Walk 1000 miles a Year; Can a Great Dane and a Couch Potato #walk1000miles 2021?

Day 46 - Willow and I only found two Snow Angels, this afternoon, across at Deep Lock on the Sheffield Canal. We walked half of the block walk, which was a good 3 miles and one of the first walks we started doing at the beginning of this challenge.

The whole Boat hold went out again after dark, it was still freezing or ‘nesh’ as Dave likes to call it. Nature dropped a surprise; Dave found an ice stalactite (or could have been stalagmite - always get them confused). Sweetly he gave it to Eva who trotted off with it like she’d been handed the baton in a relay race, she was out in front for quite some way, we had to get a fair wiggle on and the harsh wind was against us. Eva was in her element, she carried it fair old way. Rather than hand the baton to Willow, she eventually ate it. She loves ice, it’s almost her fountain of youth

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating and share it with these 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 contacted 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 45 – Another cold one and another day I didn’t venture outside. I’m building a website. I know!! Me building a website – get a load of me, well of course you will because your all be rushing to my websites for wonderful tips of how to moan about walking, how to come up with a very powerful excuse to not walk. These excuses and more will all of course be available on my website free of charge for you. Because you’re my favourite – don’t tell the others, just between me and you.

So what was the reason for offering such wonderful excuses free on my new website that I am building, did I mention that, I’m pretty sure your as shocked as I am. The main reason for offering such valued free excuses is; I’ve been looking back on the last 44 days of my daily blogs, and wow what a whiner I am, full of hot air and reasons not to walk. I thought the last 44 days would offer motivation and insightful inspiration and all I read is ‘I don’t wanna’. Feel my pain, no don’t, really don’t pander to me – I’ll only relish the attention and use it as confirmation that this behaviour is Okay.

Or is this behaviour normal, are we not all couch potatoes, who love the idea of walking, being part of a community, wanting to get fit for a reason and that when it comes down to actually doing it well ….. see my new website for test and tried excuses. I think this reflection is good, you remember at the beginning when I was saying about my stats, figures and the reason I write it down, was due to my limited attention span – well I suspect this bit right here – this bit in all this horrible weather is called the dwindle, it’s where that good sentiment and drive begins to dwindle.

I wrote it down, reflected and see it – what is my next course of action? I can honestly say I don’t have the foggiest, I’ve never tried to walk 1000 miles in a year before. What do you think I should do?

I think it basically comes down to putting one foot in front of the other. I know I’m doing OK because the chart says I’m still above average. Today I have done 203 miles, with 797 miles left, am I worried that I’m being overtaken, of course I am but if the past has told me anything, it that I’m rubbish at PE or any kind of sport so have faith in yourself Louise, your ahead of the marker and as you have told others this is your race at your pace.

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating and share it with these 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 contacted 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 44 – A little mile, or was it a little mile? We only walked a mile today but maybe it was a great big mile. In case you’re wondering it was A great Big Mile. We did it, according to the official #walk1000miles challenge we have walked more then your average Briton has in a year. Oh yeah, we reached 200 miles of completing the same walk every day for the last 44 days staying local, which was Mud, Towpath, Busy Road, Concrete, Busy Roundabout, Carpark, Grassy area, Mud and Towpath. We have only ever seen 2 of the weirs on the five weir walk. Maybe as a celebration Dave, I and Willow can do the other 3 when the pubs open, when are the pubs opening?

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating and share it with these 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 contacted 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 43 – And the snow has fallen which in turn means I find myself again, hiding on the boat. It is really icy cold, but I would prefer to see the pretty scenes from inside the boat. Of course, I took the dogs out. I could see that look in Willows eye, somewhat reminding me of Laurel and Hardy – “That’s another fine mess you’ve got me into” mocking me as if I’m not going to finish or keep up this #walk1000miles challenge. Well Willow dearest I am, I’ll get it tomorrow. You see today is a perfect example of weather dependant walking.

In other news and like buses I had two comments on Willows Halti, one from Twitter and another man who was practically lifting his dog with its harness and lead, he queried why they didn’t make leads strong enough. #sigh - I didn’t point out that sledge dogs wore harnesses taking their power from the core forward motion. He was asking if Halti’s work and whilst the conversation went into further detail the simply answer is ‘yes’. Can you not lead a bull by its nose, do horses not wear bridles? Both our dogs walk very nicely most of the time but if they we’re on a collar and wanted to go, they would and I’d rather they didn’t take; my arm which is attached to my shoulder which is attached to etc etc and on and on (body parts) with them. Whereas if I control the nose then I have the power (sorry carried away with the power: Heman reference) As I was saying, if I have the nose then hopefully, I have control of the body and ultimately the stop. As a side note to this though, don’t assume that all Head collars and Halti’s are to stop a dog biting!! #sigh obviously I didn’t direct that at you, just for the stupid people out there or at least the ones that don’t know anything about dogs.

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating and share it with these 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 contacted 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 42 – Seriously what is that saying, where the ice winds will blow, we shall have snow. Blooming icy freeze in the breeze. Luckily enough whilst it tried it never did stay – I’m putting that down to Eva and I chanting ‘No snow you must go’ and poof, just like that it #clickfingers it was gone. Your very welcome. Eva’s walk as previously described was a freeze breeze and she wasn’t really chanting, I just said that because I didn’t want to appear to be a loner. Besides Eva Loves snow.

Willow walk was more a battle of wills. ALL THOSE OF A DELECIATE DISPOSITION PLEASE MISS THIS VIDEO IT WILL TURN YOUR STOMACH. I envisage being reported for putting disgusting images on the screen and I know if my account gets frozen that it will be one of you. I warned you, you see the big capitals don’t you.

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating and share it with these 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 contacted 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 41 – Somebody said it was going to snow, I said “no, don’t want it” I wish I had openly accepted that it would or might. I fear because of my need to fight the forces of nature Karma came along and put the record straight.

It was raining when I took Eva out. It was raining when I bought Eva home. It continued to rain when I went out with Willow and just as I was feeling pretty sorry for myself, I nearly slipped a disc skimming across the quagmire of mud sleekness that was formally known as the towpath.

The disgusting is still on route, nothing is moving it, not ice, wind or rain – it just splodges there with it’s arms open wide, welcoming Willow like an old likable friend. Willow’s tongue makes a bee line for it. After another disgraceful “I can’t hear you” incident, we continue round the block. The block and I are becoming ‘good 10’ buddies. As Willow and I come round the back of Meadowhall, Willow’s prey drive kicks in and she’s in a bush…. again – I suspect a squirrel. The rest of the walk is pretty much done on the lead. I’ll give her enough lead to hang herself, something adults used to say about rope. I’m turning into my mother, I’m adulting – it sucks. It was raining when we got home. Yeah for rain, good for plants - squelchy for me.

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating and share it with these 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 contacted 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 40 – Oh the joys of it being a quiet walk day everyone is at work and we are mid Lockdown. The towpath is clear, yes of course there is still mud but it doesn’t look like a splat party and with little traffic the walk just seems to breeze by. The diversion from the accident and then the high-water levels was gone, so we didn’t have to dodge any cars. 

It would have been pleasant, but for a certain someone insists on licking a certain something. Do let me know if you want me to go into graphic description on such revoltings. I don’t like to feel that firstly, you’re missing out on my retching pain and I also like to feel that I am not the only one suffering the injustice of Willow trying to eat stuff that she should jolly well know she shouldn’t, especially in light of her delicate stomach. I know she doing it on purpose because it’s just blobbed in the same place on our walk, it isn’t disintegrating, although completely disgusting. What I can’t figure out is, is she doing it to wind me up. We both know it’s there, creating life of it’s own. Even the local wildlife, rats and all, have clearly turned their noses up at it.

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating and share it with these 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 contacted 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 39 – The snow has pretty much gone and having already walked out with Eva, it’s fair to say that the towpath is in a much better state. The slush has gone and the drier day’s mean the slip slide of the muddy, slushy towpaths are much easier to manage. I think my mood or certainly the desire to walk is very weather dependant – now, don’t get me wrong I’ll walk in rain, snow, wind – after all it’s just about being dressed properly but it’s a complete biscuit when ‘your stay local’ (lockdown) walk is just impassable.

Sheffield is one of the greenest Cities, might not be the prettiest but it does have quite a lot of green areas, however without a vehicle we are pretty much confined to this, which once was a mainly industrial area, geographically ethnical and lower income households with a big Massive Shopping Complex thrown in the middle, which once - back in the day, housed industrial factories. You still with me?

My point being is, we, Willow and I walk where we can, some of it isn’t pleasant, other bits historical, industrial or just a plain busy noisy road. Since the beginning we have walked urban, in this built-up area. There is greenery here, but when it’s rained, snowed excessively, the towpath is just a quagmire and that just sometimes is to much effort. You know yourself when you have to make the greater effort, your more prone to come up with I can’t or won’t so lately I’ve been dipping into and out of ‘Yeah Come On We’ve Got This’ - to – ‘er, yeah whatever’.

Today’s walk helped, I’m more centred but I’m unsure what my feeling will be tomorrow, we’ll see – anyone know if it’s going to raining?

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating and share it with these 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 contacted 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 38 – Winter is still upon us, frozen snow and my personal favourite slush and let’s not forget the theme of this winter Mr Mud. It’s going to be another glorious walk of trying to stay on your feet whilst tip toeing around the mud slides and generally trying not to get to dirty or wet. Initially took Eva out and wow I do believe she is getting slower, I’m sure she would have been the normal speed if she hadn’t tried to eat all the snow in sight. She sure does love the snow and we ended up being out for a fair old while. Quick question how much snow can an Akita eat? Comment below.

Willow was desperate to get out by the time Eva sauntered home. Set off round the block, the wrong way round. Also, I was up to here with the mud, well actually I wasn’t, but if I’d have had a big fall I would have been up to here, but luckily I wasn’t.  You still following along. Willow and I ended up road walking, it’s a pretty busy road and normally she’s very good but those big dumper truckies sure do shake the ground with an awful noise as they go by. Relenting, I let her walk on the right, she seems more comfortable up against a wall or fence with me barricading her from the racket of the traffic. We walked on quieter streets, still within the steel industries that surround this, our local area, and we came up shy of Meadowhall so not our full block, 4 mile walk but that will do pig, that will do (Babe film reference)

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating and share it with these 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 contacted 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 37 – Woke up to a winter’s scene, clearly Winter is not giving up without a fight. Needed to take Dave into work today as I needed the van. Skidded and slide - boat steering stood me in good stead, we were perfectly fine, I am an amazing driver. I actually can't remember the last time I drove the van in snow. Only got stuck once, I was hoofed out by three burley Steel workers - my hero's. Good time to reiterate I am an amazing driver.

Walked the dogs about lunch time, in the snow again. These dogs love the snow. Rather than doing the business in hand, Willow is still proclaiming Snow Angel rights against Natasha and to exemplify the point starts doing the biggest snow angel ever. I’m sure from an artist point of view it was very abstract. I did spend a minute to ponder such a master piece and wondering what that big long bit was. When asked, Willow remained artistically aloof refusing to answer my question. I feel she was slightly insulted that I was unsure.

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating and share it with these 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 contacted 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.