Marc

<Day 9 Day 10 London to Manchester on foot: done. 227 Canal Miles. The final few into Manchester competed with Stoke for least desirable. Collections of discarded needles, scallys getting drunk under a bridge, and feral children on top of a bridge: One does not simply walk into Manchester: I passed my house on the way into the city - Martin better appreciate the effort needed to retrieve his Christmas card One reason to make the walk was to get a visceral feeling for how big my country is, how long it takes to travel across the land. I don't come away with a sense of that because the days blended into one another and the scenery was relatively constant. Albeit with a few unusual items: Quotes of the day: "How do you think walking through Gorton is safer than a canal, hahaha" - Andrew "You do realise you're leaving DNA at an awful lot of future crime scenes" - Westlife "There really is no need to destroy buildings along the way" - Mads "That's a nice scenic picture [of me]. Pity there's a c*nt standing right in the middle of it. Ruined totally" - Charles Link if you want to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/marc-gawley (Thanks to Sarah and Alison) And thank you to the many posters on here who helped and encouraged along the way. But not: @Gavin Higginbotham = Jonathan @Barbara Maxwell = Jenny @JonathonGleeson = Andrew (too many 'mistaken' attempts at spelling Grindr gave you away.) Don't worry about GCHQ tracking you, take a look at what my mum got up to using the Google Map sharing link I sent her. She definitely wasn't worried about me. At all: Final Stats: Day 1: 5,909 calories; 65,139 steps; 27 canal miles Day 2: 5,145 calories; 53,380 steps; 20 canal miles Day 3: 5,606 calories; 55,676 steps; 29 canal miles Day 4: 5,178 calories; 52,165 steps; 28 canal miles Day 5: 5,194 calories; 54,841 steps; 24 canal miles Day 6: 5,034 calories; 51,551 steps; 25 canal miles Day 7: 4,072 calories; 34,523 steps; 12 canal miles Day 8: 4,403 calories; 32,797 steps; 14 canal miles Day 9: 5,585 calories; 57,993 steps; 23 canal miles Day 10: 4,375 calories; 50,957 steps; 23 canal miles

Found it!

I will do! I'm in Bollington now, crossing the river Dean. Ah, thanks Athy! I had passed so many, always at bridges.

<Day 8 Day 9 I left Stoke this morning and was glad to, that was my least favourite part of the trip. In particular I would not have liked to do the few miles to Kidsgrove at night. 23 miles done today, and the same distance remaining tomorrow to finish. What are these things for? And the December light was good: Aiming for an early start...a bit of stretching, etc... Quote of the day: "F*ck you and the horse you rode in on. I will have my vengeance in this life or the next" - me Updated stats: Day 1: 5,909 calories; 65,139 steps; 27 canal miles Day 2: 5,145 calories; 53,380 steps; 20 canal miles Day 3: 5,606 calories; 55,676 steps; 29 canal miles Day 4: 5,178 calories; 52,165 steps; 28 canal miles Day 5: 5,194 calories; 54,841 steps; 24 canal miles Day 6: 5,034 calories; 51,551 steps; 25 canal miles Day 7: 4,072 calories; 34,523 steps; 12 canal miles Day 8: 4,403 calories; 32,797 steps; 14 canal miles Day 9: 5,456 calories; 57,870 steps; 23 canal miles

I take back my rude words on Gavin, I didn't realise he was disabled. This would explain why everyone says he's good at skiing when he clearly isn't.

<Day 7 Day 8 The friendliness theme introduced on Day 6 and yesterday, continued this morning at the stand out Dog and Doublet in Sandon where the staff reached into their tip jar to offer a charity donation for this 230 mile canal walk. I was still too whacked from man flu to think enough to ask for a photo or the staff names, I'm sorry. On which point, just another little day - 14 Canal Miles. I'm feeling much closer to 100% though. Multiple people stopped to talk on the towpath today. This North-South thing really is a phenomenon. They say it's grim up north, but perhaps up north it's grim "down south" - I saw this advert in Stoke, for a product I have *never* seen advertised in London: I have a choice tomorrow: Head NW up the Trent and Mersey Canal 24 miles to get to my mum's new house and finish Head NE up the Macclesfield Canal which would be a 48 mile distance from here into Manchester, the original intention of this post. What would you do? Louise has challenged me to beat her train into Piccadilly (Saturday, 13:04) and Rob it seems has tried to get the Manchester Evening News involved. Only if it's a slow news day... Is this the highest Christmas tree in the UK? Thank you today to Andrew for his donation, as well as the Dog and Doublet staff. You can support Crisis here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/marc-gawley @Machpoint005 thank you for your warm words. It's not too late for your prophecy to come true though Updated Stats: Day 1: 5,909 calories; 65,139 steps; 27 canal miles Day 2: 5,145 calories; 53,380 steps; 20 canal miles Day 3: 5,606 calories; 55,676 steps; 29 canal miles Day 4: 5,178 calories; 52,165 steps; 28 canal miles Day 5: 5,194 calories; 54,841 steps; 24 canal miles Day 6: 5,034 calories; 51,551 steps; 25 canal miles Day 7: 4,072 calories; 34,523 steps; 12 canal miles Day 8: 4,403 calories; 32,797 steps; 14 canal miles

Sorry to have missed you cuthound! I've just left the Dog and Doublett (a separate post about these lovely people to come) and have passed the Sandon Lock. Aiming for 15 miles today, anything more a bonus.

Yes, very impressive NB Lola! Of course, feel free to moderate as you see fit, but for me personally don't be concerned: it's a fun game trying to guess who is who by the persona they are adopting (e.g., I put a tenner on Barbara being my atheist scientist sister).

<Day 6 Day 7 In an unfortunate development that will extinguish any remaining hero worship from Gavin, I have come down with man flu and as such only managed 12 miles today. Lame. It called for an emergency medical lunch: The friendliness has continued, with an "are you the walker?" opener in the bar tonight. For the first time I saw a "Moor Here!" exclamation, whereas down south it seemed the focus was rather "Maximum Stay 2 days". And posters here e.g., @Mac of Cygnet are looking out for my safety on the northern canals This morning I had to ask "have you put everything on?" as the bill was surprisingly low. She had, I guess I'm not in London anymore. The @thebfg predicts the Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals will be more enjoyable, and I already perceive the landscape to be getting prettier : 61 miles of the 230 remain, with a Saturday finish looking likely. Quote of the day: "I think 'Babs' needs to reign it the f*ck in with the lord his savour and all that b0ll0cks" - Nick Thank you to Pete, Tony, and Louise for donations today Updated Stats: Day 1: 5,909 calories; 65,139 steps; 27 canal miles Day 2: 5,145 calories; 53,380 steps; 20 canal miles Day 3: 5,606 calories; 55,676 steps; 29 canal miles Day 4: 5,178 calories; 52,165 steps; 28 canal miles Day 5: 5,194 calories; 54,841 steps; 24 canal miles Day 6: 5,034 calories; 51,551 steps; 25 canal miles Day 7: 3,801 calories; 34,135 steps; 12 canal miles

- only question is which people! These people are unlikely to be gentlemen, Athy, I'm afraid to say. Gavin, if you learnt how to use a map better, you wouldn't need to walk for 44 miles a day. How can you even get lost on a canal? Too busy swiping right on your favourite app, that's how.

<Day 5 Day 6 I wonder if Atherstone Locks mark the North-South divide because today people have actually started talking to me! Queueing at Greggs for breakfast (now you know where the energy comes from) another customer began discussing baps v baguettes, a propos of nothing. At lunch a lady asking how far I'd walked went on to state: "Were you out in that snow last week? I tried walking to the canal and went straight down on my knees". Seems the done thing to do, luv. And I arrived for dinner to find this little touch: Current score: Marc 1 - Boats 1. I've taken over one boat (yesterday) and one overtook me today. Yes, selection effect, but coming towards me it's only been a couple a day. The canals really are very quiet. On reflection I'm indebted to Rob, not only for taking away a lot of my stuff (I packed like an amateur. Though l must find a hotel each night now, as he took my camping gear) but also for the company - which is invariably excellent. The day before I had noticed I'd started to talk out loud for a few seconds. It was weird - doesn't take long to go crazy! I caught this picture, which sums up something I see several times an hour, most parts of the day. FML. I've also used it on a just giving page to raise money for Crisis, if anyone feels so inclined. Quotes of the day: "F*ck Richard Branson" - Becs. It was unclear if she was referring to the above pic, or was just stating a desire. "Another Marc project!" - Andy "I do wonder what good you could do if you put your drive and refusal to fail into something meaningful" - Tony "ps avoid the penguins" - Tony "Buy yourself a bike" - John "I have so much gingerbread. You're missing out" - Louise "If you need your camping stuff, it's on eBay. 5 day auction. Merry Christmas" - Rob Updated Stats: Day 1: 5,909 calories; 65,139 steps; 27 canal miles Day 2: 5,145 calories; 53,380 steps; 20 canal miles Day 3: 5,606 calories; 55,676 steps; 29 canal miles Day 4: 5,178 calories; 52,165 steps; 28 canal miles Day 5: 5,194 calories; 54,841 steps; 24 canal miles Day 6: 5,034 calories; 51,551 steps; 25 canal miles

A good first try Gavin; perhaps as you build up strength you'll be able to walk for more than 3 days at a time. Let me know how your training goes, perhaps @Barbara Maxwell can pray for you? Also, could it be that because you were using multiple bivvy bags the extra weight just exhausted you? A common mistake to make for towpath novices. Just get a single high end one. I don't think we should become friends though, as they say to never meet your heroes.

< Day 4 Day 5 Rob - what a legend - arrived yesterday evening to join me for day 5 with an early Christmas present of high end socks and a pair of santa's hats to be worn today: He noticed what a large sack I had, and in a way that only two adult men on a canal towpath can understand, it was delightful to dump my load onto him this morning. Midday marked the passing of the halfway point (around Hawkesbury Lock). The scenery just gets better and better: This evening sees me in Atherton - it seemed a fairly light day. Updated Stats: Day 1: 5,909 calories; 65,139 steps; 27 canal miles Day 2: 5,145 calories; 53,380 steps; 20 canal miles Day 3: 5,606 calories; 55,676 steps; 29 canal miles Day 4: 5,178 calories; 52,165 steps; 28 canal miles Day 5: 4,872 calories; 54,371 steps; 24 canal miles Quotes of the day: "Turn off Grinder" - Airwolf "Luv it man! You're a legend" - Giri "Certainly spending more time on canalworld.net than I normally would" - Simon, who lives in the US. And doesn't own a canal boat. "my greatest achievement today* has been to finish the extended edition of Beauty and the Beast - I think that makes me the one winning at life" - Jen *Note: Jen's statement was true as of the point she sent her message. She obviously now has a bigger achievement today appearing in print here.

I missed that tunnel, Peter. After heading up the Leicester Line from Norton Junction to get to the Watford Gap, I yomped across directly to the Oxford Canal rather than backtracking. Lucky me if it was that bad!

< Day 3 Day 4 A day focussed on routing: A nerdy 'wrong' turn at the Norton Junction to visit the Watford Gap, a 400m gap between two hills through which engineers from Roman times onwards have routed connections between the Midlands and South East England: today it contains the A5, M1, West Coast Main Line railway, and the Grand Union Canal. Not many pedestrians visit the Watford Gap Motorway Services I imagine. A quick cheeky walk a few miles across roads joined up with the 'correct' Oxford branch. Just as well, as the towpaths were not great: I also realised I was doing it wrong. The route planner has been sending me via the Bridgewater Canal for the final stretch due to a default setting of 12-20 minutes per lock. Given I'm walking, the Macclesfield canal (more locks, shorter distance) is preferable, so the Canal Mile target to home is now 227, rather than 238. Win! Updated Stats: Day 1: 5,909 calories; 65,139 steps; 27 canal miles Day 2: 5,145 calories; 53,380 steps; 20 canal miles Day 3: 5,606 calories; 55,676 steps; 29 canal miles Day 4: 5,122 calories; 52,147 steps; 28 canal miles Photos, not quotes today: Rob, joining me for tomorrow's Canal Miles: John, fair excuse not to meet up: Rebecca: In context:

<Day 2 Day 3 Very solid day, with clear tarmaced towpaths early on (albeit a frozen canal) meaning I could intermittently jog and knocked 29 canal miles off the total. 76 of 238 done. Portrait of a canal, showing artist's trekking pole and discarded underwear. £999. Absolute highlight of the day was early evening when looking to the side my head torch lit up a middle-aged fat dude scrambling to pull up his tracksuit bottoms whilst being noshed off by another middle-aged fat dude. Updated Stats: Day 1: 5,909 calories; 65,139 steps; 27 canal miles Day 2: 5,145 calories; 53,380 steps; 20 canal miles Day 3: 5,368 calories; 55,188 steps; 29 canal miles Quotes of the day: "it's not that uncommon for people to use walking as their contemplative practice when they are in the transitional periods" - Gabija, psychologist "urgh" - Rachael "canals are dodgy up north. Men go there for naughty things" - Louise's sister. Seems it happens down south also... "you're a nutcase" - Andy

Ha ha, yes it was. That said, if I'd travelled back already I'd be at my sister's having to eat weird cheese with my brother-in-law, so it's a price worth paying.

Thank you @Rob-M, @NickF For future reference for anyone else walking along the Grand Union Canal around Blisworth: #BlisworthTunnel #Towpath #Walking #Detour #GrandUnionCanal This was absolutely fine. I'm much more risk averse than my mother thinks (she was crying on the phone when I'd set off and told her I was doing this, oops!) and really didn't want to walk down a busy single lane 60mph road (it looked fast to me on Google satellite view - should have used Street View) with no pavements and tall hedges up to the road in the dark. Perhaps a dozen vehicles passed me in the 20 mins it took to jog down it, and it's very wide, with verges to stand on on each side. Thank you for the thought Lola! I do hope to have at least a cup of tea on a boat before I hit Manchester. I'm thinking it will get friendlier the further North I get

Hi Nick, I've got this coming up in a few hours. Any advice? I had thought to walk along Stoke Road (but perhaps it doesn't have a pavement, and it will be dark - not ideal).

< Day 1 Day 2 I carried on until 1am last night, passing under the M25 at 11:30pm, and taking the day's canal miles up to 27. Learnings: -Finding a place to sleep wasn't easy. My plan to sleep in the dugout at Kings Langley FC's football ground was scuppered when it transpired they had far better fencing than you'd imagine a 7th tier football team's stadium to possess. I ended up in a Holiday Inn as I was in too much of a built up area to find somewhere quiet enough to consider safe, and was shattered. -On a sample size of 1 night, dog attacks are a 100% outcome of being on the canal very late, and not much chance of an owner being around to intervene. Today seemed slower: Much more ice in places, hard to walk fast safely. Only 20 canal miles. Updated Stats: Day 1: 5,909 calories; 65,139 steps; 27 canal miles Day 2: 4,826 calories; 59,922 steps; 20 canal miles Quotes of the day: [on clicking through on the link to the Day 1 post] "...I thought, well at least some idiot has done it before, at least you can follow his route. Then I realised it was your post." - Simon "Gonna have a hot bath, have a w@nk, light the fire and fall asleep in front of the TV. You?" - Rob "He's northen. It's f*cking warm outside for him. Northern c***." - Charlie, soft southern shandy drinker "I'm driving back [to Manchester] next Friday, you could have had a lift" - Sophie "You won't make it. Jesus said." - Barbara

Didn't get long enough to type yesterday, so just acknowledging the comments... @nicknorman Thanks for the warning on the Shroppie. There was some chance of me going that way to get to my mum's, but not now. And sobering on the falling in, though I don't feel it's been close yet (touch wood). @wandering snail That would be ideal! Shame it's not the route I'll be on. Would definitely make the accommodation decisions easier / cheaper. @thebfg I salute you on your hammock set up - looks very professional! I'm still at the bivvy grade. One day I will level up! I did consider getting a tarp, but ruled it out for weight (he says, as he types on his laptop). @Peter X I walked until 1am last night, and it was surprisingly ok. I had a dog attack though, so am a bit put off being out at such an hour now. I'm holding the return portion of a train ticket just in case @Dave_P Thank you sir! @Barbara Maxwell Sorry, I only worship the Invisible Pink Unicorn now, blessed be Her Holy Hooves.

The mission is ON! Departed Thames Lock 101 at midday, currently finishing a pub dinner 20 canal miles later where their weekly quiz just started: "Who is older, Tony Blair or Theresa May?" I'm keen to get outside of the M25 tonight, so I'll walk another hour now, probably more; There is no snow on the ground, the towpaths are good, and I want to cover a marathon+ a day. It's warm enough to wild camp this evening. Targeting Manchester Piccadilly Lock (i.e., the 2hr 4min train I could have taken and have a ticket for in my pocket) by Friday next week. Fitbit stats so far: 4,799 calories; 51,655 steps. Miles Done: 20 of 226 Best quotes of the day: "Hang on, you're really REALLY walking home for Xmas? What the f*ck?" - Helen "Just jump in a canal with a boulder roped to your feet" - Nathan "That would be my course of action at the thought of being in Manchester" - Matt, commenting in reply to Nathan "I feel like such an alcoholic standing outside the pub trying to open a locked door at 8am" - Sarah, referring to the Wetherspoons farewell breakfast meet up. Where the Grand Union Canal hits the Thames: Pretty demoralising:

Just sharing some resources I've found here for anyone googling this in future: Check for towpath closures: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/winter/ People who've tried to do the Grand Union Canal quickly and failed http://www.gucr.co.uk/doc_cat.asp?cat=7 (learning: change of footwear probably needed due to wetness) Can zoom in to see exactly where towpaths are (and aren't) on this site: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network This will give distances between two points on the canal network, will full details between them: https://canalplan.eu/cgi-bin/canal.cgi Update: I'm 70-30 in favour of doing this at the moment now I know I will be kept safe , thanks @Barbara Maxwell.

@NickF I will do! @X Alan W and @magpie patrick I really appreciate your realism to counter my naive optimism, thank you! I hadn't thought it could be so wet that not even wellies would work, and if it's that slippery not ideal to be contemplating doing it coming up to the shortest day of the year! @Barbara Maxwell I'm 50-50 at the moment. Did the Lord give you better odds this morning?

If I go backwards @zenataomm I won't make it for NYE*, never mind Christmas It reminds me of doing the West Coast Trail last year: only 75km, but it took 4 days. I see @Jess-- is alluding to the same (and thank you for taking the trouble to upload the pics to get a feel for the conditions) with the state of the towpaths in places. *my dad's current forecast for me, walking forwards. Other comments from friends & family range from "humans invented transportation" and "Just take the train moron", to "it's an ace thing to do" (ex-RAF pilot, i.e., the right stuff )