Latest Canal Blogs

Blogs

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

1 June 2025

Besançon (well worth the stay)

NB Chalkhill Blue

TUESDAY 27 MAY After our long day travelling back from the UK on Monday we slept really well even though we were moored next to a particularly noisy lock overspill. Karen moved the car 10 km or so upstream first

Thwarted 4.

NB Oleanna

The highlight of our summer plans was going to be teaming up with our friends Graeme and Vicki on *NB Misty Blue* and tackle some off piste water to gain access to Beverley Beck. The off piste bit of water

31 May 2025

Onley

NB Harnser

Last night I looked out of the back doors at the Ansty bridge, the photo isn’t half as good as real life, but you get the general idea . This morning it [[DSCF0860]][1]became obvious why the house opposite have had

North again: Day 5

NB Briar Rose

It was beautifully sunny first thing, and we set off just after 8 — at which point it almost immediately clouded over for a couple of hours. I walked ahead to set the first lock. The house there is having

Thwarted 3.

NB Oleanna

Next up on the thwarted list and due to dwindling water comes the Ripon Canal. **Ripon Cathedral** So, okay this wouldn’t have been new water to us, we’ve cruised up to Ripon twice, once on NB Lillyanne and in 2020

We all need to put more effort in

Pickingupducks

Comedian Chris McCausland got us thinking this week that we all really could benefit from making more of an effort at living (that doesn’t mean doing something big like say ballroom dancing, although if that’s your thing – dance away

30 May 2025

Ansty

NB Harnser

A nice quiet night despite being moored right against a road bridge, at least they didn’t pip the horn every time they crossed. We were away at 10, reasonably warm but overcast all day with a cooling breeze. The canal

North again: Day 4

NB Briar Rose

Remarkably, there were only two boats on the moorings at Foxton Junction last night, us and one other beyond the water points. That’s in spite of there having been a stream of boats past all afternoon. This morning, we thought

Mustered and no Git Gaps

NB What A Lark

So Reader, Here we are again happy as can be. We drove back up to WaL in Great Haywood marina arriving later in the afternoon, this time using two trolleys to unload despite fully intending to be travelling light this

A Touch Wet Under Paw. 26th to 28th May

NB Oleanna

*Aire and Calder Navigation* **Nosy neighbours!** A refill of the water tank, we’d been using the washing machine and had had to top up on the electric too. A shower for me whilst the tank filled so that I’d not

29 May 2025

Hinkley

NB Harnser

Last night we ate at The Horse and Jockey, not a cheap meal but very nice. We may have over done it slightly as even after an earlyish night we both overslept this morning, Little piggies with full bellies comes

North again: Day 3

NB Briar Rose

Another lovely mooring. Last evening, we were watching a wren (or possibly two) bobbing about in the tree opposite and repeating going to where their nest must be. This morning, as we were on our own, we got the washing

Thwarted 2.

NB Oleanna

Next waterway to thwart us this year is the Pocklington Canal. Barmby Lock Water we’ve never cruised. To reach the canal you leave the Tidal Ouse at Barmby Lock and Barrage and head up stream on the River Derwent. The

28 May 2025

North again: Day 2

NB Briar Rose

The moorings at Mountain Barn Bridge are really quiet, but perhaps because of the rain we didn’t see the bats in the evening like we normally do. This morning was much sunnier than expected, and we set off at 8.30.

Congerstone

NB Harnser

Last night when we went to bed our rain gauge indicated that we had over 15mm of rain in the past 24 hours but I don’t think its made much difference to the canal levels. Again there was a bit

Thwarted 1

NB Oleanna

This summer’s original plans were to stay in Yorkshire and cruise waterways we’ve not been on before. We were quite looking forward to this, new waters. But for a few reasons our plans have been thwarted. The first waterway to

27 May 2025

Shornhill

NB Harnser

The day started well and we woke to bright sunshine, 9-30 off to the café for a full English, we both thought it was even better than last time we were here.[[IMG_20250527_100618]][1] Then it started to go down hill, first

North again: Day 1

NB Briar Rose

Boats started going past early this morning, trying to beat the rush away from the Crick Show. Some were very keen to get in the queue for Watford Locks! And in fact quite a lot of boats had gone yesterday.

Where can I use my jet ski in the UK? 12 best places for jet skiing

Insure4Boats

Over 7,000 miles of coastline and more than 1,000 islands make UK waters some of the most interesting in the world for jet skiing. Even better, nowhere in the country is more than 70 miles from the sea, so there

Osselle (with a quick visit to Flecknoe)

NB Chalkhill Blue

───────────────────────────────────────────── From our visit to Grotte d'Osselle on Tuesday ───────────────────────────────────────────── SATURDAY 17 MAY After a few days in Dole we decided to leave on Saturday morning but needed to fill up with water first. We’d already checked that we could

Residuals and Birthdays. 24th, 25th May

NB Oleanna

Lemonroyd Marina and Hackney Another look through my sketches this morning before I sent a link. Time to forget about panto for day or two. Time to think about how we’d be getting back into the marina tomorrow after a

26 May 2025

Crick Show: Day 4

NB Briar Rose

The final day of the show. We went over to the show site first thing, and I managed to get a good few interviews done for my next podcast. When the show was open, Adrian was once again helping on

Sutton Wharf

NB Harnser

Very overcast this morning and a bit breezy, a bit of a commotion with boat getting in the mud when meeting other boats while passing moored boats. We were away at our normal time and did have just a very

Raining in My Heart

The Sumpners Afloat

**19 – 25th May – back to Stoke and a jolly** It was so nice where we spent Sunday, we decided we’d spend Monday there too. As I said last week, we’re not in a hurry. I made a new

Make The Most Of The Morning. 23rd May

NB Oleanna

*Lemonroyd Marina, Aire and Calder Navigation* ***Last night She said I should make the most of this morning. When she opened up the covers I could see that the big fat boat that had been behind us had moved their

25 May 2025

Crick Show: Day 3

NB Briar Rose

A bit of writing first thing, then we headed over to the show site and looked at toilets, to help us make a decision for the new boat. During the morning, I did quite a few interviews for the podcast,

Burton Hastings

NB Harnser

It started raining just as we got up this morning but was only a short shower and had stopped well before we set off stopping for water opposite the Ansty Club. I like using this tap as there are two

River Lea - Waltham Abbey to Broxbourne

NB Huffler

Rain early but it stoppped before our friends arrived who were coming for a jolly to work us up the last 4 locks to Broxbourne so they go to get the lock ready and I cast off and get ready

The Power Of Kate. 22nd May

NB Oleanna

*Aire and Calder Navigation* **Droplets!** Hang on what was that on the windows? Rain! We’d had rain!! However the towpath was dry. Brrrr! Chilly! I actually lit the stove this morning. I knew that by mid afternoon it would be

24 May 2025

Crick Show: Day 2

NB Briar Rose

Adrian went off first thing to start work on the Braidbar stand, while I cracked on with writing mini boat reviews of the boats we looked at yesterday. I also ended up walking up to the village a couple of

Ansty

NB Harnser

We had almost 7mm of rain last night according to my rain gauge but it was all fun and sunny before we set off, a few dark clouds and even three spits of rain, but that’s all. Our first stop

River Lea - Stonebridge Lock to Waltham Abbey

NB Huffler

Leaving our overnight mooring we headed for the lock and its anothr beautiful sunny morning. A boat was going up ahead of us, a semi wide beam so we had a bit of a wait. Tony looking happy to be

Propelling Pencil. 21st May

NB Oleanna

*Aire and Calder Navigation* **Comparing the depth of stage to the length or Oleanna** A day of waiting, walking and eventually, (if I’m honest to myself) notes I knew would be coming my way from Chippy. My mind had been

Bag bottoms and historic Arms

Pickingupducks

Blindgötu, cul-de-sac, sackgasse, the bottom of a bag – dead end doesn’t sound an attractive proposition whatever the language (Icelandic, French and German as well as English here). To reach a dead end means you’re not making any progress, you’re

23 May 2025

Hot days and sunny flags.

NB What A Lark

So Reader for the rest of the trip we ambled back down the Ashby. The weather went from boiling and "It's too hot to sit out in, where is there a tree?" to "God almighty get the bloody heating on!"

Crick Show: Day 1

NB Briar Rose

The first day of the show and it was a busy one. Andy the photographer and I looked at 20 boats on show. It’s the trade day, so it’s easier for us to get on board and get decent photos

Clifton upon Dunsmore

NB Harnser

Lots of boats on the move this morning as we set off at our normal time. Coming into Braunston we passed under a bridge with large wooden fendering on the off side, Below the fendering is nice rounded brickwork.[[DSCF0800]][1] We

River Lea - Limehouse to Stonebridge Lock

NB Huffler

This morning it was Grey skies again after waking to cloudless blue skies at 6 am and quite chilly once the sun vanished. A sorry looking Limehouse now a days. It was always busy with boats but nothing has moved

Bye bye Platinum Fox

NB Jannock

Friday 23rd May 2025 A visit to Ely We handed back the tidy boat just after 9am. As soon as we were off she was moved round to the engineering dock to have a replacement window fitted. On our drive

What Cake?! 20th May

NB Oleanna

*Aire and Calder Navigation* The butter had been left out of the fridge overnight, but still wasn’t suitablely soft for baking. I sliced it thinly, put it in a mixing bowl, then moved it out onto the hatch at the

22 May 2025

River Thames - Brentford to Limehouse

NB Huffler

Today - RAIN. Quite heavy rain. Certainly not what we wanted for our trip to Limehouse. At 6 o/clock it was really heavy. Luckily it eased off before we made our way into the lock, our other 2 boats that

Flecknoe

NB Harnser

We were just about ready to set off, Dian was about to wash the mugs and there is no water coming out of the taps and the pump is silent. Check obvious and out with the meter. 24 Volts to

To Crick: Day 19

NB Briar Rose

With the Tidys stuck below Watford Locks last night, we ended up walking back to see them, just a mile away. Helen cooked a lovely dinner, and we had plenty of stuff to talk about. A lazy start to the

Middle Levels - Day #7

NB Jannock

Thursday May 22nd 2025 Peterborough to March We left Peterborough after a quiet night parkside. It was grey, cloudy and frankly cold. Where was the warm sunshine we had been promised for our holiday. The windows on the river side

21 May 2025

Trains, Princes and blood all over the floor.

NB What A Lark

So we did some great faffing here at Snarestone. After we moored up the four of us walked to the Ashby Society shop and brought rather nice ice-creams, after which books were calling and comfy chairs. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── The late evening