Day 151 – Greener Grass - Walk 1000 Miles in a Year #walk1000miles #WillowWalks1000Miles

Day 213 - The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that the podcast is about 2 months behind real-time and we’ve just finished May. I hate to say it because I committed to you and myself at the beginning of the year that I would post daily blogs, but life, well life, and cruising are just getting in the way. Recording daily worked whilst in lockdown but I’m really struggling to find the time and effort. Let me elaborate regarding “effort”. It’s not that I don’t enjoy doing them, of course, I do why would you/I do something you/I’m not enjoying. It’s not that Willow and I have stopped walking because clearing that demanding young lady, as all dogs do require commitment, effort, and walking. As you know we are now back out cruising and as such, I’ve gone back to vlogging which for me is super time-consuming, you’ll know this if you’ve watched any of our videos. Also, and probably reflecting the main reason is we lost Eva in June. Dave and I are truly heartbroken but Willow is totally lost, sad and upset she has never been without Eva and I don’t think she understands. The walks are very different now. We go we walk we come home it’s as simple as that. Both Willow and myself have withdrawn into ourselves. I don’t feel funny and the last thing I would ever want is too laden you with our sadness day in day out. The loss of Eva had left complete devastation behind. It’s something we are all working through and it’s only now some two months later I feel able to tell you. But please DON'T say the words; don’t offer kindness and condolences because that’s the reason it wasn’t mentioned earlier. It’s enough to know you’re thinking them and want to say them but if you do that will just break me and I am barely holding it together as is. As such whilst we still walk, I don’t do the daily blog post and I’ve kind of lost my mojo, it’s all very sad and we’re all sulking. I have to say even though I’m out of sorts and a bit down I'm so very appreciative that you have continued to check in to see how Willow and I are progressing with the walking. All be it that sometimes they contained very little walking indeed. ***** This is a full audible version but A FULL WRITTEN VERSION is on our website. ***** If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating or review and share it with those you feel would also enjoy them. Don’t forget to follow us, here for future episodes – once again thank you for listening. Same walk different viewpoints - Come say Hi at; Our website - https://changingpace.co.uk Louise's (Couch Potato) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://twitter.com/NbChangingPac 2. https://www.facebook.com/NBChangingPace 3. https://www.instagram.com/nbchangingpace 4. https://www.tiktok.com/@narrowboatchangingpace 5. https://www.youtube.com/c/NarrowboatChangingPace Willow's (Great Dane) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://www.facebook.com/WillowTheGreatDane 2. https://www.instagram.com/willowwalks1000miles 3. https://www.tiktok.com/@willowwalks1000miles 4. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBdl0W-Q_vJQmQQ3Ae1Bogw PLEASE NOTE - We are not contracted or affiliated with the official #walk1000miles challenge, we are just participants - https://www.walk1000miles.co.uk Some of our posts contain affiliate links, We earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using these links, they cost you nothing extra. Every little click helps, thank you for supporting us.

Day 155 – They say they come in threes. Bad luck, because clearly feeling like life has a downer on us, so it isn’t going to be the good stuff. Inadvertently got scammed last night – was expecting a parcel, paid for a parcel to be delivered, and shouldn’t have. Had to phone the bank and police and froze my card. Then my computer crashed this morning from overwork. So, I’m just sat here waiting for the third and final strike to bear down on us like a ton of bricks. And sit here I wait. We were meant to be moving forward on our travels but with the third one looming I really want to sort out this big IT mess, which it is finally, after much scrabbling around doing. We’re going to go for a walk down by the River Don when it cools down, otherwise, we’re going to have some very super hot dogs. The downside of that is the little beasties will be out ready to bite and suck. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating or review and share it with those you feel would also enjoy them. Don’t forget to follow us, here for future episodes – once again thank you for listening. Same walk different viewpoints - Come say Hi at; Our website - https://changingpace.co.uk Louise's (Couch Potato) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://twitter.com/NbChangingPac 2. https://www.facebook.com/NBChangingPace 3. https://www.instagram.com/nbchangingpace 4. https://www.tiktok.com/@narrowboatchangingpace 5. https://www.youtube.com/c/NarrowboatChangingPace Willow's (Great Dane) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://www.facebook.com/WillowTheGreatDane 2. https://www.instagram.com/willowwalks1000miles 3. https://www.tiktok.com/@willowwalks1000miles 4. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBdl0W-Q_vJQmQQ3Ae1Bogw PLEASE NOTE - We are not contracted or affiliated with the official #walk1000miles challenge, we are just participants - https://www.walk1000miles.co.uk Some of our posts contain affiliate links, We earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using these links, they cost you nothing extra. Every little click helps, thank you for supporting us.

Day 154 – We continue our narrowboat cruising journey along with the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation, which includes the beautiful Don, we travel under the magnificent Conisborough Aqueduct. It just can’t help but take my breath away. I have a somewhat reasonable excuse for not walking, there is no towpath, and what with all Dave’s van and bike shuffling I am required yet again to skipper the ship. Lol, I say that like she’s massive, but no we are so dwarfed in this much bigger, more impressive surroundings. We pass some very beautiful sea-going boats. What we fondly call Gin palaces because palaces they are. Boats slow down when crossing or near moored boats but these Gin palaces really struggle to go slow with their two turbo engines. Would I swap, probably not – all that bouncing about would probably make me queazy. Came to another favourite spot to meet up with friends, and we clearly ordered the correct sunshine because we were all able to sit, eat and play outside. Ching Ching bottoms up. Hope you also had a good day. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating or review and share it with those you feel would also enjoy them. Don’t forget to follow us, here for future episodes – once again thank you for listening. Same walk different viewpoints - Come say Hi at; Our website - https://changingpace.co.uk Louise's (Couch Potato) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://twitter.com/NbChangingPac 2. https://www.facebook.com/NBChangingPace 3. https://www.instagram.com/nbchangingpace 4. https://www.tiktok.com/@narrowboatchangingpace 5. https://www.youtube.com/c/NarrowboatChangingPace Willow's (Great Dane) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://www.facebook.com/WillowTheGreatDane 2. https://www.instagram.com/willowwalks1000miles 3. https://www.tiktok.com/@willowwalks1000miles 4. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBdl0W-Q_vJQmQQ3Ae1Bogw PLEASE NOTE - We are not contracted or affiliated with the official #walk1000miles challenge, we are just participants - https://www.walk1000miles.co.uk Some of our posts contain affiliate links, We earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using these links, they cost you nothing extra. Every little click helps, thank you for supporting us.

Day 153 – This is a walking diary, right? Well, maybe but it’s evolving into more of an overview about our lives rather than any serious walking. Started with good intentions and I hope to do more walking in the future but right here, right now – no walking involved today. We traveled 14 miles and not a single step was counted. Okay, 3600oddish was, but I didn’t walk a single step. We traveled down the Tinsley flight, and apart from moving my arms a bit, my legs didn’t walk anywhere. I noted my tummy rumbled as I missed breakfast, and it’s not like you can stop mid-flight and grab something to eat, especially with volunteers – which is a new thing on the flight. Dave did all the walking, but then he’s not walking 1000 miles in a year. Willow is, but then all she did was make her presence known by barking. We let them out at the private garden and several enclosed locks along the way, but as for walking – no not really, none was done. But the important bit here is, we are off – on our way. We are not going where we wanted to go, with all the breaches and restrictions, so I think we must be on plan G. We’re not going up Ripon Canal, those works have a 3 month lead on them. We thought we’ll go up the Lancashire Canal. No, we’re not doing that. We think the BCN Marathon Challenge that wasn’t on, might be, but don’t know what date so it looks like we’re heading south but again with all the restrictions which way?  If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating or review and share it with those you feel would also enjoy them. Don’t forget to follow us, here for future episodes – once again thank you for listening. Same walk different viewpoints - Come say Hi at; Our website - https://changingpace.co.uk Louise's (Couch Potato) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://twitter.com/NbChangingPac 2. https://www.facebook.com/NBChangingPace 3. https://www.instagram.com/nbchangingpace 4. https://www.tiktok.com/@narrowboatchangingpace 5. https://www.youtube.com/c/NarrowboatChangingPace Willow's (Great Dane) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://www.facebook.com/WillowTheGreatDane 2. https://www.instagram.com/willowwalks1000miles 3. https://www.tiktok.com/@willowwalks1000miles 4. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBdl0W-Q_vJQmQQ3Ae1Bogw PLEASE NOTE - We are not contracted or affiliated with the official #walk1000miles challenge, we are just participants - https://www.walk1000miles.co.uk Some of our posts contain affiliate links, We earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using these links, they cost you nothing extra. Every little click helps, thank you for supporting us.

Day 152 – I would say I haven’t walked a single step today but I have – Dave was snoring next to me when Willow started screaming at 7am. It was so early I must have been on autopilot and took them out Yes, I know all you keen ones get up at 5am and have done all the super important jobs before you go, do a full day’s work, and then come home and are a domestic god. Me – I’m not employed so I prefer the more leisurely approach; it matches my walking style and suits me to a T. I was going to say I haven’t walked a single step because today we broke free. Yes, fine we were going the wrong way up the canal, but free is free. We have left the Marina, we are truly Nomads, or the other term is water rats. I’m not sure where the term comes from, but I think it stems from working barge families back in the day. But I don’t know really – do you? We left the Marina today and boated down to Victoria Quays in Sheffield City Centre – defiantly going the wrong way for our boating season, but no matter how many times we have been into the Quays we have never taken the Silver Propeller challenge location photograph, as set by the Inland Waterways Association. It’s like a Narrow boating game of Bingo in various different spots throughout the network. We turned around and came back to our secret spot, the girls love it here – free to roam and play. We go back to Tinsley tomorrow to pick up Natasha as we head out. Think she’s escorting us out so she knows we’re gone. Rude I know!! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating or review and share it with those you feel would also enjoy them. Don’t forget to follow us, here for future episodes – once again thank you for listening. Same walk different viewpoints - Come say Hi at; Our website - https://changingpace.co.uk Louise's (Couch Potato) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://twitter.com/NbChangingPac 2. https://www.facebook.com/NBChangingPace 3. https://www.instagram.com/nbchangingpace 4. https://www.tiktok.com/@narrowboatchangingpace 5. https://www.youtube.com/c/NarrowboatChangingPace Willow's (Great Dane) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://www.facebook.com/WillowTheGreatDane 2. https://www.instagram.com/willowwalks1000miles 3. https://www.tiktok.com/@willowwalks1000miles 4. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBdl0W-Q_vJQmQQ3Ae1Bogw PLEASE NOTE - We are not contracted or affiliated with the official #walk1000miles challenge, we are just participants - https://www.walk1000miles.co.uk Some of our posts contain affiliate links, We earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using these links, they cost you nothing extra. Every little click helps, thank you for supporting us.

Day 151 – Quite a lot of walkers about – no I wasn’t including myself. I’m well off the boil. You know a serious walker when they have sticks and backpacks. This only confirms my bimble tendencies, but as they say Rome wasn’t built in a day. Oh yeah, they also say the Tortoise won the race so you just think on. Willow and I are getting there, we’ve just passed the 450 miles banner. I never doubted we could, and will do it, but it’s only at a much slower pace than others, who I believe are already heading back. I hope they bring me some Scottish Tablet – a lovely sweetie bar that I just can’t get enough of. It would have enough energy in one bar to get me the rest of the way. Because of the current situation we find ourselves in – avoid big groups and mask up, and also Willows unpredictable behaviour, I tend to get her to hang back, sit and wait to allow the masses to walk through. The Towpath isn’t so wide and we would end up rubbing shoulders especially with Willow to Heal, ie; at my side. We’d, well Willow had already been barking and making a show of herself with the working boat, and the ramblers seemed very interested in what they were doing. Been there done that. I did have to smile when one of the ramblers tried to open the lock gate when the working party was half way up in the lock. It’s hard to remember that some people just don’t know – why would they. It’s like I know nothing about golf, apart from the clubs get heavy when you’re lumbering them about. Also, golf is good walking, and if your ever asked the answer, its quite simple, of course Louise wouldn’t cheat if she got stuck in the sand dune or water. I’m glad we got that cleared up because you never know when that sort of question would come up. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating or review and share it with those you feel would also enjoy them. Don’t forget to follow us, here for future episodes – once again thank you for listening. Same walk different viewpoints - Come say Hi at; Our website - https://changingpace.co.uk Louise's (Couch Potato) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://twitter.com/NbChangingPac 2. https://www.facebook.com/NBChangingPace 3. https://www.instagram.com/nbchangingpace 4. https://www.tiktok.com/@narrowboatchangingpace 5. https://www.youtube.com/c/NarrowboatChangingPace Willow's (Great Dane) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://www.facebook.com/WillowTheGreatDane 2. https://www.instagram.com/willowwalks1000miles 3. https://www.tiktok.com/@willowwalks1000miles 4. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBdl0W-Q_vJQmQQ3Ae1Bogw PLEASE NOTE - We are not contracted or affiliated with the official #walk1000miles challenge, we are just participants - https://www.walk1000miles.co.uk Some of our posts contain affiliate links, We earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using these links, they cost you nothing extra. Every little click helps, thank you for supporting us.

Day 150 – Took Dave to work again today, nope not for an Eva appointment, but something was clearly sick on the boat. I was sick of my laptop, and it was a sick laptop, which had to go to the doctors. To the shop. The shop opened at 9.30am and was banging on the door, Okay I exaggerated that bit but I was there pretty much after it opened. The man’s question was ‘Are you alright?’ and I sobbed ‘No’. He said he’d look and if he couldn’t fix it no charge so that was a little ray of light. As I blow the dust off the old laptop, I stepped back in time. To a time when things took just that little bit longer because it was ever so slow. I pottered around the boat because we are going out at the weekend. We are waving byes-y-bye and leaving the Marina forever. To become continuous cruisers, and travel the canals – well we would if we could, but we can’t, there are so many restrictions we are now on plan G, but probably will work our way through the alphabet Willow and I took our daily jaunt and we did selfie’s like we was young people. Willow did it regally and I was crawling on the floor trying to stay upright and extend my arm to get us both into shot. I can only liken it some weird yoga that you do with your dog, and I think there are actually classes like that, but unless Willow and I were the only participates, and even the teacher wasn’t allowed to bring her dog, then no Yoga would get done. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating or review and share it with those you feel would also enjoy them. Don’t forget to follow us, here for future episodes – once again thank you for listening. Same walk different viewpoints - Come say Hi at; Our website - https://changingpace.co.uk Louise's (Couch Potato) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://twitter.com/NbChangingPac 2. https://www.facebook.com/NBChangingPace 3. https://www.instagram.com/nbchangingpace 4. https://www.tiktok.com/@narrowboatchangingpace 5. https://www.youtube.com/c/NarrowboatChangingPace Willow's (Great Dane) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://www.facebook.com/WillowTheGreatDane 2. https://www.instagram.com/willowwalks1000miles 3. https://www.tiktok.com/@willowwalks1000miles 4. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBdl0W-Q_vJQmQQ3Ae1Bogw PLEASE NOTE - We are not contracted or affiliated with the official #walk1000miles challenge, we are just participants - https://www.walk1000miles.co.uk Some of our posts contain affiliate links, We earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using these links, they cost you nothing extra. Every little click helps, thank you for supporting us.

I know you know what I’m talking about when I say – it should do this, but won’t – WHY WONT YOU DO IT? I’ve looked it up on Google and You tube and I purchased the same extension twice. I’ve spoken to my IT Guru and still, you sit there vexing me. Just sitting there looking smug with the progress reading ‘waiting to download’ Okay then – Do that then. Nothing stopping you. Why are you being so mean? Yes, that’s right, I’m having another laptop meltdown. It’s not until you start to write things down and reflect on your life, and you think I couldn’t possibly ever see this happening to me, and when I read this back in a week, a month, a year I’ll be full of denial. But right now, in this the current present, OMW my knickers are in such a twist that the frustration could be called ‘wind the bobbin in’ I nearly did that thing that you’ve seen on movies when they are sitting at a table and something kicks off, and then they just flip and upturn the table, my lifting, and flipping. When I say nearly, I didn’t but I’d like to have a go at it. With the slow-motion playback and the drinks spilling in mid-air. After the flipping the table, I walked out. Best go out and calm down because this is doing my noggin in. Nice day and good company, Willow and I were getting on well and I managed to calm myself down. Think the duck may have wound Willow up a tad, but I was good. It’s good to be outside and let your mind refresh. Take a breath or two. I decided to leave it, no more I’ll just do this or I’ll just try that. The laptop was going into the shop to get sorted before I threw it into the cut (canal) If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating or review and share it with those you feel would also enjoy them. Don’t forget to follow us, here for future episodes – once again thank you for listening. Same walk different viewpoints - Come say Hi at; Our website - https://changingpace.co.uk Louise's (Couch Potato) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://twitter.com/NbChangingPac 2. https://www.facebook.com/NBChangingPace 3. https://www.instagram.com/nbchangingpace 4. https://www.tiktok.com/@narrowboatchangingpace 5. https://www.youtube.com/c/NarrowboatChangingPace Willow's (Great Dane) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://www.facebook.com/WillowTheGreatDane 2. https://www.instagram.com/willowwalks1000miles 3. https://www.tiktok.com/@willowwalks1000miles 4. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBdl0W-Q_vJQmQQ3Ae1Bogw PLEASE NOTE - We are not contracted or affiliated with the official #walk1000miles challenge, we are just participants - https://www.walk1000miles.co.uk Some of our posts contain affiliate links, We earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using these links, they cost you nothing extra. Every little click helps, thank you for supporting us.

Day 148 – First Day back on the job after a weekend away. When I say job I mean, back to walking because that is my job. Dave brings home the bacon and I stay at home to dog-sit or as I like to call it, Eva’s personal PA/Nurse and Willows personal NoooNoo0/Security Blanket. Would I have it any other way, probably not. But the conversation is slightly limited to watch me do this, stroke me, feed me and look at what I produced. Next door was talking to her cat and how me and the girls laughed when I told them. (Stolen Joke but still funny) Shocked, or was I shocked, to see that someone had snapped the baby fruit tree upon our return. I was slightly shocked because I do like to see the good in people, the pride they take about their local community, and then again not shocked at all, more disappointed that I thought it might happen and it did. Willow bounced her way down the lock, she seems in good spirits I am putting that down to for the brief time we were out we didn’t get wet. Also, good enough for me. There is a collection of stone slabs on our walk and so the tale goes in yonder years gone by, that they are the old remaining stones from the old lock house that used to sit further down on this stretch of the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal. I don’t know that much about them, but it’s where the chicken foot gang sit, its actually where everyone sits and today it is where a man sat with lots of plastic carrier bags. It’s not something that I see every day and as such something that sticks out to me. The fact that he was still there when we came back, nothing at all unusual in that. He was still there when I went out with Eva and still there when we came back. Now my curiosity is peeked. What is he doing? Who is he waiting for? Why all the bags? these and many more questions will never be answered, but maybe he’ll become a regular to us, maybe not, but he might. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating or review and share it with those you feel would also enjoy them. Don’t forget to follow us, here for future episodes – once again thank you for listening. Same walk different viewpoints - Come say Hi at; Our website - https://changingpace.co.uk Louise's (Couch Potato) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://twitter.com/NbChangingPac 2. https://www.facebook.com/NBChangingPace 3. https://www.instagram.com/nbchangingpace 4. https://www.tiktok.com/@narrowboatchangingpace 5. https://www.youtube.com/c/NarrowboatChangingPace Willow's (Great Dane) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://www.facebook.com/WillowTheGreatDane 2. https://www.instagram.com/willowwalks1000miles 3. https://www.tiktok.com/@willowwalks1000miles 4. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBdl0W-Q_vJQmQQ3Ae1Bogw PLEASE NOTE - We are not contracted or affiliated with the official #walk1000miles challenge, we are just participants - https://www.walk1000miles.co.uk Some of our posts contain affiliate links, We earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using these links, they cost you nothing extra. Every little click helps, thank you for supporting us.

Day 147 – We’re going home today, even though the boat is a 50-foot Narrowboat Cruiser Stern there appears to us to be more room at home. I think that’s because everyone knows their space. At Mums the girls just lay in the middle of the floor. I think in Willow’s case in hopes of bullying and tripping up Nanny. One more call of technical admin and then we’re heading home. Have to say,I’m not used to all this frolicking and I’ve got work to catch up on. We walk the girls on the return to the Marina and it’s spitting, so not quite rain but it’s trying. We unload and unpack and finally at a late hour manage to sit down. No one can be bothered to cook so we end up with a toastie, you know I really enjoyed it. Sometimes it’s just the simply comfort food we crave. Unlike Willow, who craves all food. I hate the dogs watching me eat and sometimes they think they can get away with it and when I send them away, they don’t move they just advert their eyes, guessing they still want to taste and see it in the smell, what with dog noses being ten times more powerful than ours. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating or review and share it with those you feel would also enjoy them. Don’t forget to follow us, here for future episodes – once again thank you for listening. Same walk different viewpoints - Come say Hi at; Our website - https://changingpace.co.uk Louise's (Couch Potato) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://twitter.com/NbChangingPac 2. https://www.facebook.com/NBChangingPace 3. https://www.instagram.com/nbchangingpace 4. https://www.tiktok.com/@narrowboatchangingpace 5. https://www.youtube.com/c/NarrowboatChangingPace Willow's (Great Dane) account of the walks can also be found here; 1. https://www.facebook.com/WillowTheGreatDane 2. https://www.instagram.com/willowwalks1000miles 3. https://www.tiktok.com/@willowwalks1000miles 4. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBdl0W-Q_vJQmQQ3Ae1Bogw PLEASE NOTE - We are not contracted or affiliated with the official #walk1000miles challenge, we are just participants - https://www.walk1000miles.co.uk Some of our posts contain affiliate links, We earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using these links, they cost you nothing extra. Every little click helps, thank you for supporting us.