Monday to Friday at 8.30am we set out on our walk to school. It takes roughly fifteen
minutes to do our journey to school and most of those minutes are along
the canal towpath. Some days are much quicker than others, when the school
run quite literally becomes a Run (well for the Little People at any
rate, I just try to walk as fast as I can without panting). Some days
are dawdle-days and we arrive late. I enjoy both, enjoy the rosy
flushed excitement after the Little People have been racing on the Fast
days (see the above photo), and enjoy the holding of hands, chatting, I-spy and observations as we amble along
together on the Slow days.
We are not fair-weather walkers, we walk every day come rain or shine. We've seen the canal so cold it's frozen over and forced the ducks and swans to ice skate. We've seen it so wet that it's risen and flooded the tow path completely. We've seen it so windy that the water has blown across in windy waves, tossing the canal boats as if they were at sea. We've seen it so damp that the water has been shrouded with a grey mist. And we've seen it like today, beautifully calm, still and bright.
I do happen to think these poor trees are a bit harsh and a bit too clippy, but nevertheless I do love the reflections they make in the water.
We love to see the boats come and go, we are quite nosy towpath walkers. It's so intriguing to glimpse into these little houses-on-water, see the dinky little rooms, people eating breakfast, washing up, reading a book, pottering about. Some of the boats are lived on permanently and some are hire boats with holiday makers aboard :: there is always something new to see every day.
We admire the flowers that decorate the boats with colour.
Both real flowers and painted ones.
And the way each boat has it's own name and personality, a whole cast of boaty characters as we walk/run our way to school.
And then there's the wildlife :: ducks and swans swim over to say hello.
Today is our last school run before the looooong summer holidays begin tomorrow. Of course we'll still walk along the canal as the weeks go by, but we'll be heading into town to the cafe, or scooting along to the park instead of going to school. And it will not be 8.30am either. Oh I am SO looking forward to the holidays!
This evening we are going away for a few days, heading down country to Dorset to see my folks. We are very excited, looking forward to the sea and family time.
So I shall be back next week :: I know a lot of bloggers are taking a summer break, but I intend to still be here wittering my way through summer if you care to drop by. It may be a bit more erratic, may be more pictures than words and will probably feature the Little People quite a bit. But I would love for you to pop up to the Attic from time to time to say hello. Please do.
See you soon xxxx
Kids who ride to school miss a lot. Walking to school is a bond among the people sharing the few moments. You're very lucky to live near the school to do this, but people who truly are motivated to walk can do it as well. It's the healthier choice. =D
Posted by: Beatrice Norling | August 01, 2011 at 09:17 PM
Your blog is so lovely. I've enjoyed seeing all your sites through your beautiful photographs.
Posted by: Catherine/My Garden Travels | July 29, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I gave you an award on your blog. Here it is!
http://juliealvarez.blogspot.com/2008/07/olas-que-vienen-y-van-waves-that-come.html
Posted by: Julie Alvarez | July 25, 2008 at 10:13 PM
What a lovely walk to school you have. I don't think I would mind walking it in any kind of weather.
Hope you have a good trip!
Posted by: Chris | July 23, 2008 at 02:19 AM
Hi there,
Love your photo's. the kids have been off school since the third week of June and don't go back until the first Tuesday in September!!!! They have around 7 weeks of summer vacation here, as much because some schools don't have air, and it gets so hot.
Gill from Canada
Posted by: Gill | July 22, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Lucy, if there was a walking to school competition I think you would win it! what a fabulous journey to make each day, come rain or shine i shouldn't doubt! Such beautiful photos.Thanks for sharing x
Posted by: Anna | July 22, 2008 at 09:01 PM
What a fab walk to school you have. Before I had my youngest I walked to our village school everyday for 14 years, come rain or shine and I miss it now.
Yvonne
Posted by: Yvonne | July 22, 2008 at 04:17 PM
How wonderfully evocative -- I feel as if I'd just taken a little vacation myself! It would be especially fun to spy on the boat breakfasters...
This makes me think we need a morning pre-school walk. We're home schoolers, so it'd have to be round-trip! But I agree with Julia's comment about the head-clearing benefits.
Have a fantastic holiday!!
Posted by: Lynn | July 22, 2008 at 03:36 PM
You have the best school run ever! What a lovely start to the day even in grotty weather.
My Dad has a narrowboat and it is such fun, a bit like living in a dolls house but even better as you can pootle along the canal and watch the world go by.
Posted by: French Knots | July 22, 2008 at 02:37 PM
What a lovely school run - I have just done a post this morning about how much I love the school holidays (ours started on Friday) I will definitely be popping by regularly to see what you are up to (and hopefully to tell you that I've mastered crochet!) Have a great trip to Dorset - Love Natalie x
Posted by: Natalie | July 22, 2008 at 01:55 PM
What a great start to the day..............
Have a lovely time on your holiday.
Posted by: do you mind if i knit | July 22, 2008 at 01:47 PM
what a lovely walk. your small people will have so many wonderful childhood memories, when grown.
have a wonderufl time in Dorset.I don't know what you look like but if i see anyone with that wonderful stipey bag I'll say hello. of course i could be setting myself up for some embarrasing situations, but you never know I may spot you. that's if you are taking your bag with you!!! have a great holiday.
jane in dorset
Posted by: CRAZYJANE | July 22, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Slightly more picturesque than our school walk, yuo lucky thing.
I love our school walk every morning, it clears my head and sets me up for the day.
Have a lovely holiday
Julia x
Posted by: Julia | July 22, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Me AGAIN.....pop over to my blog as you have an award waiting for you....Claire x
Posted by: CLAIRE | July 22, 2008 at 11:28 AM
The school walk is idyllic. I would like to have a peep inside those canal boats. The 'clippy' trees remind me of the heads of the Simpson's family! Now you can think that every time you walk past! Have a fantastic time in Dorset. I am looking forward to some Dorset pictures as I have never been there and would like to go there someday.
Posted by: Simone | July 22, 2008 at 11:23 AM
What a very lovely School run you have. My 'work run' is going to become a whole lot prettier in a few weeks and I think it will make me much happier at 8.30 in the morning! Hope you have a lovely summer holiday and especially your time in Dorset.
Posted by: Fiona | July 22, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Your school run is so picturesque I'm very jealous!
Hope you have a lovely holiday and a fantastic summer hols with the kiddies!
Sarahx
Posted by: sarah | July 22, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Me again, when you get back from your hols, check out the Urchin website, they have the most fab crochet pouffet, as soon as I saw it I thought of you, it is sooooo you! Claire xx
Posted by: CLAIRE | July 22, 2008 at 10:48 AM
What a gorgeous walk to school, I definatly have school walk envy.....lol.
Have a fab holiday, have lots of fun.......Claire xx
Posted by: CLAIRE | July 22, 2008 at 10:39 AM
That is a beautiful school run you have.
Enjoy Dorset my lovely!
Clairey who is already on her summer hols! xx
Posted by: clairey | July 22, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Oh Luce I am so pleased your going to carry on blogging i need my fix hun! I for one will still be reading when in florida due to dh Iphone :-) Have a fantastic summer xx
Posted by: Lisa | July 22, 2008 at 10:18 AM