It has been a week of decision making, or rather accepting decisions made for us by circumstances without railing against them. After a wonderful weekend of seeing family, meeting our newest teeny family member and staying in what we are convinced was a real-life Fawlty Towers hotel, we returned by Shanks’ Pony, buses and trainsContinue reading “Accepting change and changing direction”
Author Archives: pickingupducks
A million dollar question and a priceless prize
We are no strangers to 24hr challenges – our boat is named after the village where we lived in France that lies some 70km from Le Mans, site of the prestigious 24hr endurance races. I used to be involved in the car 24hr there, the Skipper and I actually met at the 24hr motorbike raceContinue reading “A million dollar question and a priceless prize”
Competition & crisis has us crossing everything
The narrowboat marathon has arrived. Over 30 hours of the Bank Holiday weekend 27 boats have signed up to move for a whole 24 of those hours taking in as much of the Birmingham Canal Navigation System (BCNS) as possible. Points are awarded for mileage, locks, travelling to far flung reaches and rarely visited parts,Continue reading “Competition & crisis has us crossing everything”
Highs, lows and a mishap or two
Normally this blog is positive, hopefully upbeat and in some way uplifting. This week it is also honest and reflects the HUGE HIGHS and frightening lows we’ve encountered in terms of humanity. We have experienced good and bad on our travels this week, but fortunately not in equal measure. We have been cruising sections ofContinue reading “Highs, lows and a mishap or two”
Nature thrives in the industrial heartland
Birmingham is underlining to us the importance of canals that are navigable. These were once the highways of industry as boats plied back and forth with coal and wood, iron and chemicals, pottery and products of all sorts. Now they are ribbons of nature, wending their way through the the Black Country, unexpected but genuineContinue reading “Nature thrives in the industrial heartland”
May madness
May – a month of promise, of blossom and new beginnings and for us, the distinct possibility of embarking on a voyage to unknown waters where we could very well get lost. “Not to have passed this way is to have missed something unexpectedly impressive and extremely important to the understanding of modern history”, saidContinue reading “May madness”
Going cuckoo in the sun
It has been perfect weather for messing about in boats, but if you don’t have a boat as I haven’t this week being off house sitting, walking the canal towpaths is almost the next best thing. Boatdog, swans, ducks, Canada geese, moorhens and one of the largest grass snakes I have ever seen (must beContinue reading “Going cuckoo in the sun”
discover.narrow.boat
As boaters, like all the emergency services as well as those who need their help, we have a lot to thank musicians who got lost when trying to find far flung venues or gigs. If you’ve ever got lost while following a postcode or trying to find an address, then you will know the shortcomings.Continue reading “discover.narrow.boat”
Going back – good or bad?
Some people say you should never go back to old homes, jobs or locations. On the waterways if you live aboard, the likelihood of retracing steps is high and this week one of us has also been north of the border on 4 wheels revisiting old haunts. So is it good or bad in ourContinue reading “Going back – good or bad?”
Mind maps – mapping the past for the future
How does your immediate world look? In these times of uncertainty it can be invaluable to focus on the minutiae of life, the things we can affect, and to ensure others know the good parts, the best bits. We’ve been struck this week by how unique our individual maps are. We’ve travelled this week –Continue reading “Mind maps – mapping the past for the future”
Pickingupducks 