OnTheCut

Not the best start of the year for C&RT

NB Percy

Just picked this up ( New Years Eve) from Staffordshire fire and rescue 🚨 Please be aware we currently have crews in attendance at the Boat Inn, Cannock Road, Penkridge. The bridge over the canal has collapsed therefore, the road

Time warp back to the 1960's - On board at the turn of the year

NB Percy

This morning was a shock to the senses.... Rachel had set an alarm for 7.45am and we woke to a cold 7c boat. When I went out last night it was a lovely semi cloudy night, not cold. Overnight the

Hillmorton top lock

NB Harnser

We woke this morning to find the canal frozen edge to edge,with a clear bright sky and bright sunshine.[[DSCF1363]][1] thankfully before we set off a boat came by cutting a nice channel for us to follow. We set off and

Home and Away and Home

NB Wakahuia

It is now 2 months and 8 days since I last posted - talk about slack! And I've just looked at my last post, and what a coincidence: I currently have a pot of dahl cooking again! This time it

The point of no return.

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

30th Dec Oh dear, the day did not start well. A plan had been formed yesterday about how long we would cruise today. The end of the Ashby was roughly a couple of hours from Limekiln so we would turn

Stretton Grimes Bridge 26

NB Harnser

Nice quiet mooring last night and when we set off about 1030 Am the weather felt warm without a breath of wind. We met several boats today including one as we left Suttons Stop lock which was nice and one

Well we made it, all being well aboard for the turn of the year

NB Percy

I'm hoping I can scrape enough boat related content and memories to add maybe one more post before we quite remarkably head into 2026. We got to the boat at about 1.30pm today 30th. The boat was a lowly 5c

Mud and a branch, not a good combination.

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

28th Dec Pins were pulled by 9 am. The plan was to head to Snarestone, use the facilities, wind and head on back down the canal. Warm clothing was necessary, the wind had a real bite to it. It was

The last missing bit but will we get on Percy one last time this year ?

NB Percy

I just need to detail early September then maybe one last 2025 blog from aboard Percy - maybe ? We were looking at vans early September as I'd committed to selling the reliable Toyota Auris and I wanted a van

Bedworth Arbruy Park Bridge

NB Harnser

Last night we moored opposite the old hat factory, some years ago there were plans to convert it into housing but nothing ever happened.[[DSCF1348]][1] We pushed off about 1030 and again the canal was very quiet only meeting two boats

Festive days

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

Dec 26th Christmas was fun, Kev came to collect us on Christmas day, our dinner was a Spaghetti Bolognese! Just to clarify though, the main event would be held on Boxing Day as Colin and Iwona were having a Polish

Atherstone top lock

NB Harnser

We woke this morning moored in the middle of a fishing match. The match ran from 10am until 2 pm.. The chap pegged right by our bow who we got chatting to asked if we could stay until 2pm as

What Did We Get? 28th December

NB Oleanna

*Scarboreugh*! We hope your Christmas was jolly and filled with good times with friends and family. Unfortunately, ours didn’t turn out quite as planned this year. A pre-Christmas trip over to York was enjoyed to meet up with the London

August was a boat bust

NB Percy

We had big plans for August on the boat but other commitments and lack of water and other restrictions put us off cruising the boat - again. So the synopsis was family, bikes and a bit of boat and lots

Polesworth

NB Harnser

Over Christmas we were in contact with friend who were not only on their boat but traveling in the same direction as us, we haven’t seen them in years, that’s how it goes with boaters. We decided to have a

What to do when the only certainty is uncertainty

Pickingupducks

2025 has been been a dramatic year living afloat on the inland waterways. It started on New Year’s Day with a large breach of the Bridgewater canal at Little Bollington in Cheshire, a breach which is still being repaired. It

Hopwas

NB Harnser

Woke to a lovely sunny morning, not a cloud in the sky, very little wind and a frost. around 10 am Neil and Linda came by and gave us a wave, we shall see them later. We set off about

Back at the Anchor ... and France

NB Percy

The start of July I took myself off for a mid week coffee at Wetton Mill cafe. I'd been harbouring a thought about doing a bit more bike camping .... good old Ebay and a state of the art tent

Fradley Village

NB Harnser

Merry Christmas to all my readers The plan for today was to just sit and chill, but by half ten we had an itchy tiller so set off for Fradley Junction, the weather was actually sunny and clear but only

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

NB Floydtilla

[Source][1] [1]: https://floydtilla.co.uk/2025/12/25/merry-christmas-and-a-happy-new-year/

He’s Been!!!

NB Oleanna

*25th December 2025* We’ve obviously been good this year as we all woke to very full stockings this morning. There may not gave been any Quality Street, but there’s still Terry’s Chocolate Oranges, even though one of them is minty!

Ready!

NB Oleanna

*24th December 2025* **The Robin of the waterways is our Christmas card this year.** **We’d like to wish all our readers, friends and family a very** **Happy Christmas!** ***He’s not been yet!*** Tilly is keeping an eye out for the

Huddlesford

NB Harnser

Much brighter but cooler this morning with lots of blue in the sky and a bit of sunshine. A late start because we overslept a bit for some reason. Again just as we were about to set off 2 boats

It was too much of an ask!

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

Dec 23rd Moorings by Bridge 2 were so very, very quiet. In fact, our plan to get away early went by the wayside as it was after 8 am when we woke. With 18 miles to do, it was a

How much water is in my tank (Possible Solution)

NB Floydtilla

This is the eternal question normally just before taking a shower or putting on the washing machine. On a boat first hired we had a water gauge, but it did not work very well, most of the time it did

A couple of canals visited and a bigger boat

NB Percy

Another good month of getting out and about which started with a few days on the boat. The Anchor is our local when on the boat. Its a nice walk - about half an hour down the canal. We like

Early starts and long days.

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

21st Dec Gosh, I can't remember the last time we got away early, 8 am, we pulled pins and crept past the line of boats. Our reasoning was to get through Braunston Tunnel without meeting anyone. This tunnel is notorious

Fazeley Junction

NB Harnser

Another murky day, we could plainly see the trains passing but didn’t hear them at all, it shows what a difference wind direction makes. It was very slightly cooler but felt quite a bit colder, strange. This week I have

Glastonbury

NB Percy

We liked Glastonbury, we have a good bunch of friends who ride motorbikes and offer up the odd meet and so it was in May. A meet for fish and chips ad a beer or two in Glastonbury. If I

Bottom Atherstone locks

NB Harnser

Another murky day with with very little boat movement. Arriving in Atherstone there were only a couple of boats moored above the locks on the visitor moorings but still one found it necessary to moor on the top lock moorings

22nd December 2025

NB Oleanna

This morning we’re watching as photos come in of the breach on the Llangollen Canal that happened in the early hours of this morning. At least two boats maybe three were where the breach happened, those on board were evacuated

Back to May for the start of the catch ups for my records

NB Percy

Poor blogging performance has been noted on here previously. I've a few days before the end of the year to catch up with my year, some boating some biking some family something of everything it seems but said many times

Watching. 21st December

NB Oleanna

*Scarboreugh!* **What’s my Dad doing watching us in the pub?** The other evening I came across a post on social media regarding **[CRT’s Reservoir Watch][1]**. This year, as all boaters know, has been a bad one for water levels around

Hartshill

NB Harnser

When I looked out this morning the sun was shining but when we set off at half 10 it was quite dull with no wind and not too cold, up passed Charity Dock[[DSCF1291]][1] and on to Marston Junction, straight ahead

Solar powered boat

NB Percy

We like Barton Turns Marina. Maybe not the best marina to live in as it carries the A38 noise but the Red Carpet Cinema is a treat location for us - the film and a meal deal is our treat.

On our way at last.

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

Dec 17th A sunset and sunrise 12 hours apart! ─────────────── Sunset 16th Dec ─────────────── ──────────────── Sunrise 17th Dec ──────────────── Pretty spectacular and not something seen together. I took this from the web A red sunset followed by a very red

Bedworth

NB Harnser

After we moored up yesterday we cleared up 3 heaps of dog poo by the boat, went to set off this morning and there was a fresh pile right by the stern mooring line. Today was not as bright as

Wishing you a very Happy Christmas from all of us aboard nb Preaux

Pickingupducks

All Oaks Wood

NB Harnser

Well it happened again, 10 o’clock, putting the tiller on a a boat chugs up behind and had a row of locks in their favour. Thankfully bot sets of Hillmorton locks are now open, last time we were this way

Volts and their inter relationship - A question

NB Percy

Ok, a small variation to the learning theme here.... I have learnt something but I need you clever people's input to cement the learning further .... here goes. On our boat we have a 12v system. Not counting or talking

Hillmorton top of locks

NB Harnser

What a day and what a journey. We set off from home at 10am. I always use Tom-tom if I am doing a journey of any distance as it alerts me to any holdups. Today it worked overtime. We hadn’t

Stealing my solar panel

NB Percy

As I get ever older I try to keep mind and body as fit as I can... as anyone north of 60 will attest it's easier to loose capability than gain it and when lost it's even harder to recover.

What is a chine? Hull types and differences

Insure4Boats

A boat’s chine is an integral part of its structure as it affects the way a vessel moves through the water. In this guide, we explore what a chine is, the difference between hard and soft chines, and their advantages

How many times can FS get stuck and who Is that at the end of the tunnel?

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

Dec 14th This morning we decided to do the rest of the Stoke Bruerne flight. The water levels in the long pound had stayed very low, which caused FS to tilt slightly during our stay. FS just needed a good

Coming, going and an invitation for you

Pickingupducks

It’s been looking a lot like Christmas this week. The on/off flood situation continues and water remains an issue both around and in the boat. And Christmas is edging nearer. Last weekend saw our annual four generational family meal, which

A Magic Roundabout find.

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

Dec 12th I'm losing track of time, could it be put down to the brain not functioning properly due to old age? Or just because one lazy day runs into another with only the TV to keep one occupied. I'm

At 10:32. 9th December

NB Oleanna

Back in April or was it May, we were looking for somewhere we might be able to moor up for several weeks whilst Mick headed back to Scarborough to oversee the building work going on at the house, waiting for

5 Years of Old Nick

The Sumpners Afloat

Where did that time go? Five glorious years on board Old Nick. We thought it was worth summarising our time aboard for posterity. I’ll start with just a quick run through of where we have been in our 5 years

Boat rudders: Types and how they work

Insure4Boats

Boat rudders are an essential part of a vessel’s steering system and help you move left and right while out on the water. In this guide, we’ll look at how you use a rudder, the difference between a tiller and

Don’t know what happened there! 7th December 2025

NB Oleanna

Those of you who subscribe to our blog by email will have received an email this morning, supposedly from us, regarding betting in Argentina. The IT department (Mick) are looking into this. A blog post had been posted by an