A memorable week – was yours?

Last week for us was yet another crammed with memorable moments. It makes me realise that it’s not possessions or work but people and events that make most of our important memories. What memories will you keep from last week?

We came to London to run a marathon and that’s just what Steve did. We also had a chance to catch up with family and friends which was fantastic. It’s the effort people make to come and visit us on the boat, or support Steve on the marathon, or share meals with us, which is memorable.

Then one day of recovery and restocking calories (for two but only one had burned them off) with visits to boat cafes, with walking in London, along Regents’ Park passed the Zoo and into Camden for more food before heading back via a tavern…

And then we escaped the hustle and bustle of London. It surprised us just how quiet the mooring at Little Venice was. There are just 2 Canal and Rivers Trust moorings there, right on the edge of Rembrandt Gardens which is locked overnight but when open gives a handy shortcut from the mooring to Warwick Avenue tube station. The moorings are opposite a small island, which is inhabited by swans, ducks, Canada geese, cormorants and coots. The surprisingly raucous sound of the wildfowl often drowned out sirens of emergency vehicles travelling to nearby St Mary’s Hospital.

We were hugely fortunate with the weather – Saturday brought torrential rain as did Monday night causing flooding in the Capital. The marathon on Sunday though was largely dry apart from a heavy shower when Steve was running round the souless Canary Wharf. Fortunately the skies and Steve dried out by the finish line. Good thing too, as he’s still promising that is his last full marathon!

This week has reinforced my belief that it is actually possible to run any business from a boat. We’ve encountered the Puppet Barge, a Cafe Boat which served astonishingly enormous breakfasts (although it still didn’t rival the breakfast rolls of Boat Street – the floating cafe at Mercia Marina run by Chris and Kim), a recording studio, a welder and a floating concert hall with a grand piano.

From our travels we’ve already encountered a softserve ice cream boat (the sublime Wobbly which also serves candyfloss and fudge in what seems unlimited flavours); Holly the cafe boat with Jo’s amazing homemade cakes; a hairdresser; a wood carver and artist; Holm Oak Trading which sells a huge range of eco products for home, human and canines plus clothing from recycled offcut materials, so reducing waste, and the luxurious Pullman seating of Boat Street Cafe.

I’d be interested to know what business actually couldn’t work on a boat?

Our memories of cruising south are how very different it feels to boating in the Midlands or the North (our experiences to date).

  • Few boaters we’ve spoken to are travelling any significant distances – many shuttling rather than cruising
  • There are many more floaters than boaters – people using floating structures as homes rather than homes plus transport. It’s understandable given the space and cost issues.
  • How many boats/floating structures are in a poor state of repair, through lack of funds or lack of knowledge perhaps?
  • The number of loose boats we have had to catch and re-moor or manouevre round – widebeams, cruisers and narrowboats!
  • The bulk of Britain’s widebeams seem to be gathered south of Watford Gap!
  • The significant debris on towpaths – much boat fit out waste in certain places particularly irritating alongside lock moorings. It all takes up valuable CRT time and resources to clear meaning they can do less in maintaining or improving the infrastructure of the waterways

We’ve encountered CRT staff and volunteers in various places, in emergencies and unexpectedly and they have always been cheerful and helpful. They have responded when we have needed them, for which we are hugely grateful.

We got to share the first day’s cruising memories of a couple who sold up everything and moved onto a narrowboat with no prior experience of one; we met the last finisher of the 2021 London Marathon (a justifiably proud 83 year old); saw some interesting floating roof gardening (wonder if I can manage wisteria…not sure if the other plants on an adjoining boat were legal…), and moved from pea soup algae covering the canal on the Paddington Branch to another invasive species, pennywort, clogging locks and propellors further north. We, like other boaters, are dragging it out constantly, and will keep doing no doubt as we head north.

For now though, we’re back under the M25 and heading to see family and friends in Bedfordshire and enjoy more memorable promised meals in their company before moving on once more.

The smoky, damp scent of Autumn is in the air, mornings start misty and chill giving way to late sunshine or torrential rain – who knows which way we’ll go or what awaits us round the next bend?

Our slowlife 5-day week – how does yours compare?

This is a week designed to get Steve to the start line of the London Marathon for Sunday morning. Unlike others taking trains or cars, we’re going by narrowboat and starting this leg of the journey from Leighton Buzzard.

Monday – Set off from Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire in steady rain accompanied by a strong wind which by the first lock had developed into a downpour.

We weren’t the only idiots out in this weather – another boater whose view of Britain and its weather was expletive – such was his lack of any additional words forced us both to laugh out loud. We also met the Aussie Boater to shout to – about the weather of course! Rain and wind battled us until suddenly the sun came out and we forgot about the rain and the wind. Passed watersides being developed, boats whose owners have a sense of humour (I think) and strangely shaped bridges.

Met a pair of ex working boats who gloomily passed on the knowledge that Berko (alias Berkhamsted) has little water resulting in problem navigation so tomorrow should be fun…

Moored up for the night in woodland on the Tring Summit so it’s all downhill from here. Also handy for a supermarket which Steve volunteered to trek to as part of this week’s training! 18 locks and a swing bridge for exercise today. Plus 10 miles, 5.5 furlongs and sorted rather a lot of emails.

Tuesday – Set off in rain but fortunately it cleared during a Bushes Lock no. 50 drama. The bottom gates of the lock were wedged slightly open and nothing we could do would close them, so opening the paddles would just pour water from the pound above the lock into the pound below draining one and flooding the other. We called CRT (Canal and Rivers Trust) for help, put the kettle on, made a cuppa and sorted invoicing which I had been putting off whilst waiting for them to appear.

Prevarication over, invoices sent and bang on time CRT arrived. They had had to overcome a diesel theft from the van and find a place to sell them more fuel so they could get to us, and to others needing help. With the aid of a 3-extension-pole rake expertly manipulated from perched atop a gate, the cause of the problem was found and extracted – a chunk of wood embedded in gravel which had stuck the gates fast.

Off we went once more, now in sunshine and alternate showers making up for lost time with lots of small children waving at the boat from the tow path as they walked with parents and grandparents.

Through Berko in the rain, a famous canal town and indeed apparently renowned as the place where sheep dip was invented.

No sign of the low pounds that were threatened but we faced a torrential rain storm which called for an early stop for lunch, and encountered lots of locks which were empty when we arrived. Long term problems of leakage means they have to be emptied – at least coming back this way they should all be in our favour!

Even allowing for the extra time required, we made 7 miles 7.25 furlongs , 18 locks and another swing bridge today.

Torrential rain struck again as we moored up for the night opposite Boxmoor just outside Hemel Hemstead and it rained almost continuously until the early hours, which should help the water shortage.

Wednesday – Right opposite the moor was a petrol station with a tanker delivering. No queues when I took the picture below, but by the time we set off in a beautiful low autumn sunrise which called for peaked caps so we could see where we were going, the word had gone out and cars were queuing down the road.

Sorted plumber for a property boiler issue on the way, and headed under the M25 feeling hugely sorry for all those way above us, working on scaffolding or whizzing along in cars and lorries.

Just minutes from the madness of the M25 the canals are peaceful, tranquil and utterly beautiful. Herons,kingfishers and coots delighted us as we chugged along, through little bridges enjoying stunning autumn colours.

We made the most of today’s sunshine – according to the forecast it could be the only good day this week. En route we filled up with water – always a necessity and emptied the loo (also vital!). Towards the end of the day we found a cruiser floating loose which we remoored, and a large narrowboat blocking a bridge – we also remoored that! Good deeds done for the day we ended our 10 miles 5.25 furlongs and 20 locks to moor just outside Rickmansworth near Stockers Farm, a location for Downton Abbey, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Midsummer Murders and Black Beauty to name but a few.

Thursday – As promised – the rain returned to start the day so clad in full waterproofs we headed out once more.

Rain always slows things down – you need to be extra careful on locks which become slippy – it’s better to be slow and sure than risk an accident which could derail plans altogether. This was underlined by a single-handed boater we met and helped through two locks – he was literally single-handed having cut through his wrist with a Bushman’s axe the weekend before. He managed to get a tourniquet on his arm and tighten it, administer first aid and call for help. He was blue lighted to St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington and has now disposed of the offending axe as being too sharp, too dangerous and yet there he was with his arm strapped up, having to move his boat because he needed diesel for his stove and to keep the boat mobile.

Having done our good deed for the day we then encountered another single-handed but two armed boater and went through the next lock together. We also found a rubbish store that wasn’t overflowing and emptied the bins, but no chance of separating the recycling and general rubbish. Cannot remember the last time I saw a recycling place at a CRT rubbish store.

It was slow going today because of all the moored craft of all shapes and sizes, and in all states including right across the canal.

Requirements to slow down for them all made it slow going, but we made it onto the Paddington Branch and up to Southall, to moor in the rain for the night. Completed the final 7 locks of the journey today, 13 miles in total.

Friday – Started with lateral flow test as Steve has to register one with the NHS and the London Marathon in order to compete on Sunday.

Daft but it seemed really stressful after all this training, all this fundraising to think a line in the wrong place could cancel out all his efforts. Bedecked ourselves out in full waterproofs after heavy overnight and early morning rain, whilst we were waiting for the test result to appear. It was negative and by then the weather had cleared – it stayed clear for the rest of the journey but we didn’t stop to take the gear off just in case!

One moment of high excitement and tension and I didn’t have the camera with me. A squirrel overreached itself on a tree overhanging the canal and fell PLOP! straight into the water alongside the bloat. As I went for a net to fish it out, it rose to the surface and began determinedly swimming for the opposite shore where it managed to scramble up some grasses, shook itself and then headed off to explore its new location.

London grew up around us as we headed in. Boats here are residential accommodation in the main, whatever state they are in. From plush and floating Grand Designs to shacks almost afloat, they are homes.

Arrived at Little Venice after the slowest journey ever through moored boats as far as the eye could see. Travelled the whole of the last few miles on tickover. At least it meant we ate lunch gently on the go! The visitor moorings (2 of them) are next to Rembrandt Gardens and right opposite the island, Puppet Theatre Barge and convenient for the zoo, and Camden Market. So we are here at last!

This however is a weekend for supporting rather than sightseeing! Once moored we sorted out the fix to the boiler thanks to the engineer, wrote this blog, reviewed a journal article, responded to a magazine editor about a commission, introduced ourselves to our neighbours and Steve headed off to collect his marathon number/deliver his kit bag from ExCel. A 5-day week of worklifebalanced covering 53 miles, 7.25 furlongs and 63 locks, and now we are in place – marathon ready!

As you can see I discovered a fabulous new motto this week. Hope your week was as good, with as much challenge and fun.

It’s not a sprint – it’s a marathon

Sunday October 3 sees the return of the London Marathon to the English capital after a pandemic hiatus. For us, having made it down there and moored our narrowboat in the city for the first time, it will be a momentous, nail-biting day.

Steve will leave the boat on that Sunday morning to run 26.2 miles for the first time in the London Marathon. Last year he also ran the marathon from the boat but it was the virtual event due to Covid, and he was on familiar streets around Leicestershire, supported by fantastic friends and family. Particular thanks for last year have to go to Ali, Jo, Jack and Freya who paced alongside him for the event. This year is a very different story, in many, many ways.

Firstly, we’ve taken from August to bring the boat down to London to moor in the capital for the event. It’s been a journey down of 153 miles, 7 furlongs and 145 locks. Without lockdowns it has meant we have been able to see friends and family en route which has been lovely, but it has meant that training has been incredibly hard for Steve.

Secondly, for all previous marathons, and for last year, he was training in familiar places, on routes he knew, and crucially at least once a week he was able to train with others, which as every runner knows, enables you to increase speed and stamina whilst supported by those around. This year virtually every training session for him has been in unknown territory – he’s had no idea what the underfoot surface is like even if he can see gradients, distances etc. from the web. Sometimes he’s found himself on towpaths which are paved or compacted. Other times he’s encountered thick mud impossible to run on so then it’s been roads – often with no pavements. His trainers have taken a pounding along with his legs!

Rarely has he had people to run with him. I am only just returning to running, and so of no use. The dog is too old. So hour after hour he’s been running on his own in areas he doesn’t know, sometimes coming back covered in scratches from brambles, having done detours where routes were blocked or lengthy loops just to get back to the boat.

Thirdly add to that – he’s had Covid which has affected his speed and stamina. He’s returned from training runs gasping for breath and dejected at his pace which has been much slower than his previous marathon training pace at this stage. He has had to accept that he is now aiming to walk part of the 26.2 miles in order to conserve his energies to finish the event.

But despite all these struggles and setbacks – he keeps going, battling on, putting one foot in front of the other, lacing up his trainers to head out into the unknown after moving the boat during the day, creeping from the boat early on Sunday mornings to head out for miles and miles. The trainers he’s worn out in training are all recycled – and put to good use!

All this because he’s made a commitment to a small national charity which does amazing work and which depends on every penny Steve and the other #TeamVicta runners can raise. Victa supports children and young adults from 0-29 who are blind and partially sighted to live life to the full. Crucially the charity also supports their families too.

Like many small charities, those who have encountered Victa’s work recognise how essential it is. If you’ve never experienced blindness or partial sight, then it is hard to comprehend how limiting it may feel, for the individual and also for their family. Victa builds confidence, independence and enable access to the activities and experiences many sighted people take for granted. Those receiving their support say it is life-changing in the most positive way.

It is for Victa that Steve is running the marathon. It is for them he has been training for nearly 2 years now. He began training in January 2020 to run the marathon for them in London in April 2020, but as we know that was cancelled. He carried on training, with a hope that there would be a marathon in London in October 2020. Eventually he ran the Virtual London Marathon for them in October 2020. Now he will run the London Marathon 2021 for them in London at last on 3 October. It’s not his first marathon, actually his fourth, but for him it is hugely significant.

Getting over that finish line has meant 22 months and hundreds of training miles – and now Covid has dashed his hopes of completing what he says will be his last marathon in a time he wanted. There’s nothing any of us can do to make that happen for him. But something we can do though is get him to his fundraising target. Thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored him, and generously donated to Victa’s vital work in the process.

When you sit back in comfort and put on the TV to watch 50,000 runners putting in the miles from Greenwich to The Mall on Sunday 3 October they will be joined by 50,000 runners running the same distance in all sorts of locations across the world on the day taking part in a Virtual London Marathon. Together they will be fundraising for thousands of charities and raising the profile of running for physical and mental health. Steve will be proudly wearing Victa’s rainbow colours again,. This year his number if you’d like to follow him on the app is 45606.

I’m in awe of all those running, but I am in particular awe of my amazing husband who says he wants to celebrate his 65th birthday later this month knowing he’s completed the London Marathon in London and raised vital funds for Victa’s work.

My amazing husband’s journey from fat to fit is one which is nothing short of inspirational – he’ll probably kill me for saying it or even showing it, but I am so proud of what he has done. I hope his efforts inspire others to achieve physique and fitness they would never have dreamed of by hard work, training and determination. He has been q quietly inspirational role model to me, and to many who have had the good fortune to meet him. The difference he has achieved and maintained from 7 years ago is remarkable – as you can see.

If you haven’t sponsored anyone in the London Marathon – please consider sponsoring Steve. He’s so nearly (97% at the time of writing) at his target of raising £1700 for Victa now. If he could get to the start line knowing that he’s raised his target or even bettered it, it will be an amazing psychological boost. You can be the one to push him along those long 26.2 miles to the finish in The Mall. Just click on this link to add your support – it doesn’t have to be a big donation – every penny counts.

This event which supports so many people is just like life – a marathon, not a sprint – something to train for, develop ourselves for, and it’s necessary to remind ourselves to enjoy it on the way with the support of those around us, family, friends, and strangers.

Thank you for your support. If I’m honest – I just want to see him safely at the end of this one, and I want to believe his pledge that this REALLY is his last.full.length.marathon!

The end of a year afloat and hardest blog to write

Exactly one year ago we sold most of our possessions, let our house and the two of us (plus the dog of course) moved to live full time on a 50ft long, 7ft wide narrowboat continuously cruising the waterways. Our adventure began at Sileby Mill in Leicestershire on the canalised section of the River Soar, formally known as the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section – River Soar Navigation).

Since then have have completely departed from our previous existence which was living on the hamster wheel of long hours and work dictating our lives. We no longer need to commute. I’ve gone freelance and returned to journalism as well as continuing some Higher Education work – all of which is delivered remotely. Steve continues to operate his existing property business from the boat and his portfolio now includes what was once our home.

Downshifting to need less to live on has meant we spend more time together. It has given us freedom and more choice. We have time to explore the incredible countryside, towns and cities we have passed through. It also means we use our time differently and are kinder to the planet in the way we live. We watch cygnets hatch, grown and have flying lessons from Dad, see fish, herons, woodpeckers, kingfishers – and of course our new ever-present neighbours – ducks – as we go along, or from the galley window as we wash the dishes by hand (no need for a dishwasher); enjoy splashing about in the fresh air washing clothes by hand at water points or enjoy chats in laundrettes or with family and friends as we borrow their machines (no washing machine), we forage for wood and food, enjoying the produce of woodland, hedgerows and fields (free food and fuel).

We’ve been through two lockdowns on board and one winter without central heating. In reply to friends who say “Isn’t it cold on board?” – we have found our multifuel stove heats us so well we ended up in t-shirts on board whilst the canal froze outside and snow fell. We foraged Christmas decorations, hiked miles and enjoyed many memorable moments with family and friends (sorry – too many to include here) once lockdowns ended.

Living afloat has changed how we think. Dual purpose or treble purpose is the name of the game – thinking consciously about our consumption. We think differently to maximise the use of our fuel – when using our stove we harness its heat for warmth, drying clothes and cooking too. The dual purpose approach extends to how we use our space too. Every step in the boat double as a store, the sofa is a double bed and storage container, the space under the bed contains the hot water tank and a sizeable storage space. Empty gin bottles become lamps thanks to rechargeable usb lights and generous friends.

Talking of power we don’t have mains electricity. Our batteries which give us light and power are charged by the engine as we cruise, but we don’t cruise every day. Steve installed two solar panels in March this year in lockdown 3. These mean that we don’t have to run the engine on days we are stationary. So far our two panels have generated 62kw hours which has saved us £311.96 in diesel to date. In total thanks to the sun we have recovered 60% of our installation costs.

Year 1 totals
• 522 locks (271 narrow/ 145 broad/ 5 large) including staircases and flights
• 697 miles 0.75 furlongs (10miles commercial waterways/ 351 narrow/ 276 broad/60 rivers)
• 58 moveable bridges
• 24 tunnels = 19m 0.25f underground

Waterways encountered

  • Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section – River Soar Navigation/ Leicester Section – Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal/ Leicester Section – Market Harborough Branch/ Leicester Section – Old Grand Union/ Leicester Section – Welford Arm/ Grand Junction Canal – Main Line)
  • Oxford Canal (Main Line)
  • Coventry Canal (Main Line)
  • Ashby Canal (Main Line)
  • Birmingham Canal Navigations (Birmingham and Fazeley Canal)
  • Trent and Mersey Canal (Main Line)
  • Bridgewater Canal (Main Line and Stretford & Leigh Branch)
  • Leeds and Liverpool Canal (Leigh Branch and Main Line)
  • Aire and Calder Navigation (Main Line and Wakefield Section)
  • Calder and Hebble Navigation (Main Line and Dewsbury Old Cut)
  • Huddersfield Broad Canal
  • Huddersfield Narrow Canal (19.3 miles, 74 locks)
  • Ashton Canal (4 furlongs!)
  • Peak Forest Canal (Lower)
  • Macclesfield Canal
  • Trent and Mersey Canal (Hall Green Branch)
  • River Trent (Western End)

We’ve experienced 4 of the 7 Wonders of the Waterways, appearing here in the order we encountered them. Barton Swing Aqueduct over the Manchester Ship Canal; Burnley Embankment; Bingley Five Rise Locks; Standedge Tunnel.

  • UTF-8 Barton Swing Bridge taking Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal

Areas we’ve travelled through: Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Buckinghamshire, Greater Manchester, Bedfordshire.

The nitty gritty bits of living afloat including our running costs:

  • 32 water fills
  • 658 running engine hours
  • taken on 652 litres of diesel at a total cost of £598 = 0.97l per hour = £11.58 per week diesel. Diesel is needed for cruising and whilst we cruise that heats our hot water. It used to also be for powering the batteries to give us light and power but now we also have solar.
  • taken on 1,220kg (1.22 tons) coal = total cost £613.60 = 1.17 bags a week = £11.80 per week coal.
  • taken on 4 bottles of gas = total cost £135.95 = £2.61 per week.

Energy costs over the past year: £26.00 per week, £112.67 per month, annual total £1,352.13 – that includes current full tank of diesel, 8 bags of coal and 2 full gas bottles on board.

What have we gained?

  • Steve: Freedom
  • Deena: A wonderful balance to our lives
  • Cola: Daily swims

Best part ?

  • Deena: too many to choose just one – being so close to nature; Huddersfield Narrow a fabulous rewarding challenge; gaining confidence and enjoying taking the tiller; long night’s of sound sleep and meeting fascinating, fabulous people.
  • Cola: new walks and new smells to explore every single day
  • Steve: Going a long way slowly

Least favourite part ?

  • Deena: what seemed like months of mud and between us we have 8 feet to walk it onto the boat!
  • Cola: the biscuit tin is STILL out of reach.
  • Steve: Running out of beer.

What do we miss? Steve & Deena: Washing machine (think we might have to try and work out how to fit one on board, power one and afford one!) Cola: Nothing

Most surprising thing?

  • Deena: How enjoyable winter is without central heating but a solid fuel stove even when there’s snow and you’re iced into the canal (and at one point into the boat), oh and that ducks do daily pilates!
  • Cola: how the towpath changes sides so you have to check every time you get off (but I’ve proved old dogs do learn new tricks).
  • Steve: How easy it is to change your life for the better – just go and do it!

Funniest part? Deena: Steve having to take another boat owner on our boat to rescue their boat after they moored it with a piece of string on the Aire and Calder and the string snapped!

This has been the hardest blog of the year to write because there was so much I to remember, to share, to capture. We are both looking forward with anticipation to what the next year will bring us. We are heading to London where Steve will run the London Marathon (slower than he would like thanks to Covid taking its toll), but he will still run it for Victa an amazing small charity. Then we will move slowly north via the Oxford Canal seeking to explore the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, and the Shropshire Canal over winter.

I’m eagerly planning next year’s roof garden’s flowers, fruit and veg building on lessons from the experiences of this year – in the main nothing over 30cms tall but all the successful plants from this year. (More on this in due course).

The abundantly leafed potatoes in a sack proved the biggest issue this year – we couldn’t see where we were going and I had to stand on a step at the back to navigate! After weeks of being forced to take them off the roof for safety (so we could see and also to stop low bridges knocking them off into the cut), we started juggling them into the cratch for travelling, out onto the towpath in the evenings and nights so we had room to sit out, and back into the cratch in the day, they met their Waterloo at Standedge Tunnel in Yorkshire. Everything apart from the solar panels had to come off the roof to get through the tunnel. The panels had to be lowered. There were plants in containers stacked 4 deep in the cratch and lining the main cabin too much to the puzzlement of the dog! But I just couldn’t fit in the spuds however hard I tried, so they were harvested the night before the tunnel, and kept us tastily fed for a few weeks afterwards! If we’d kept them longer we might have had a bigger crop but they could have proved our undoing too!

In answer to the question we now keep being asked – how long will we keep going with this life afloat? As long as we possibly can, savouring every moment of it. It was a leap into the unknown of which this is not the end, but just the beginning.

Come spend a week afloat

“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.

Poignant sign for any dog lover to come across

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).

dig

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.

Climbing staircases with a narrowboat

Join us on the stage as bit part actors for the delight of the gongoozlers at Foxton. We ascended this time after the Bank Holiday had whimpered its less than sunny way towards September and the return of the Leicestershire schools, thinking it would be a quiet climb, necessary to get us underway again.

Foxton seems to attract the crowds whatever the weather, whatever the time of year, and whenever you ascend or descend you join the volunteer lock keepers in answering questions, explaining the workings of the locks, answering the inevitable “Do you live on board? (Yes)”, “Isn’t it cold on a boat?”(some have central heating but ours has a stove which often results in us wearing just t shirts inside in the winter), and “Are those your own shoes you’ve planted flowers in?”(some are, and some are fished out of the canals and rivers – recycling and reducing pollution).

The locks start in a pool by the Bridge 61 pub which like all good things in the canal world has multiple purposes – in this case shop, laundrette, pub, restaurant and cafe. On the other side of the water is the Foxton Locks Inn. The locks lead off between the two, and so it was beside the Bridge 61 that we aimed to moor up on Bank Holiday Monday evening ready for the winter hours 10am off the next morning.

To get there from where we had moored on the Market Harborough Arm, we needed to open a small swing bridge and so with the dog alongside, and swinging the key needed for the bridge, I set off whilst Steve followed with the boat. I was almost instantly stopped in my tracks.

The kingfisher sped past me just centimeters above the water, a tiny bright blue rocket contrasting vividly against the waters muddied by moving boats. Suddenly he changed trajectory, veering up to an overhanging hawthorn branch. There he sat for little more than a second or two, the deep orange of his breast feathers set off by the scarlet berries around him. He wasn’t drawing breath but scanning the water beneath and then he plunged vertically down from his perch. He pierced the water like a dart just millimeters from the moss-edged coping stones that frame canal and which would have smashed his tiny frame had there been any impact at that speed. No sooner had my eye adjusted to him sinking into the water that he was out again, a small glistening silvery fish within his dagger-like beak. He flew with his catch to the far side of the water to another hawthorn and by the time he landed I could no longer see the fish.

I realised I was holding my breath, awed by this demonstration of consummate skill and accuracy. I was honoured to watch the precision of that dive. It was worthy of a gold medal and a round of applause at the very least. But I stayed quiet and smiled with glee at one of the most marvellous sights I have been privileged to see.

I was shaking with excitement (and that’s my excuse for the quality of the photos!). We have seen glimpses of kingfishers before on the canals, although fewer this year than previously, but this felt like a performance, laid on just for me.

So thanks to this serendipitous encounter I was gleeful when we moored up that night, ready for the morning ascent. It took off the nerves I was feeling about taking the tiller for the ascent for the first time, and leaving Steve with the physical job of working the locks.

Foxton has 10 locks in all, arranged in two staircases, each of five chambers and in total they enable a narrowboat to climb or drop 75 feet.They are single locks, meaning they can only take one boat at a time – double locks can take two boats up and down side by side. In the middle of the staircases is a circular pound (like a pool) where a boat coming up can pass one coming down if the lock keepers (lockies) advise and permit. From this mid point you can see the Canal Museum, which records and retells the history of this fascinating place in multiple ways with video, reenactments, models and artefacts. From my point of view I learned that coming out of the lock before the pound, crossing the pound and entering the next lock does not require steering a straight line… But to get there we need to climb…and we need to get into the first lock to start…

Join me in some of the first few locks from my perspective at the tiller – looking ahead and looking back.

Historically these narrow locks created a bottleneck for commercial traffic, taking only one boat at a time and so an inclined plane lift was designed and built. It was steam operated and worked by loading two narrowboats or one barge at a time into a counterbalanced tank or caisson. Those going down would then pull the counterparts up the 1:4 gradient. The lift though was closed at night so for the 24 hour operators campaigned for the locks to reopen. The locks reopening, combined with mechanical issues with the inclined plane (the rails kept giving way under the weight), as well as the significant cost of manning and repairing and operating the lift meant it closed in November 1910, after just a decade of operation. Now only the locks remain as the way up.. or down. They each have their own character but each also has its own identity, sometimes well hidden beneath the slime…

You’re getting the picture of what it looks to navigate them so I won’t take up up all10! The staircase means each lock opens straight into the next, taking the boat up (or down) in giant watery steps.

Despite the fact that we waited for 5 boats to come down, and the one in front of us to set off before the most rapid ascent of Foxton we’ve ever made – 45 minutes from lock 1 to lock 10. That’s despite the bottom scraping on something metallic between gates 15 and 15 . I’m sure our rapid progress was down in part to the heroic efforts of Richard, a small boy not yet at school who you can see in a red jacket.

Under adult supervision and the watchful eye of Preaux’s crew as well as a lockie or two or three, this small gongoozler ‘helped’ with the lock gates and the winding of the windlass to operate each lock in the two staircases. Various other actors took bit parts as gate pushers, advisers (volunteer lock keepers were the informed ones, others sometimes not), and general hangers on.

We got to the top to find Mark and his commercial coal boat Callisto who had just a few bags of coal left, so we are now stocked up for the start of winter. We refilled the water, refuelled ourselves at the whitewashed cafe at the summit, and then watched in astonishment as three fishermen caught a 5lb Koi carp in the pound at the top of the locks. It surprised them as much as they surprised it! It had obviously been a big fish in a small pond at some point and been dumped in the canal, where it obviously flourished.

Then we took time to reflect on another safe passage and another 24 hours of momentous firsts.

Mouse on board!

In mid August on a balmy morning walk with the dog, a small person (aged 3) picked up a number of pink granite stones from a path.

The stones are quarried nearby to where we were then moored and where we used to live, in the pleasant riverside Leicestershire village of Mountsorrel. We used the 12.30 quarry blast every weekday as our lunchtime indicator. At the start of the first lockdown the regular rumbling blast caused severe concerns among those normal commuters who had never been at home on a weekday. Local police even had to allay concerns of a regular 12.30 terrorist blast or a plane crash!

The quarry is a place of fascination for small person

We are now currently moored near Market Harborough which is coincidentally of historic commercial significance to Mountsorrel. In 1758 Mountsorrel’s quarry won the contract from the Harborough to Loughborough Turnpike road company to surface all the roads in the area – a massive undertaking. The first quarry in the village was on the hill where we lived. The granite from Mountsorrel formed the cobblestone setts, kerbs and chippings that in turn created roads that revolutionised transport and business as well as catapulting the small quarry into the huge commercial enterprise it is today. It also led to development of the River Soar and the Grand Union Canal as carrying granite by barge proved much more economical.

Back then to the little piece of Mountsorrel’s distinctive pink granite which was firmly clutched in a small sweaty hand, and carried across the fields that run alongside the Soar to Sileby. The stone was a gift from the small person to Angel, the inspirational boat dweller and sculptor who works and lives from Sileby Island. The stone and two others entrusted to my pocket were intended for a peace cairn she is planning. They discussed the stones as they were handed over and agreed one looked like….you’ve guessed it, a mouse.

Later that day we returned home to find Harry (as small person named him) brought to life by Angel’s vision and skill. From his delicate ears to his luxuriously curving tail, he is exquisitely subtle in shape and creation.

…stones leaped to form, and rocks began to live.

Alexander Pope discussing the power of sculpture and other art forms in “The Works: Including Several Hundred Unpublished Letters, and Other New Materials” 1871.

Harry was patiently waiting for us by the tiller, safely ensconsed in the curve of the stern ropes. He’s joined us living aboard and we are documenting his adventures for small person’s delight (as well as ours). So today – meet Harry and experience our world through his eyes.

From the swirling waters of the canalised Soar with its weirs and waterfalls to the calm of the canals, Harry has begun to make his way to London, probably not to see the Queen or hide under her chair, but certainly to experience the London Marathon and see the sights.

His first destination en route was one of the oldest cities in England, Leicester. He braved Castle Gardens avoiding the dangers of the rat traps, and by only emerging from the boat accompanied, stayed safe from the glittery-eyed cats that stalk the gardens at night.

From Leicester he journeyed through locks and ran the risks of running aground in low waters to reach safe moorings at Kilby Bridge and then to Saddington. For security he travels firmly attached by bluetack (like most precious things on this boat!). Like most most he can’t always be easily seen!

Our little murine friend has since seen to playgrounds, been introduced to statuesque nobility, and we even smuggled him on board the highly recommended and absolutely delicious floating cafe Boat Street at Mercia Marina – don’t tell the authorities!

He has come with us into the very heart of Market Harborough, the town which brought about the revival of the inland waterways for leisure use (and where Steve ran his 100th parkrun last weekend!) Originally the canal was going to link Market Harborough to Northampton but as ever, funds ran out, and the Market Harborough Arm stopped abruptly at just 5.4 miles in 1809. It runs from Foxton Locks to the market town’s Union Wharf, without a single lock along its length, but with two swing bridges, one by Foxton Locks and one in Foxton village.

In 1950 Union Wharf was the site of the Inland Waterways Association‘s first boat rally, Festival of Boats. It must have been an amazing site with over 100 boats gathering to showcase the canals, and the boats as a fantastic leisure option. The charity is still vibrant today, campaigning for the waterways, supporting development and protecting the existing network.

The IWA was formed by people with vision, people who could see the need to create a new purpose for our inland waterways, people who could see opportunities. That insight and perspective is something which has enhanced our own lives afloat, just as the insight and vision of our artist friend has changed our perspective. All of us now, young and old have a changed view of the world around us. We see differently, view stones and trees, driftwood and rocks with new eyes – see possibilities where once we would have seen nothing. As Henry Moore the famed Yorkshire sculptor once said:

Painting and sculpture help other people to see what a wonderful world we live in.

Henry Moore

This humble, beautiful little mouse is giving us a new view of the life we are leading, a chance to look for the hidden, the often overlooked, and it is a delight. It’s fun looking for and through the mouse eye view at the world around us, and sharing that with our small person remotely. It helps keep us in touch and connected in a new way.

As we all head back to school, to work, to pick up lives so interrupted as much as we can, it can do us good to change our perspectives, to see our world and our work our lives and eyes of others. Step back, step forward, look differently.

The way I view the world now is very different to the way I viewed it some years ago, we have moved away from the material by living afloat, and stepping back from slavishly working. Alexander Pope knew a thing or two centuries ago which we have only just discovered:

“When we are young, we are slavishly employed in procuring something whereby we may live comfortably when we grow old; and when we are old, we perceive it is too late to live as we proposed.“

I am grateful every day, dozens of times a day in fact, to have discovered this truth and to have taken action to live life to the full as a result. Now I have the additional delight of this cleverly wrought scrap of pink granite which warms in my hand as I walk around with him, is helping us see things differently. Harry inspires us to view our new world differently and also constantly connects us to the past. Through the skill and artistry of an amazing sculptor he has brought us a new lens to the past, present and future.

Angel working on a rather larger commission

There is one wee downside to this new perspective on life – a certain small person is avidly collecting stones on every walk and exclaiming look I can see  a squirrel or a crocodile or a dinosaur with each, and each (of course) has to be kept! Hopefully we can find them new homes before we sink our boat with their weight…

Sharing enriches and reinforces life

For so much of the past year we’ve been unable to share our lives, our experiences with others in person. It’s one thing to write about life and work afloat, another to experience it. This week we’ve been in the company of three groups of delightful people – learning from them, sharing with them how we live and cruise the waterways, seeing our life through their eyes, whilst enjoying their company.

Our first city centre overnight was at a gated mooring in the centre of Leicester. Castle Gardens is a beautiful spot. Gates lead straight from the pontoon into the heart of the garden, complete at the moment with a decorated rocket.

After 8pm when the gardens shut it’s like a private park just for boaters. You can get in and out with a Waterways key if you want to go pubbing/clubbing, but remember to read the sign before you leave the mooring which says which of the 3 locks on which gate gets you back in! If not it might be the Holiday Inn for you, or a less than dignified climb!

With the CRT workboat taking up a good chunk of space there was only room for 3 of us: Evening Standard, Paddington Bear and ourselves.

It’s a surprisingly peaceful mooring, understandably popular with swans, pigeons and rowers situated as it is on the mile straight for Leicester City Rowing Club.

The moorings are overseen by the gargoyles of West Bridge – thought to be characters from The Canterbury Tales, whose author Chaucer, was married at the nearby St Mary de Castro Church. Do you reckon that’s the Prioress or the Wife of Bath? I’d love to know how many others you identified!

We left the moorings in the company of Paddington Bear (from Peru), accompanied on his travels by Nic and Scott.

From Leicester we moved out past the Foxes’ King Power stadium and then 4 double locks took us to Kings’s Lock where the Soar and the Grand Union Canal part company if heading south, or unite when you’re heading north. The Soar is a beautiful river and regularly used for Sikh and Hindu funeral rites, like the Ganges. A Hindu priest has anointed the Soar with water from the Ganges. Ashes scattered on these waters will eventually reach the sea, wending their way accompanied by flowers, holy leaves and coconuts. This time we saw only coconuts bobbing along.

For us the move from the river to the canal is significant – it means whatever the weather brings we are away from the possibility of being delayed by flooding. The canal levels are managed, but still seemed low. By the pound before Kilby Bridge some 8 locks further on, Nic and I were bringing the boats in single file down a narrow channel of muddy water in the centre with silt and rocks visible on both sides. This pound has a reputation for leaking badly and boaters who know try to get through the Kilby Lock for protection before mooring at the visitor moorings opposite the services and handily by The Navigation Pub.

Having Scott and Steve on the locks and Nic and I at the tillers made for a rapid and sociable journey (albeit more bumps to our boat than Steve would have made her suffer). The miles and the locks flew by as did the drizzle and rain, and we made it to the pub together to enjoy a well earned drink…or two.

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Sunday saw some boats further down towards Leicester aground, and CRT were actively out managing water levels. The day saw us tackling the next 6 miles, 12 locks and a tunnel (Saddington – 881 yards plus Daubenton’s bats) in the company of friends Emma and Wayne, no strangers to nb Preaux. Such fun was had by all that I took absolutely no usable photographs at all, and need them back to repeat the exercise when I am armed with a camera. How did I not get them mastering the tiller, sorting locks with ease and enjoying the delights of the life we are so glad to lead? Just the same way I didn’t manage to capture for you the heron catching a very large breakfast fish this week…

I did however manage a shot of some of the goodies Emma and Wayne brought: gin plus light for when the gin’s gone, making the bottle dual purpose, the bottle’s contents already being dual purpose for thirst quenching and delight. I also took a shot of the usefully labelled Smeeton Road Bridge which directed us to… yes, you’ve guessed it, a very nice pub, albeit up a VERY steep hill!

We were just thinking that was that for sociability when another former colleague and running friend plus his family came to see us for an evening cruise. Safe to say our wonderful lifestyle and the closeness to nature had his boys enamoured – they appreciated challenging yourself to try new things, having adventures, pushing bridges and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone as well as just revelling in the wildlife around. It was a delight to spent time with them and uplifting to see their excitement mirror our own at how fabulous this life is.

Later in the week we risked the afternoon rush hour down to Market Harborough to find some very quiet and calm moorings near the town from which Steve will run his 100th parkrun today (Saturday).

Just us and a swan…

Another unexpectedly delightful evening visit followed with visitors who really flummoxed us (thanks Charles and Chloe) by asking “What creature comforts have you missed in this year afloat?”

We struggled at the time to answer honestly, and after wracking our brains for 48 hours we are still none the wiser. Yes it would be nice to have an easy solution to the washing conundrum, but we’re getting by and we really can’t think of any creature comforts we are missing or have missed.

And just for good measure – the unexpected pluses have been immense. Here’s a kestrel I delighted in watching in a grass field for hours one day this week. Determination paid off but he/she had to stalk, hover and dive 6 times before getting a meal.

Living 24/7 amid nature; feeling totally aware of the seasons; experiencing the calming slowness of gentle cruising through reed edged waters; hearing the wind rustling in the trees above us; finding a mooring that feels in the middle of nowhere with no streetlights, but owls, moorhens and ducks for company; and being able to share this with friends and family – all are joys I hadn’t expected but which delight me.

As for those creature comforts we’re missing? We’re still trying to find an answer to that one!

Slow way, small person way

Cruising with an energetic 3 year old is something we’ve avoided doing by ourselves – until now. Up to this point we have always had a seriously big family crew on board with the small person so there is a tillerman/woman, crew for locks and a child crew allocated at all times. Now he’s 3 and sensible (as much as any of us are), listening (most of the time) following instructions (usually) and very au fait with the boat it seemed a good time to head off together, just Steve, me, the dog (who turned out to be a very good nanny) and the 3 year old.

Lessons from this experience….planning paid off…building in stops and ideally working out if poos and pees are needed before not during lock approaches as at this age everything is immediate and urgent – there is little warning – things need to happen NOW which seems just the same as lock operations. The most important lesson is one I remember from TV days- expect the unexpected when working with wildlife and children.

We planned 3 locks and 5 miles plus a rewatering stop. We started after an early lunch in lovely weather (until the wind picked up). We prepared for poos and pees and snacks plus toy time and were feeling quite self satisfied after lock one.

It was a text book execution of lock operation with small child on board no less. I hopped off and tied up the boat on the lock moorings whilst Steve entertained and explained. We swapped over and he did the manual work whilst I discussed horses in the field around us and bird life, and then came into the lock when the gate was open, travelled up holding us neatly to the side on a centre line. Then smoothly out and waited patiently for Steve to close the gate and join us. Spot on.

Lock two wasn’t far ahead but not quite so text book this time… I scraped my knee and bashed my hand scrambling up onto the high lock moorings as the river is really low at the moment. Words were exchanged between the skipper who felt I had gone out too early, and I who thought my timing was spot on. Gongoozlers alongside didn’t help . Still, into the lock, missed the first rope thrown to me ( “I good at catching Granny – why you not?”) and caught the second. Travelled up and out. Picked up the shore crew member and headed off to the waterpoint.

On the way there were ripples, moorhens and mallard duck to watch, dragonflies and banded demoiselles to spot as they flew past us. Willow trees, rosebay willowherb and reeds created ribbons of greens and pinks along the way. Just being aboard was entertainment too.

Water took time. Not as slow as Fradley which we have decided is the slowest water point ever, but maybe we were lower on water than we thought… it took us nearly an hour to fill up. We have no idea how big our tank is, but it seemed forever with a bored 3 year old, although it gave time for drawing, a poo and some songs, as well as learning how to discover where you are on canal maps.

Climbing walls was quite literally an activity which proved a delightful distraction as did a snack and a drink although the gingerbread man proved too fiery! Fortunately he had a fire engine to hand (and a triceratops for backup…).

And then, into the third and final lock, where things unravelled… because we had bargained without a pen and her 3 cygnets. She ushered them into the lock ahead of us. Ours is not to reason why but we wondered if she had come down the lock and out of her normal territory so was using us to travel back up. No sooner were the top gates open than she held back beside the boat but her cygnets edged out ahead of the boat straight into the ferocious charge of an irate cob who hurtled into the lock heading for the invading pen intent on disposing of the interloper. Chaos reigned. The swans hissed and spat, flapped and the cygnets peeped frantically for help as I tried to edge the boat out without running any birds over.

They weren’t looking at avoiding boats – they had more pressing matters to deal with. The pen was fighting for her life and her youngsters. I meanwhile had edged so far to the left coming of of the lock to avoid the cygnets that we ended up walloping a willow tree, collecting lots of leaves and a 3 year old sat cheerfully alongside me giggling as willows swept his hair into a new style.

I managed to avoid all swans, extract us from the willow and get to the far side to the lock mooring but the current and wind swung the bow round so we almost ended up broadside across the lock entrance! Not textbook. I was though more worried about the swan but fortunately a local boat dweller was at hand to help and apparently does this regularly. Brandishing a large branch she literally swept the irate cob from the lock, closed the gate and let the mum and babies down to where they had come from. I meanwhile was battling boat and current but a yell for Steve brought him back.

Two lessons learned for us – we need a longer right hand centreline, and looping the stern rope over the tiller is fine if nothing happens as it hasn’t for several years but it was swept into a complete cats cradle this time when we wanted a swift-to-use rope. The only thing at risk throughout was pride and I bent our tiller pin on the overhanging willow – oops. Maybe it’s time to get a duck one?

Still we extracted ourselves, turned the boat to head up river again  and set off for our final destination for the 3 year old. Then we needed to keep him calm whilst we moored with the excitement of having seen Mummy waiting for us – that proved a challenge but we made it. Moored and right by a pub with a playground- planning reaps rewards!

For us it was the precursor to a very pleasant evening cruise with just the usual crew of two humans and a hairy hound to Leicester. Lots of help at the locks from cheery locals, eye catching street art, new buildings promising a totally different look to the city and only a disappointing amount of litter marred the trip.

We are heading for a parkrun to make Steve’s 99th parkrun today. It is our first time mooring in a city since we became continuous cruisers – another new experience. We are in a CRT visitor mooring with Evening Standard and Paddington Bear. We got the last spot at the end of the mooring right by the gates to the Castle Gardens which Cola thinks are delightful particularly as on his first walk he discovered the remains of a large picnic…

I don’t even need to check if Leicester City Rowing Club are running a regatta or some event tomorrow as we’re in the midst of Henley, but we are moored at the end of the mile straight.

The thing that worries me most is the large number of swans around – I think they’ve got it in for me on this trip! They are though, handy indicators of river depth.

Would we do it again with a small person on board? Can’t wait!

P.S. No chance of a new tiller pin – Steve straightened the old one out with a mallet!

Life and Death and Tiller Itch

Tiller itch was something I first heard from Robbie Cummings and I agree with him  – it sounds revolting! (If you want to know what life is really like living on a cruising narrowboat Robbie Cummings’ Canal Boat Diaries are a MUST).

It has been a month now since we arrived in Leicestershire and we’ve not travelled far whilst enjoying caring duties. It has been a wonderful opportunity, spending precious time with family and so many friends, but it does mean that we’ve been pretty static for what feels like a long time (lockdowns apart). As a result I can assure you that tiller itch is a genuine phenomenon and one I am certainly experiencing.

Forlorn tiller, gathering cobwebs!

To alleviate the irritant I have been watching the wildlife around us which is becoming less timid as they become more used to us. I’ve also begun planning our next trip which we start later this week. We need to head from Leicestershire to visitor moorings at Little Venice because Steve is running the London Marathon in aid of the charity Victa on October 3rd. If you can support him he’s just under £100 short of his goal of £1,700. Thank you in advance – together I know we can get him there for a fantastic, small but much needed charity.

Running the London Marathon virtually from the boat last year.

To get to London from our current mooring is a journey of 146 miles and 1 furlong – mustn’t forget the furlong! -132 locks, 2 moveable bridges and 4 tunnels amounting to 3 miles 6 furlongs under ground. It will take us through Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and Greater London. We will take in once more the spectacular Foxton Staircase Locks – 10 locks with a rise of 75ft in two staircases of five a piece. 

Looking back down Foxton Locks – amazing views of Leicestershire laid out in front of you.

We will be taking it gradually – we have work to do and aim to meet more friends en route, floating and house dwellers alike. We will also be building time to sit and watch nature en route because doing so brings so much richness to our lives. From flora to fauna – there is so much to see, with so many individual stories to watch unfurling. Thistles turning from green spiky balls into proud purple maces and then into feather-light thistledown make fascinating viewing.

Seeing the birds especially so closely, living alongside them, and recognising how they generously accommodate us in their environment, growing increasingly confident with us as we and our boat become familiar parts of their world has been a delight. It’s also been an eye opener. Watching them carefully every day brings insight into their routines, their foibles and downright miserably hard times.

The past few weeks have brought ducks, herons and a stunning young green woodpecker to enliven our days, and a noisy owl to keep us entertained on hot sleepless nights. The ducks have included a mallard mum with ducklings. Before we arrived she apparently hatched 10 young. She’s now down to 2 but nurturing them as fiercely as possible. It’s hard to know exactly what predators have reduced her brood – on this stretch there are mink, rats, stoats,  foxes and weasels, in the water pike and flying around are herons, owls and birds of prey like red kite and maybe even merlin. For any of these a small duckling can be an easy meal. As they grow they are less vulnerable and they are growing daily, voraciously gobbling down the duck food pellets from us which they love as well as foraging for their own food finds. It’s important too to build up mum’s strength to help her protect them if needs be. 

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The green woodpecker, my much prized visitor, is also a youngster. He’s been a treat to watch with his undulating flight round a set circuit among the willows and hawthorn trees behind the towpath. It is as if he’s testing himself, seeing how fast he can fly the circuit he’s developed, from the willow by the steep frothing weir across the marsh to the old dead tree on the far side from our boat. Sometimes he pauses there but more often he just passes it, carrying on over another stretch of marsh to a willow, round to a hawthorn in the hedge and back to his starting point. He repeats this lap several times loudly congratulating himself each time. After all this exertion he drops to the river bank and gorges on his favourite food – ants, ants and more ants. 

At the moment there is another boat moored in front of us, but before it arrived we were on our own moored between two weirs. The young woodpecker would then  wander along the big stones at the top of the river wall right by our mooring rope snacking as he strolled casually near us.

In the early mornings a heron keeps watch over everything on this stretch of the Soar from the vantage point of a pipe bridge. His routine never varies – and his breakfast seems to consist of frogs of which there are plenty around here. Walking back to the boat in the gathering gloom the other night we were struggling to walk without stepping on tiny little browny-green frogs, no bigger than my thumbnail. 

Watching wildlife so close up is not only a privilege but accessible to most of us, we don’t need gardens to do it as any open space will do. Canal towpaths are particularly good for bringing us rapidly into the natural world.

Young heron reflected in the stillness of a tributary

Birds particularly are magical – watching their apparently carefree lives as they soar through the skies. We can envy their freedom and ease of movement. Watch a little longer and you may understand the purpose of that flight. Is it training to strengthen muscles, a recce to check out food sources or flight as in escape from a predator? Insight gives us more enjoyment in understanding and watching these amazing creatures with whom we share the world.  Perhaps it’s one of the reasons that David Attenborough’s nature programmes have such huge following – through the skill of inspired and informed camera work and knowledgeable commentary they give us ringside seats for the drama of daily life for birds, insects and animals. These creatures’ battles for survival put our own struggles into perspective. However tough our lives these little neighbours have it harder. Every day is full of life or death drama. That’s why some Covid bird projects like this one from Leicestershire have enthralled millions of us. 

Whatever our own struggles and difficulties, trials and tribulations, seeing how others cope can be inspirational. It doesn’t matter how many legs they have, whether dressed in feathers or fur, we can gain,from their resilience, routine and determination. They have the capacity to make us realise how fortunate we are, how we are not alone In our struggles, and at the same time make us smile or laugh out loud with their antics. 

I do think they’re making me a better person too, and have the capacity to do that for all of us. When you know those little ducklings you’ve watched grow, are going to swim and feed on anything you flush down the drain it makes you more thoughtful, and more careful. In this, and,many other ways, they make us care more deeply for the planet we share with them – and make us to feel better about ourselves for doing so. 

Next time I’m down in the dumps, frustrated or grumpy (or if you are too) I just know the antidote – a spot of bird, animal or insect watching – I highly recommend it!