Ey up mi duck – we made it! If you read last week’s update we’ve completed the first part of Plan C. We’ve donned our life jackets (all 3 of us) and hurtled down the Trent before Storm Ashley sends it back into flood, and executed a sharp left turn from the river onto theContinue reading “Fraud, dripping and fraught navigation”
Tag Archives: travel
Building resistance while getting scuppered
Our coddiwompling is coming to an end for a while as winter draws near. It is possibly my favourite season living afloat and we’ve decided to try something new this year. For the first time, we’ve determined to try staying in one place for the winter months near our family. A couple of weeks agoContinue reading “Building resistance while getting scuppered”
Poo from Peru and centuries of waste recycling
Industrial discoveries are remarkable. Recycling and world trade are nothing new. We were reminded of these this week. Poo from Peru was just one of a Staffordshire mill’s stock in trade until the 1970s. The gloriously named Shirley’s Etruscan Bone and Flint Mill has been in operation since 1857, and remains the last steam poweredContinue reading “Poo from Peru and centuries of waste recycling”
If you think it’s worth it – give it a go!
Well we made it – we scraped the profile gauge that was supposed to be the indicator of whether we would get through the lowest openly navigable tunnel on the inland waterway network, but thought it was worth a try. If you think it’s worth it – give it a go – seems a worthyContinue reading “If you think it’s worth it – give it a go!”
New waters and nerve-wracking decisions
A change of scene does us all good, as boaters know only too well. This week we’ve begun exploring the Caldon, somewhere we’ve wanted to travel for the past five years. Problems with locks and water levels have stopped us until now, but now we are here. The Canal takes off from the Trent &Continue reading “New waters and nerve-wracking decisions”
Never take life for granted
Like the English weather, we were reminded this week that life can turn on its head in a split second or even be extinguished as fast. Four years ago this week, we sold up, moved life and work onto a 50ft narrowboat saying: “We’ll try this for two years and see how it goes.” We’reContinue reading “Never take life for granted”
New beginnings, a new challenge and a reboot
I feel like I’ve returned home to a parallel universe after my time away. I left just about 10 days ago in periodic warm summer days, but I’ve returned to what is clearly autumn. Uniforms and backpacks are taking over the early towpath from habitual dog walkers; leaves fluttering from hedgerows and trees like confettiContinue reading “New beginnings, a new challenge and a reboot”
Memories are made of this
Narrowboats; tents; wildlife and wildflowers; days without agendas; windswept sandy beaches crammed with rock pools not people; ice-creams; wellies full of water; beachcombing treasures; leisurely chatty meals with all generations together; no-tech-games from garden quoits to i-spy and inventing imaginary concept vehicles – the more outlandish the better; more ice-creams long walks; wet walks; leisurelyContinue reading “Memories are made of this”
A new POV on a floating life
What an amazing fortnight it’s been – a joyous wedding in glorious sunshine of our youngest daughter and the gaining for us of a wonderful son-in-law. The bringing together of so many friends and four generations of family from all over the globe, some we haven’t see for years, and many who haven’t seen eachContinue reading “A new POV on a floating life”
Be the change
There’s been what feels like a meteoric change in the UK this week, one I hope we can be part of bringing onto the waterways. This week we’ve had the pleasure and privilege of spending time with those who count, who really count – the next generations. These are the individuals who will shape ourContinue reading “Be the change”
Pickingupducks 