Leaving the marina, after a month of shuttling between there and bricks and mortar, to return to continuous cruising is liberating and also strangely different. We’re back living off grid, no longer connected via a 24volt shoreline to the mains. The gas hob automatic ignition no longer works, the shore light no longer operates andContinue reading “Coming out makes us appreciate life”
Tag Archives: alternativeliving
Slow boat to New York
This week we started our fourth year living and working from our 50ft narrowboat on the inland waterways of Britain, and in that time we’ve taken her the equivalent distance of the UK to New York. To date we’ve worked 1969 locks, travelled 2917 miles (43.5 of them underground in tunnels) and moved 193 bridgesContinue reading “Slow boat to New York”
Sink or swim?
Sink or swim is the refrain running through my head…along with waving or drowning. Our plan to beat the stoppages blocking our route to the Rochdale Canal has given us insights and challenges beyond our expectations. We’ve made our way across the country from west to east and are now moored in Nottinghamshire, on theContinue reading “Sink or swim?”
Taking control can change everything
We started our week in Marple, feeling frustrated and stuck. We finish it 52 miles, 31 working locks and 1 tunnel further on, feeling positive and upbeat in one of our favourite places. Moored as we now are at Great Haywood, on the edge of the historic Shugborough Estate, we are treating ourselves to aContinue reading “Taking control can change everything”
Frustrated, stuck and keen to be part of a solution – but how?
There is only one way to go right now for us, and that’s retracing our steps – literally. We are currently moored some yards from the junction of the Macclesfield Canal with the Peak Forest Canal having come up the Macc this week. Our aim was to head down the Peak Forest Canal via theContinue reading “Frustrated, stuck and keen to be part of a solution – but how?”
Intergenerational learning
Holidays can be delightful opportunities to catch up with family and friends. As more hire boats appear with families on board, we left the canal last week to catch up with significant others in bricks and mortar life. Lovely as it has been, it’s also lovely to come back to our gently rocking home. PossiblyContinue reading “Intergenerational learning”
Still afloat though it’s not all been plain sailing
We took a boat 34 years ago to our wedding not a narrowboat but a ferry boat with Jimmy the ferryman at the helm. I wore white with white wellies. The waters were not a canal but those of Loch Linnhe. Our destination was the Cathedral Church of St Moluag on the Scottish Island ofContinue reading “Still afloat though it’s not all been plain sailing”
Calmer karma community
Is it that we have created a life with less to worry about that makes living and working afloat good for our wellbeing? Is it that we live more simply? That we travel more slowly? That we live amid and amongst nature? That water, with all its beauty and calming properties, forms a permanent backdropContinue reading “Calmer karma community”
Flights and a sad farewell that galvanises us once more
Water has ruled the start of this week for us – too little and too much. The Bosley and Marple flights which between them account for 28 locks on our journey, have both been subject since 5 July to restrictions due to a lack of water. Both flights were due to close on 31 JulyContinue reading “Flights and a sad farewell that galvanises us once more”
Twists and turns but bearing up
Another week, another set of new experiences, new views, new challenges and new knowledge. Life afloat may be many things, but boring isn’t one of them. Last weekend we took ourselves part way up the Middlewich Branch off the Trent and Mersey, in part because we could, and we wanted to keep moving. We wentContinue reading “Twists and turns but bearing up”
Pickingupducks 