Blogs
Keep up to date on the latest adventures and musings from boaters blogs.
18 October 2025
Slow progress an inconsiderate boater and a new mooring
NB Percy
Our trip as detailed earlier is very much make it up as we go along. Our grand plan was to be away 9am each day and cruise for about 4 hours moor up relax. Of course that is dependant on
Home alone: Day 5
NB Briar Rose
I liked the mooring at Calveley, and it’s clearly popular with the boats that hang around this area because many of them were there. It’s true the railway line is quite close, but there are only three or four trains
All Oaks Wood
NB Harnser
Again away a little after 10 and met boats on a regular basis. Our first stop was Brownsover to visit Tesco. I got my days wrong so now we are onboard longer than planned. There were very few boat moored
All Boxed Up.14th October
NB Oleanna
*Redhill Marina / Scarborough* Lemsips all round this morning! Oh well. No sitting about feeling sorry for ourselves there was more packing to do. Whilst we emptied the galley cupboards and drawers Tilly just took it easy on the sofa
Enjoying a final flourish
Pickingupducks
It’s here, and it feels wonderful to embrace autumn, particularly this year after the long dry spring and summer, that turned everything to dust. Living and working on a boat brings nature and the changes of seasons to you in
17 October 2025
To beat the fishing match
NB Percy
Ok, this is real'ish time blogging. We or rather I got to Percy 15th October to have another go at the stove, this time with some liquid PTFE or pipe thread seal. Got the rear 28mm ( future boat owner
Clifton
NB Harnser
A quiet night with no geese to walk us this morning, but the first boat did pass about 7 am. We left at our normal 10 am. and were meeting boats almost continuously until we reached Hillmorton locks, Here both
Home alone: Day 4
NB Briar Rose
As you may have noticed, I'm pottering about in a relatively small area while Adrian is away -- but each journey being quite short does pose its problems. The batteries need charging which requires engine running, and I also have
A delightful evening with Robbie Cummings
NB Floydtilla
We were almost too late to get tickets for this event. When I booked there were only 10 seats left and only two place where we could sit next to each other. WOW I was surprised as the event was
Cropredy takes a step up
NB Herbie
While I was packing up ready to go home this morning, some gentlemen were busy installing safety ladders at the end of some of the pontoons in the marina. It didn't take them long, just a few minutes in each
So who gets the lock
NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)
It was a fairly early start, 4 locks to do before we reached the bottom lock, and we wanted to be ready to descend for the 10 am opening. By 9.20 am, we were waiting for the volunteer to arrive
Celestial navigation: How it works
Insure4Boats
While modern technology has revolutionised the way sailors navigate the seas, understanding traditional celestial navigation offers several advantages. In this guide, we explore what celestial navigation is, whether it’s still used today, and if it’s hard to learn. We’ll also
Packing Onto The Stern. 13th October
NB Oleanna
*Trent Lock to Redhill Marina* **Tyred edging at the yacht club** This mooring hasn’t been so enticing to Tilly this time around, maybe there are no friends left from our previous visits recently. She still managed a few minutes out
16 October 2025
The last leg.
NB What A Lark
This is an example of why I am not a lover of this canal, endless trees, long straight sections and no views or anything of interest to look at. Endless trees. ────────── More trees ────────── On the plus side there
The motorhome is back in its tree-clad home
NB Wakahuia
It's been a bit of a busy day today. First off I had Aquamove which doesn't feel tiring at the time but hits a bit later. It's not surprising that it tires me because there is a lot of running
Willoughby
NB Harnser
Last night we ate at the Folly and I must say it was top notch, I had home made lasagne which was full of meat and served with a decent bit of salad, not the normal token bit of green,
Home alone: Day 3
NB Briar Rose
Another busy day. The last few times we’ve got a gas bottle, I’ve been a bit concerned about the state of the gas locker floor. There are vents at floor level to allow any escaped gas to get out, but
Fizzing Sinks. 12th October
NB Oleanna
*Trent Junction* Trent Junction was shrouded in mist this morning. It got worse as the hours went on, the sailing club opposite becoming a misty blurr by mid morning. No rush to do anything today. Mick was still snotty, but
15 October 2025
Home alone: Day 2
NB Briar Rose
I’ve been waiting for a parcel to be delivered to a collection point, and had been hoping it would arrive yesterday. Of course it didn’t, but was due today — but only before the ‘end of day’. As I had
Another dash to meet the 2 pm closing.
NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)
15th Oct It was quite noisy moored at the bottom of Buckby flight. Motorway and trains right on the doorstep, now I remember why we usually give this mooring a miss! We got underway by 8.30 am, many lock free
Napton
NB Harnser
We set off about 10-30 heading down to the marina entrance to wind and also fill with water. The canal was quite busy and we must have had ten pass between the junction and the Marina both while we were
Kind Tissues. 11th October
NB Oleanna
*Trent Junction* I took over the tea making duties this morning, one mug actually being Lemsip. The fire was stoked up and a shopping list put together. Mick stayed in bed for a snooze, I headed out to stock up
14 October 2025
Braunston
NB Harnser
The weather as we travelled to the boat it was drizzle most of the way, but no hold ups with traffic. Once at the boat we had a quick lunch at at 2-30 slid backwards from our mooring, the wooden
Two lock flights done...just!
NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)
14th Oct It was an hour run to get to Braunston this morning, no need to set off too early as the locks wouldn't open until 10 am. We timed it just right, arrived at Braunston bottom lock just after
Home alone: Day 1
NB Briar Rose
Adrian is spending a few days down south seeing various family and friends; he left about 7 this morning to get on the road. I have a few boat jobs to do. This morning, I untied, went along to the
Autumnal Crumble. 10th October
NB Oleanna
*Beeston Changeline Bridge 19 to Trent Junction, again* **Three Chippies Chippying for Chippy** A morning call from the set builder for panto interrupted my morning stretches. This was followed by several photos being sent to me, the workshop down in
13 October 2025
Dash to Hillmorton
NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)
12th October Gosh, it was foggy this morning, I had hoped it would lift after our scheduled Teams call with my Brother and his partner in Australia. Just one hour is allowed by Teams, unless of course you pay a
October Braidbar visit
NB Briar Rose
On Saturday, we moved the car close to the Nantwich embankment so it was ready for today’s trip to Braidbar. We left about 8.15, and it was about an hour and a quarter’s drive. There’s a full report on what’s
More content added to the Birmingham Navigation Maps
NB Floydtilla
Our plan was to be in Birmingham for about a week, walking about and taking pictures while enjoying the city, but as normal our plans change. We initially moored up on the Sheepcote Street 4 Day Visitor Moorings, an ideal
Working My Way Back to You – Pt 1
The Sumpners Afloat
**6th to 12th Oct – Knowle to Radford Semele** The “You” in the title above being Brinklow Marina of course! It was an absolute gem of a Monday morning with the sun warm on my shoulders as I cruised the
Milky Camomile. 9th October
NB Oleanna
*Scarborough / Castle Marina to Beeston Turnover Bridge 19, again!* **A glimpse at Hull Fair** Breakfasted, a chat with the Liza and Stuart, then it was time to say our goodbyes and pop the cat caravan in a blue Ikea
12 October 2025
Shortbread and good udders.
NB What A Lark
The two Lovelies George and Carol who had volunteered to help us here at the Audlem Locks, a flight of 13 or so were arriving at about 10am. We were moored up at the very bottom and here the first
Chester again: Day 13
NB Briar Rose
Adrian’s birthday today, so there were presents and a limited number of cards; now we’re living on board, there’s nowhere to send them to! It was also very foggy, and hadn’t cleared all day. We didn’t want to get to
Servicing stuff.
NB Herbie
Not all tools have to be expensive. This week a toothbrush was all I needed to fix Herbie's Morco gas water heater. The heater was firing up when I turned the hot water tap on, but then cut out some
Toilet Roll And Tinned Spinach. 8th October
NB Oleanna
*Castle Marina and Scarborough* A request from the set builders came in this morning that hadn’t been passed onto me a while ago, could I edit the drawings so they only had the pieces they were building? Yes, but I
11 October 2025
The new stove is fighting me
NB Percy
Real live update - Today Saturday 11th Oct was a bust. The plan was to go to the boat and fit the new stove which as its a 1410 and with a back boiler should have been easy'ish. The problem
More holdups at Atherstone and a ignorant boater.
NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)
Saturday 11th We did leave early, a tad before 8 am, and passed 10 boats that showed no signs of movement. I ascended lock number 11 (bottom of Atherstone flight) and then 10 but at lock 9, as I approached
Chester again: Day 12
NB Briar Rose
Very grey and overcast to start the day. We set off about 8.45, hoping no-one else would be heading to the water point yet — and indeed no-one appeared to be heading anywhere. While the tank filled, we got the
Mapping Cruise September 2025 – It never goes to plan
NB Floydtilla
Our plan for this cruise was to initially travel to Worcester to meet up with Mary, she wanted to come and visit and collect some stuff to take home to Cambridge. From Worcester we would then travel the full length
Tucked Away In The Corner. 7th October
NB Oleanna
*County Hall Steps to Castle Marna, Nottingham* Whilst we had breakfast there seemed to be a mass exodus from the steps, one boat just turned out to be winding so they could sand their starboard side gunnel. The boat behind
Belonging as boat people and walking with royalty
Pickingupducks
How long does it take to put down roots, to feel a sense of belonging, to feel part of a community? Being a nomad, I reckon a couple of days often does it for me, but I am aware it’s
10 October 2025
The motorhome roof is clean and thinking about Phil
NB Wakahuia
A reasonably busy day today, in a way. This morning I got up to take the motorhome up to Levin to have the roof washed - if I'd thought about it, I could probably have organised it better by doing
A long day to Audlem.
NB What A Lark
So this morning at the crack of 9am, we untied WaL and as we did so noticed the boat in front was also making a move, good I thought, always helpful to have two boats in these doubles although boaters
Restrictions lifted and a mad scramble at the lock
NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)
This was not our plan! Today we would make Fazeley Junction, moor and continue to Glascote locks tomorrow. It was the long-awaited 10 am opening of Glascote that initially made us decide to leave the madness of trying to make
Chester again: Day 11
NB Briar Rose
We were re-tracing our steps from a couple of days ago today, leaving our lovely moorings at Coole Pilate and heading back into Nantwich. The two locks at Hack Green both needed a top up, but were polished off pretty
Off to a flying start - partly thanks to WD490
NB Herbie
At last being able to get at the port side roof of Herbie, I've got off to a good start in just over a day. The first job was to remove the old wooden handrail like we did earlier this
Trams And Trees. 6th October
NB Oleanna
*County Hall Steps* My turn today for a flu jab, sadly I don’t get a free one, too young. Last year I opted for a jab as we had David staying at the house and the Christmas show company in
9 October 2025
Chester again: Day 10
NB Briar Rose
We’ve moored up three times today, and ended up exactly where we started. And I do mean exactly, because we’re on the same rings, just facing the other way. We were in no rush this morning, and eventually set off
FS all good
NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)
Thursday 9th So much for them at Harrison's telling Ian that they would fix the alternator 'first thing'! Wednesday we waited for a call and after wondering when that phone call would come, decided we could no longer wait and
And the solars are working!
NB Wakahuia
Wednesday: Even though it is just spring and we have had several grey or rainy days, the solars are doing their job - heating the hot water most of the time. We have only had to set water heating to