Last weekend I spent three nights on a narrowboat. It was 55 feet long, 7 feet wide and about 6 feet high. You would think, with length being the only dimension in its favour, that the beds would be long enough for me… but alas. (I’m asleep in that photo, by the way — I think it was taken around 6am.)
We spent four days navigating the beautiful river-cum-canal Kennet and Avon Canal. Back in the olden days, it trimmed some 450 miles from the hazardous London-to-Bristol sea route. Today, it’s just a beautiful stretch of greenery that runs from Reading, through Newbury and Bath and terminates at the sea near Bristol. This was also the first time that I’ve been on a British canal and it hasn’t been grey and/or rainy for the entire trip — it was a bit weird, sitting on top of the boat, basking in warm sun, in England.
Anyway, I took some pretty photos. Not as pretty as I’d hoped — grey skies plagued two of the three evenings — but definitely worth sharing. Here they are:
Shot just before another photo, which is probably more striking
Moooo
(Did I mention that I’d forgotten to shave?)
* * *
I went shopping yesterday, for smart trousers, shirts and shoes. I ended up buying a very nice pair of boots, a couple of very smart pairs of trousers and a nice shirt. I figure I ought to at least try and look sharp in San Francisco. Of course, I bet I’ll arrive, looking all sharp and preppy, and they’ll all be dressed in shorts and a t-shirt. Still, better to over-dress than to under-dress, right?!
Hezabelle
Sep 8, 2010
It’s okay, if they’re Americans they’ll expect the Brit to be better dressed.
sebastian
Sep 8, 2010
So true. If I wore shorts and a t-shirt they’d think I was some kind of awful tourist that ought to be in Florida…
Jossie Posie
Sep 8, 2010
Oh wow. Burn!
sebastian
Sep 8, 2010
I obviously meant the, er… other side to wherever you are…
Jossie Posie
Sep 8, 2010
I’m sure you did.
Lady M
Sep 8, 2010
Several points:
1.) Using pillows as a duvet? Unusual technique, but nice. Warmth and comfort in one.
2.) Nice photos. Although are you rinsing your teeth with mouthwash or just slightly confused to be atop water?
3.) I ran along that canal last Thursday. It is equally beautiful from the path alongside, as long as you blank out the empty beer cans and used condoms.
4.) A brogue/ workboot combo. My heart skipped a beat and l am rather flushed. HEAVEN.
Thats all.
The Lady.
sebastian
Sep 8, 2010
1) I know it looks like pillows, but it’s a duvet, folded by my arm I guess.
2) I set the camera to a very high-speed setting before handing it to my father. The facial expressions he captured were, er… unique. That photo is one of the better ones…
3) There were TONS of runners! Yeesh. Thousands of them. I guess the towns are nicely spaced out, every five miles or so… and it’s fairly flat…
Imagine, if you’d gone running on Friday, I might’ve seen you! A real, live Lady!
4) Pretty sexy, eh?
Abi
Sep 9, 2010
That is a tiny cot duvet someone gave you to cover yourself as a joke.. right?
Aw, you posted the picture I said I liked! I feel a bit sad that you didn’t post the scary hair-blowing-in-the-wind, carefree ship-ahoy Seb photo. Was it because I said it was scary ?
And I have decided I love dressing you. You make it acceptable to visit the Kurt Geiger website. I might have to start charging a fee for my services!
sebastian
Sep 9, 2010
Yup, I didn’t want to scare the world senseless… not without fair warning…
I would charge YOU a fee for dressing me!
Abi
Sep 9, 2010
Hm… Not sure how charging ME a fee would work. We all know that without me (and your Mother) you would have ended up with some Cherry Red Cuban heels and a pair of Lederhosen. And anyway! I have shoes to save for..
That photo is probably not that scary, it was just unexpected. Nice jumper though! forgot to say.
the girl in stiletto
Sep 9, 2010
love is in the airrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. i can feel like. it’s like, zing! zing! zing! electrifying!
Foggy Dew
Sep 9, 2010
Never will quite get used to all the short beds in the world.
Great pics. The sunsets are, as usual, stunning. Is the canal anywhere near, or connect to, the one with the Falkirk Wheel?
Sebastian's mother
Sep 9, 2010
Yup, I agree with Abi, please post the ‘wind in your hair smiling’ photo, it was my favourite too!
And yes, I had to stop him buying some lederhosen, but they did look quite cute with his lovely knees and yellow socks….
sebastian
Sep 9, 2010
It wasn’t that great, mum… it was a bit scary.
sebastian
Sep 9, 2010
Foggy! Sadly no where near that wheel thingee. I actually pondered the same thing while I was there!
It’s about 600 miles north… alas.
Abi
Sep 9, 2010
Do Debenhams DO Lederhosen? Maybe in the “preteen” section…
I only think the “carefree smiley-windy hair” shot was scary because I wasn’t expecting it. Agressive smiling always has that effect on me..
Eleni
Sep 10, 2010
Lovely! I really like that sunset photo with the boat in front. That is a very narrow boat.
Those are very nice boots. I do not have any shoes that are nearly that nice.
nicopolitan
Sep 13, 2010
I think it’s about time I ask you how I can order a print of the shot you took of the water looking like pure mercury.
I’m serious about this. I’m going to follow this up with an email.
Thaino
Sep 20, 2010
Stunning photos mate. Always wanted to go narrowboating, never had the chance.
Funny how I didn’t do the things on my doorstep…c’est la vie…
sebastian
Sep 20, 2010
Aye, same! I’ve probably seen more of other countries than my own! But it’s also very expensive to sight-see in England, sadly.