice and people just kept on coming - it seemed like well over a hundred, maybe more, and I only got about one-third of the communicants at our station because of the flow of the crowd. Certainly I've never distributed communion to so many people so quickly.

What made it so special was seeing people I hadn't known were there, so the unexpected familiar faces in among the strangers made the atmosphere even more special.

'The Choir' from South Oxhey, led by Gareth Malone, were featured in the service, but the acoustics are such that we couldn't hear them, so they stayed behind to so those of us who had been in the crossover could come through to the nave to see and hear them.

Then it was hugs all round (we had spotted our friends in The Choir), and introductions to some of the others before walking back to the car for a lift home, thanks to E and J.

Easterthon 2010 Day 1

Blog written at 22:00 on Sunday April 4th 2010 - Easter Day
3 miles total

1.9 miles late afternoon. Sunlight splintering off reflective surfaces, gradually sinking into long shadows. Warmth of a spring day gradually chilling into early evening, to the smell of woodsmoke from the canal boats. Took photographs of the swan on her nest being closely watched by a hungry heron.

My path was initially stalked by a large heron, but he eventually lost interest and moved on.

1.1 miles tonight with P - just up to the bridge and back. Cool evening.

Easterthon mileage so far: 3

Easterthon 2010 Day 0

Blog written at 22:41 on Saturday April 3rd 2010

Today is Holy Saturday. Tomorrow is Easter Day. Just as Mary turned away from the sorrow of the tomb to meet the risen Jesus, so the image of turning and rejoicing, leaving tears behind, speaks to me of new beginnings and hope.

March 2009 was the last time I was photographed with both feet off the ground. This was at the Chicks Chase at Willen Lake in Milton Keynes. The pictures tell many things about me - not least that I am unhappy being so overweight and undertrained, and am trying to be invisible in dark cover-all clothing.  This was 5 months after the onset of patellar femoral problems with my left knee, and I still have that today when I forget to do the strengthening exercises.  At least I now know what it is.  That day was also a day when I struggled to run for more than a couple of minutes; hauling extra weight around on asthmatic and untrained lungs is a recipe for a very high heart-rate and a very red face.  J ran with me and was very encouraging, but it was a long 3 miles.  Since then I've become heavier and even less fit. It is an even longer road back.

However, the proverb says that a journey of a thousand miles starts witt a single footstep, and I've taught enough people about eating an elephant in small chunks, that I know some form of return to running is possible and I also know that I have the potential to be much fitter than I am.

There are three major elements that need training.  The first is cardio-vascular - very weak at present, the second is legs - mitchondria take time to build. The third is the hardest - the grey stuff between my ears. 

I've spent Lent in a period of quite hard thinking and allowing myself to feel things that have been safely tucked away until now. Sometimes that has been painful, sometimes it has given me insights into other people's situations that I didn't have before; they say no pain is wasted if you use it for good. Can I train my brain to run because it makes me feel good? Do I deserve to meet my potential?  Can I get past the history? I did once before.

Easterthon 2010 - from Easter Day to Pentecost is 50 days.

My aim is to start small.  A minimum of just  one mile per day, every day, travelled on foot. 

Let the journey begin.