Trial run

Last minute fine tuning in Neil's garden. Water courtesy of Maisie and Dawn!

Keeping an eye on the weather

Bath Top Lock - our starting point.

The long range forecast looks promising with the met office quote of '...predominantly dry and often quite sunny weather with lighter winds, and it is likely to become warm, perhaps very warm...'


Who knows what it'll be like next Sunday when we get under way but if I can put in a vote for not too warm please. 


The weather has a big effect for me when I'm paddling.  If it's sunny I look outwards and my mind wanders where as if it's raining the hood comes up and I look inwards.

Rising level of excitement (panic)

Can it really only be just over a week away!

Caen Hill Locks lift the canal 237 feet

Need to start thinking about what to take.  Bare minimum only as there isn't too much space and every extra item means more weight to paddle and carry around the locks.

The longest portage seems to be the Caen Hill series of Locks at about 2 miles in total so some help with carrying might be needed.  Thinking about using webbing that can be turned into a shoulder yoke. My kayak probably weighs half as much again as Neil's but that disadvantage is somewhat offset by the extra volume (a bit like their owners then!)

Bank holiday Monday is the trial pack and review of final details.

Just Giving pages live

Our Just Giving pages are now live.  Please visit and help us achieve our target for Orbit Shed.  http://www.justgiving.com/teams/neilandjonathan

Accommodation sorted - at last

It took some doing, but we now have a place  to stay every night.  Having thought about (and rapidly dismissed) the idea of camping we set about finding places to stay.  Sounds simple, but they had to be roughly 20 miles apart and no further than a couple of hundred meters off the canal.

We managed to avoid the £720 per night option in Bray (home to the Fat Duck run by Heston Bloomingthingy).

The final itinerary is:

Kennet & Avon Canal
Day 1 - Bath to Devizes
Day 2 - Devizes to Crofton (nr Marlborough)
Day 3 - Crofton to Thatcham
Day 4 - Thatcham to Sonning on Thames (nr Henley on Thames)
River Thames
Day 5 - Sonning to Dorney (nr Windsor)
Day 6 - Dorney to Addlestone
River Wey
Day 7 - Addlestone to the finish at Farncombe Boat House near Gldalming