A Slow Ride Along the Tow Path

I started to feel that longing need to explore new places.

Maybe I hadn't got the balance between work and adventure right and for a good few months, I started to feel the need to go and experience something new. The need to break routine and stop waiting around for adventures to land at my feet. Plus, I don't want to show up here tired, bedraggled and uninspired for you.

I booked some annual leave from my day job, dragged my bike out of the shed, made a vague plan and set off ready to explore.

Beautiful yellows and warm greens

This trip needed a goal - a meander wasn't going to cut it today. I aimed for Torr Vale Mill bar in New Mills (Derbyshire), somewhere familiar and the thought of a deliciously cold cider at the finish line was enough to get the wheels turning.

I enjoyed the handmade feel to the letters on this sign

I donned my navy blue helmet and backpack full of snacks then set off. I'm a confident cyclist and I don't find road cycling in Greater Manchester very relaxing or inspiring, it can feel a bit dangerous at times. I chose the scenic canal tow path to New Mills instead.

The mostly flat journey (a couple of inclines and bumpy cobbled patches) was cool under the canopy of the trees with the promise of golden sunshine and warm hazy glow just in reach *chef's kiss*. There aren't many places to take a wrong turn on a tow path, making it quite a straight forward wander.

I came to a stop at the very impressive Marple Aqueduct for my lunch (pasta pesto salad if you're interested) and realised I hadn't packed my purse or my bike lock. Not ideal given the cider based end goal...

I tucked that problem into the back of my mind and had faith that I would come up with a solution eventually.

A few hours after setting off, I reached the bottom of the Millenium Walkway in New Mills and headed up to the bar for my sparkling reward. I found a bench, downloaded a payment system onto my phone and prayed it would work on the bar's card reader. A kind group of knitters on the next table looked after my bike as I went inside. The sweet sound of that 'successful payment' beep.

I sat in the sunshine and very smugly enjoyed my cider.

There's something so beautiful about narrowboat fonts

The warm evening glow and long shadows followed me all the way home as I clocked 29 miles (shall we just round it up to 30? Don't tell anyone). I felt a huge sense of achievement and was so proud of myself for just going out and spending time alone outside.

I soaked up the slow pace of narrowboat living, the odd scratch from an overgrown bramble and nettle (and peddle -oops), took time to draw and just enjoy a few minutes watching herons, Canada geese and fish moving under the water.

I'm already looking forward to the next adventure.

A minute on a bench

Things that helped on my adventure:

Packed lunch- Can't adventure on an empty stomach!

Battery pack - I didn't know how much I would need to rely on maps so having the option to charge my phone on the go took some pressure off.

Wireless headphones - Handy to have guidance from Maps

Bike lock - (comes in handy when you actually take it with you.)

Mobile payment option - Always good to have as a back up

A bell - not everyone can hear you coming and you might frighten some people

Travel sketchbook kit - colours you think you might need, mechanical pencil, rubber etc.

(I love Faber-Castell Olive green yellowish 173 pencil for lovely summery warm green tones*)

Tell me all about your last adventure in the comments and I'd love to hear about any routes that you'd recommend for a bike ride - or a walk! Or tell me about how you drag back your creative inspiration when you're feeling overworked or in the wrong mindset.

Find more inspiration with photography on the go with Elle Brotherhood and enjoying inspiration at a slower pace.

Even more!

• I've not read it for a while, Barbara Jones writes stories of roses and castles on canalboats in her book 'The Unsophisticated Arts'

• A really interesting podcast by Outside/In about the use of GPS for navigation and how it might be changing our brains.

  
  

*This post includes affiliate links. Whenever you buy something through one of these, I get a small commission without any extra cost to you. This helps to support my blog, thank you.

(At least the bridge is in focus)