Blogs

Keep up to date on the latest adventures and musings from boaters blogs.

18 October 2025

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

Herbie on the move!

NB Herbie

After many months shackled to her berth in Cropredy, Herbie now lies in a new spot. I was somewhat amazed when Herbie's trusty old BMC engine burst into life at the first turn of the key this morning. That's the

The £9 Wee. 5th October

NB Oleanna

*County Hall Steps* **Dragon boaters** Deep black, Paris drivers, the Waverley replacement and cinnamon roll whirls were topics for this mornings zoom. There’s been a touch too much hospital leap frogging going on recently with Mick’s siblings, so it was

8 October 2025

Two good eggs and cheeses.

NB What A Lark

Hello Reader and welcome back, lots to tell so settle down. Well after the last trip home from Tattenhall marina a few weeks ago taking about six hours I declared this was too long and that we should break the