At Our Destination

Here we are back on the outskirts of Milton Keynes after walking 13 miles.  I think we must be fitter this year than last year when we did the Thames Path Walk - we could never have managed 13 miles last year!

The A Team

We thought this was very apt as we have been called the A Team before (or was it a team).

An Avenue of Trees

We were impressed by this avenue of trees.

Three Locks

Nearing the end of our journey.  Here's Catherine at Three Locks where we were making such good time that we had time for a rest and a banana but then we were faced with the problem of what to do with the banana skins?

The Heron Walk

This heron kept posing for photos so we decided that this walk would be known as the Heron Walk.  It kept flying on a little and landing in front of us - showing us it's best side! 

Slack with the photos

Andy and I accompanied Angela & Catherine on the first leg (you wouldn't know it looking at the pictures :-) ), but I have been a bit remiss in posting my photos. So here they are:


We had just started so this was one of the first Narrow Boats we had seen.


Angela & Catherine on the towpath, unusually near a pub! (we hadn't been in). The Take Away sign is about the food not the ladies!!










Catherine at Fenny Stratford lock, wondering if she should help the boat on it's way in. The lock has a swing bridge halfway along, so as well as operating the two sets of gates you have to move the bridge.........I thought boating was meant to be fun!!

Have Ground Force Been Here

We liked the way that this garden went down to the canal.

Revisiting Old Haunts

Angela and family had hired a barge from this boatyard near Leighton Buzzard a few years ago so from now on it was familiar scenery for Angela.

Break Time

Time to stop for an orange juice in this lovely lock-side pub.

But first we had to cross over the canal via the lock gates - definitely a hazard!  There is a tale of a lock-keeper from many moons ago along this canal falling into his lock for reasons unknown, but since it was at Christmas I think there is a chance that he had been drinking.  We had to cross back afterwards to continue our walk so it was as well that we only had orange juice. 

Parking on the Canal

We were impressed by the neat parking in rows.  Is it part of the driving test for boats?

Beautiful Countryside

The scenery was spectacular and it was a very peaceful walk.

Ducks

Mummy Duck out swimming with her little ducks.

These little ducks are swimming without Mummy she is going to have to say "quack, quack, quack" and only two little ducks will go back (where are the other three?)

Authorised Personnel?

A man on a barge asked us if we wanted to use the swing bridge because he was going to leave it open for other boats that were following him but if we wanted to use it he would close it.  We were impressed when we saw the notice that he had thought we could be authorised personnel - we are coming up in the world!

Ready to Start Another Walk

Ready to celebrate Catherine's birthday with a 13 mile walk.  The weather is glorious - no need for coats even for Angela.

At Bridge 102

Here we are at our destination.  It only took us 3.5 hours to walk through Milton Keynes!

The bridges along the canal are all numbered but they have obviously added some extra ones over the years so that letters follow the numbers e.g. 98a, 98b etc sometimes as much as up to e.  This is a bit disconcerting when you know you are heading for bridge 102 but you don't seem to be getting any closer!

Here We Go Again

One year later and Angela is still going on about buds!

Another Year, Another Walk

After the success of our Thames Path walk last year.  We, Angela and Catherine, have decided to do another walk this year.  We will be walking alongside the Grand Union canal from Birmingham to London.  The walk is split into two sections and we have decided to do the South section first which will take us from Milton Keynes to Little Venice in London.

The first leg is all around Milton Keynes and we managed to go wrong even though there was not a roundabout in sight!  We nearly set off going North instead of South!  Please don't anyone remember what Angela studied at uni!

The more astute among you have probably noticed by now that it isn't Catherine and Angela walking along the bank.  Andy and Brendan decided to join us for our first walk.  When we asked if they would come with us again they didn't answer so watch this space to see if we persuade them to join us again.