Whatever your Christmas looks like, whether it is going to happen now or in the summer, we wish you well at this time of year. Thank you for joining us on the adventures our new life is bringing us – we look forward to more unexpected moments with you in 2021, and to welcoming youContinue reading “Wishing you health and whatever floats your boat at Christmastime”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Quarterly dividends and life lessons
In the final quarter of this year we have travelled more continuously (despite the global pandemic) than ever. At 3-4mph it’s been slow going, but we have happily cruised 143 miles, six and a half furlongs (no, I honestly have no idea how long they are) and worked 77 locks. We have taken in oneContinue reading “Quarterly dividends and life lessons”
Locked down in an active firing range, flights and foraging for Christmas
In less than a week we have managed to travel through 3 counties and 4 canals (good going at a maximum speed of 3mph; got locked into a military firing range on a live firing day (our lockdown 3); and begun preparing for Christmas with permitted flights and foraging . We left the Ashby Canal,Continue reading “Locked down in an active firing range, flights and foraging for Christmas”
Disastrous leak cancels our plans and ends in tiers
Sunday was a lockdown day with a difference for anyone boating on the Ashby Canal and for towpath walkers near Snarestone close to the current end of navigation on this restored canal. Thousands of gallons of water drained from the canal into surrounding fields as part of the towpath fell away resulting in a breachContinue reading “Disastrous leak cancels our plans and ends in tiers”
Fishy goings-on in a murky underworld
As on land, problems never seem to come singly on water. We’ve wrestled with onboard flooding and finally identified the source (our fresh water tank) so continue a now monotonous cycle of sealing, filling, evaluating, mopping and resolving. We have reduced the severity and number of leaks, identified and hopefully sorted them but working awayContinue reading “Fishy goings-on in a murky underworld”
Sinking feelings are bad news when you live on a boat
Water is generally regarded as a necessity for life afloat, but as we now know, in the wrong place it is both worrying and threatening. You only have to look at the news or cruise England’s canals to see that narrowboats do sink sometimes. New bulletins also bring us the heartbreaking destruction created by floodingContinue reading “Sinking feelings are bad news when you live on a boat”
Getting back on an even keel and learning to live positively in lockdown
We are having a very different living experience for this lockdown, and one I hope will make us much more appreciative of our floating lifestyle. It was a head over heart compromise and one which led to a lot of discussion. One of us was head…and one heart – I am sure you can workContinue reading “Getting back on an even keel and learning to live positively in lockdown”
Lockdown 2.0 is rocking our boat
It’s a different lockdown this time – for us in more ways than one. This time we are afloat, living on a 50ft narrowboat which we are renovating as we cruise. Preparing for a lockdown on a narrowboat is different, and wondering as we do so what we might have forgotten! Canal and Rivers TrustContinue reading “Lockdown 2.0 is rocking our boat”
Life reflected in boats, an introduction and preparing to be stuck…
It’s been a week of many miles across the waterways of four counties as we need to reach a set place in the coming weeks for a family celebration (outside in groups not exceeding 6). This has given time for thought as we chug our meandering way at nearly 4mph along the waterways. Boats, houses,Continue reading “Life reflected in boats, an introduction and preparing to be stuck…”
Warning – chains, treats, images of underwear and a shoe crisis
I am cursing Boris…for a variety of reasons, but in this instance for forcing me to struggle through 12 bloody-minded locks in drizzle which turned to a downpour in a bid to escape his threatened lockdown and travel somewhere – anywhere! We did it. We… 1.Beat Boris’s anticipated lockdown although like many I am weepingContinue reading “Warning – chains, treats, images of underwear and a shoe crisis”
Pickingupducks 