“So what do you do all day?” people often ask when they hear we live on a narrowboat? Working and living afloat as continuous cruisers is different from having a holiday so here’s how the last week has looked to us. It is an unusual week in that we had the car for part of it and I had a night away for work reasons thanks to a good friend – my second night off the boat in the past year.
Saturday found us moored in the most delightful spot near the stunning boat Dutch Owl and its shapely rope figurehead Nicole.
Owner Nick made Nicole, but told us the boat she embraces was built for a Crick Boat Show in years gone by. The Boat Index gives no year for the build but suggests that was by M. Sivewright Boatbuilders. Steve cycled to Daventry for his 101st parkrun whilst I did some washing (by hand in the sink) after a pleasant walk with the dog.
In the afternoon we all enjoyed a good circular walk with some spectacular views of harvested fields topped by distant church spires. The walk took in a sleepy village which seemed to provide a chance to try a new-to-us pub midway particularly as the sign over the door seemed such a challenge. It wasn’t to be – pub shut for a wedding! We headed home foraging blackberries for supper with en route.
Sunday was blissful. Steve went for his long run(18 miles today – all heading to London Marathon on October 3rd) whilst I walked the dog, worked and nattered to our new neighbour about his part time PhD. After Steve’s return and shower we walked to the New Inn on the A5 near Norton Junction to meet out eldest daughter for a huge lunch – highly recommend their roasts and in fact their portions of everything are real boatman’s sizes! A walk back to the boat, a cruise through Norton Junction and we moored just past the junction facing the Braunston direction. Steve then left with our daughter to head back to Leicestershire and fetch the car. Cola and I returned with secateurs to trim Katie’s resting place which we had spotted the day before.
Monday Moved the boat nearer to the tunnel – fast as no locks. Another day working for me. Steve has less work this week so sorted shopping and tackled a laundrette with a mountain of washing. Took a good long walk later in the day after work, over the tunnel to Braunston and back. We used the old road that barge wives and children took the horses along whilst their men legged the boats through in days gone by. You see the brick vent shafts from the tunnel along the way.
Tuesday A day of work for me as well as moving the boat. Only 3 miles, 6¼ furlongs and 6 locks but it included the Braunston Tunnel, 2042 yards long (just over a mile).
Only met two boats coming the other way – neither on the bend in the tunnel. One boat passed us fine, the other was veering about all over the place and bumped us hard. The locks come after the tunnel and we managed to meet up with another boat and share the work going down. Once moored it was haircuts on board for us both (and I trimmed a bit of the dog to help him keep cool). Then back to work for me and Steve arranged for our cratch cover (front canopy if you like) to be reviewed by AJ Canopies who made it originally. That was our reason for coming to Braunston before London. Verdict – we need to do self repairs with the indispensable duck tape (apparently it’s actually duct tape but I think duck is more appropriate on the water) to get us through the winter. Apparently we need a new cratch cover which couldn’t be sorted until May 2022 at the earliest at a cost of – gulp – £1450.00. Think the duck tape will be lasting longer than the winter (and the spring!).
Wednesday – up early, dog and I appreciate the sensational sunrise, slurp coffee, catch up on emails/messages, walk the dog, breakfast, turn the boat to face the right way ready to start up through the locks.
Set the first lock ready. Lady Lorna was ahead of us slowing so we could travel up as a pair – makes life so much easier sharing the work and two boats in wide locks stops them bashing about as the water swirls in the lock. Somehow though another boat nipped in between us so they went through the lock as a pair, and we were left out! I helped them through then emptied the lock to ready it for us. Had to do this for the first three locks and then fortunately we started meeting boats coming down so the next three locks were ready for us to go straight in. The locks near Braunston are a delight too.
Steve then steered us through Braunston Tunnel for the second time this week whilst I worked! Met another boat just on the bend so we both ended up bumping a bit – nothing serious. Once out into the sunshine found a mooring spot on the third attempt – first two we grounded the boat as the places were too shallow. Then work for me for the rest of the day. This way of working enables me to put work in perspective and provides invaluable thinking time whatever I am working on – writing chapters, preparing higher education sessions or writing articles.
Steve walked back to fetch the car which we need this week. He collected orders from Argos and an Amazon box in Daventry before returning to collect a loo cassette for emptying and taking the rubbish too (he really gets the good jobs!). Once back he installed a new wifi aerial while I finished work.
Steve then continued scraping and sanding the gunwhale on the towpath side – you can see what a fab job he made of the other side when we were moored facing the other way.
All was well until he dropped the scraper in the cut! Out with the magnet. Being sandwiched between Armco and the boat it just stuck frustratingly wwll to one or the other. I moved the boat out and hey presto – magnet fishing worked first time!
Thursday Lateral Flow Tests for us both (both negative) and then more work for me and a journey south for us both. Steve and Cola return without me via a quick family visit. Before settling for a bit more work (Higher Education) I headed off for a spot the elephant tour in and around Luton’s beautiful Wardown Park.
I also luxuriated in a bath! What a treat and be grateful I saved you the sight of that!
Friday Energising higher education work for me today – assessment and feedback in Ireland – and thanks to a wasp’s nest Steve gets to spend the day with a special 3 year old. (Preschool is shut for the Wasp Killers to do their worst). When Steve and Cola manage to tear themselves away from the fun, its back south to pick me up after work and a return home. Our journey resumes tomorrow via Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard, Tring and all points south to London.
So that was a week on board with us as continuous cruisers – not all work – not all play. Our work and life is balanced, and we includes regular adventures, new sights, scenes and encounters that add huge value to our lives. Personally all this allows me time to plan, think and reflect which improves not only my life but my work too. Thanks to friends, family and clients who have been such an integral part of the week – we couldn’t do what we do without you.
Pickingupducks 