We were supposed to go to the Slate Islands for a three-day wild camping trip, but the weather was not playing ball.  In the end, we had a brilliant time on a hastily put-together Plan B.  

We took our short boats, a toothbrush each, some going-out clothes, credit cards, and set off up the River Great Ouse from Danish Camp in Bedfordshire.  The plan was simply to see how far we could get before we had to go back to work. 

We ended up doing some decent distances, 85 km over two and a half days, and got as far as Ely.  

A lot of the locks were not particularly kayak-friendly, and we're not really river paddlers.  This actually made the trip - each one was like a mini escape room!  On one occasion, we had no choice but to paddle into a lock, climb out the ladders, and haul the boats up the side with a throw line.  

We stayed in a hotel that was far too good for us on Friday night (Huntingdon).  The staff could not have been more accommodating and even gave us a hiding place for our kayaks.  

We ended up in a somewhat harrowing Airbnb on the Saturday night, but you need the dark to appreciate the light!!  I slept in a caravan in a barn, my friend Nick got the treehouse.  I slept in my clothes as I was a bit worried I'd wake up to find the caravan being towed to the Netherlands for my organs to be harvested.  That didn't happen though, and on reflection, it was a decent pitstop.  

Overall, this trip was something completely different.  I thought I knew the UK very well, but I saw plenty of new things on this journey.  I had no idea people could build shanty-style dwellings on the riverbank next to their boats.  We saw a lot of very decent youngsters playing in the river, diving off the sides, generally living life, and exploring risk.  They were sound - they even offered to help us carry our kayaks. 

Plan B turned out well - see how far we can get down the river before we have to go back to work