Hi Gang
Friday…
Spent the day mostly in the car as we headed south from Edinburgh to N. Yorks for night in a B&B before picking up a narrowboat on the Trent & Mersey Canal.
Saturday
Motoring till 1630 then 
and torrential rain & thunder that’s still pounding in the roof with lightning at 0730 Sunday and looks set for the week:(
Where’s Roland’s sunshine!!
Today is going to be cruising in the rain!
Happy cruising in the rain. Its raining here too but thankfully not as heavy as yesterday. I think Roland forgot to bring the sunshinr back with him 
Great photos.
Ann
Oh Simon, you really did pick the wrong week for narrow boating you poor things.
Lovely photos; where about on the canals are you? I’ve done a few in my time and one I still find the most beautiful and picturesque is the Llangollen canal, particularly going over the aqueduct😊
Thanks for sharing @SimonInEdinburgh.
Sunshine would’ve been nice but it looks like you’re having a good break anyway. Just getting away and doing something different must be therapeutic.
Aahha that '000s & 000s foot drop then miles or single track canal 
we did that couple yrs ago.
We’ve just gone through Stoke on Trent into the Caldon canal.
Yep it’s wet !
No point in trying to keep the ropes dry today.
I am finding getting on and off even a 1’ gap or with the boat moving at 2mph hard to impossible 
Fatigue and muscle aches from stuck lock paddles & gates is also sapping some fortitude! But I’m sat with a brew, the wives have gone shopping & for a wander
Whats your final destination/turn around?
Wet or not I’m envious 
Have you tried using the barge pole? Driving it into the waterbed between boat and bank might be handy to steady you getting off.
I’ve got a few hands I can grab that aren’t so un weildy!
It’s stiff lock paddles & gates one handed that are a problem!
5 locks in a row to do 1dt thing this am!
We will wind at Froghall or The Back Lion at Consall depending on cruising hours
Well return the boat to Great Heyword
Yesterday’s Pis
Morning @SimonInEdinburgh. It’s a treat no matter what the weather and you look to be enjoying yourselves 
.
Accepting a helping hand is sometimes the only way I can overcome the fear of putting one foot in front of the other when faced with obstacles -rocky downhill or water surrounded especially. Just can’t ignore the risk assessment going on in my head, but if a helping hand is the confidence I need to get the job done, then I will gladly accept it.
Enjoy the rest of your break, Julia x
I am going away to the Lake District with my son and daughter in law soon (first time away since my stroke) but I am concerned I will be stuck in the car because of my fatigue. Starting to wonder if it is a good idea but feel I need the break
Yes I’ve done staircase locks of 5 a few times, just not as hard to do when there’s a big group of you 
Its a different life on the canal, slower pace, tranquil, enjoy 
No, its definitely a good idea, so don’t go talking yourself out of it. You’ll do fine, just pace yourself. And it doesn’t really matter if you do get stuck in the car now and again, it’s still a change that’s as good as a rest and still a change of scenery , so go for it
Great photos @SimonInEdinburgh. Happy cruising and hope the weather clears up for you!
Anna
Deffo take the trip
I’m am finding the change of routine unsettling and locks are physically demanding on muscles not so worked since the stroke however the change is also good.
Resting when needed is just a must as is pushing boundaries.
Toes hurt!! Effort for winding lock paddles cause my affected side to tighten especially toes. Back stiff too - 18" wide beds (?) are narrow!!
Caio
Simon
Shame about the weather but you have to make the best of it in the UK. It rains a lot 
Sounds like you’re doing ok despite the challenges getting on & off boat etc. Enjoy the break. It sounds like a great pace of life for a week.
Last full day today
Mostly the weather has been manageable (no such thing as bad weather just wrong cloths )
Lock gates are a good opportunity to practice manual effort. My toes continue to be a impediment to upper limb effort¡ They seem to be permanently wired with the hand and arm so any attempt to use the hand brings a toe crunch
Does anyone have suggestions for a way to break the link?
The cruising at 3mph with physicality of locks has been an antidote to the anxiety & stress the forum causes me. It’s also thrown into highlight the impact on top of PS [1] sensativity of emotional balance - I’m contemplating whether to jack it in
The feeling from walking near the canal edge especially when operating locks is odd & interesting.
Stone steps that BS (Before Stroke) would be leapt up & down are now only slowly contemplateable- IF there is a hand rail - this phenomenon is entirely cognitive/mental/neuro- and thus a self limitation through a altered perceptions. I’m actually more stable in these instances with eyes closed (but that’s obviously unsustainable!)
The challenge of getting on & off the moving boat has given a chance to inspect the dexterity of the leg recovery.
If I dismount to the left leg it’s acts as shock absorbing spring & self-leveller. However if I dismount onto the right it’s a ridged transmitter of the shockwave straight upwards to the teeth if I’m not careful! Who have though their tounge would be in danger from getting off a 3mph craft!
Its not be the case that a wobbly boat and a stroke wobbler didn’t cancel out to be steady! But nor where wobbles plus wobbles unmanageably unstable but nor therapeutic opportunity.
PostStroke ↩︎
I always found the same with my arm and leg, most notably at the gym using certain equipment, any leg machines used would have my shoulder/arm/hand engaging along with the leg. Any hand grips to hold upper body steady whilst working legs, then my shoulder would role forward, arm would pull upwards and hand hold on for dear life. At the same time the bigger toes would curl up and smaller toes curl under.
When working on upper body with foot relaxed on the floor, again the bigger toes would curl up, smaller toes curl under and the foot wanted to roll onto the outer edge of the foot.
Since that last foot adjustment I had a few months ago, the day I felt the big clicks in the sole of my foot and ankle whilst doing seated hamstring curls. The toe curling has virtually stopped (still a slight hint of it there). But the best part has been that shoulder/arm has stopped trying to engaging along with it And actually, that’s not the best part; the best part has got to be the foot not rolling throwing me off balance and risking a fall
Sounds like you’ve made the best of the British weather to have a good week. Think there’s something to be said for living life in the slow lane … much less stressful (most of the time).
Great pics as always. Safe journey home.
Hello Simon @SimonInEdinburgh.
I totally understand challenge 3. I equate this to my reaction trying to cross stepping stones in a country park near me.
I know this path, I never gave it a second thought previously.
I try and challenge myself every time -I go with the belief I will overcome but always falter where 2 stones are further apart and getting it wrong would result in a fall and getting wet.
I know that if I had to get from crosses market on solid ground I would do it as there would be little risk.
I just can’t take risks but have to acknowledge this is an issue with confidence rather than ability. Frustrating doesn’t quite cover it.
Your pictures are great, thanks for sharing, and glad you have had a good week away despite the British weather, Safe journey home, Julia x
