Blogs

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

22 June 2025

Cheshire, eventually: Day 4

NB Briar Rose

Much cooler this morning, but still quite nice to start off with. We got a load of washing going, and set off once the wash part of the cycle was done. Gothersley Lock was just around the corner and had

7mph In Tick Over! 18th June

NB Oleanna

*Goole Visitor Moorings to Selby Basin* **Waiting for permission to enter the docks** After breakfast the final checks were done, the well deck emptied of everything other than the anchor, chain and rope all attached to each other and the

21 June 2025

Cheshire, eventually: Day 3

NB Briar Rose

We got away at about 8.30 this morning, we me walking down to the Bratch Locks and Adrian bringing the boat. We were too early for a lock keeper to be on, and there was no-one coming up, so once

Surviving a heatwave in a tin can

Pickingupducks

We’re in a heatwave. A time when living and working in a metal box doesn’t always seem the best idea. It is also a time when social media and crowd intelligence/experience comes into its own. People are quick to share

20 June 2025

Gilwern

NB Harnser

A leisurely start today as we didn’t have far to go so it was 10-20 when we set of following a cooked breakfast, needed to use the eggs and bacon up. I have no idea why this group of young

Cheshire, eventually: Day 2

NB Briar Rose

Not as sunny today, but still very warm. A couple of boats came past before we’d had breakfast and the second of them, a hire boat, left the top gate open on Compton Lock. It meant the lock was still

Busy, But Empty At Goole. 17th June

NB Oleanna

*Sykehouse Junction to Goole Visitor Moorings* No shore leave was granted this morning, we needed to reach Goole before Viking Marina shut up shop for the day. We’re used to their winter opening hours when they close at midday. Mick

19 June 2025

Llanover

NB Harnser

My word we have been lucky with eating establishments this week. Two lovely meals last night in the Open Heath and just one minute back to the boat. 9am this morning and we were on our way right to the

Llanover

NB Harnser

My word we have been lucky with eating establishments this week. Two lovely meals last night in the Open Heath and just one minute back to the boat. 9am this morning and we were on our way right to the

Cheshire, eventually: Day 1

NB Briar Rose

After a pause of a couple of days we’re moving again. Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be heading for Cheshire — but we’re not going straight there! The forecast was for a very hot day so we thought

StarLink Mini has arrived – What did we get in the box.

NB Floydtilla

Ordered for our Canal Boat from Currys a couple of days ago for delivery to our local store for collection, the process could not have been simpler. Once home, it was time to open the box, inside we find on

3 Stamps? 16th June

NB Oleanna

*Stubbs Bridge to Sykehouse Junction* Shore leave permitted for an hour whilst we had breakfast and got ourselves ready for the day. Our chosen route back to York had been because we wanted to top the diesel tank up before

18 June 2025

Jungles of Borneo

NB What A Lark

I walked on the next day for the rest of the canal. Quite a few branches hanging over and the ground was slippery from the rain but I carried on and it got very much worse. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── This was last

Pontypool

NB Harnser

This morning we moved all of 100 yard to Roadhouse Narrowboats pump-out point and Nigel was there spot on time to do the business so by about five past nine we were on our way leaving Gilwern for a second

Short wet steps

NB What A Lark

Yes first thing this morning we left. As we were untying a boat arrived, I thought I was being helpful when I said there's a nasty ridge here we couldn't get in close, but down the other end the boats

Day trip to Cheshire

NB Briar Rose

With the car close at hand, this morning we went to buy engine oil from the shop in Penkridge, and then did a few days shopping at the big Co-op. Then we headed up the M6 to Chester to take

Gilwern

NB Harnser

Well another meal last night in the Royal Oak, unfortunately they were fresh out of Faggots and they looked first class. This morning we were away just after 9am. planning to stop somewhere like Govilon. However that changed when Diana

Montbéliard (off the river)

NB Chalkhill Blue

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Early morning moored at Branne before the temperature hit 35°C ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── THURSDAY 12 JUNE Whilst having breakfast we checked the water levels and flows on the website I explained about on the last blog update. We decided that because

You Can Be A Tom Pudding If You Want. 15th June

NB Oleanna

*Fishpond Lock to past Stubbs Bridge* Unblurry arms, Broch, Ferry reversing, halfwit candidates and double-barreled insight were topics of the Geraghty zoom this morning. Tilly needed encouragement to return home this morning. I went calling in one direction but really

17 June 2025

A wallop, a bang and care for a poke in the eye

NB What A Lark

That afternoon David and I went for a stroll around the lanes here. All was fine to begin with, a nice wide lane with only a few cars, the next lane was busier, narrower, bendy and without a pavement or

Painting and trains

NB Briar Rose

I had a late night last night, because I'd been invited to make a guest appearance back on Radio 2, asking OJ Borg three questions about canals in his Midnight Mastermind feature. I used to regularly read the news in

Starlink Mini only £189 for our Narrow boat

NB Floydtilla

We have just purchased a StarLink Mini from Curry’s for £189, they were £399 just a short while ago so once we are back on the boat at the end of August for our next trip, we will do a

Doing A Briar Rose. 14th June

NB Oleanna

*Granary Wharf to below Fishponds Lock, Aire and Calder Navigation* As we had breakfast we could hear the gulper pump over on Lady Teal the hotel boat in almost constant use. We wondered how big their water tank must be

16 June 2025

pencelli (again)

NB Harnser

Well last night we had two good meals in The Royal Oak so we are back tonight. Set off a little later this morning and actually picked a bad time, half an hour ether way would have been better. Just

North again: Day 21

NB Briar Rose

Really sunny and warm from first thing. We got the washing machine going at 8.30 and set off as soon as the wash part of the cycle had finished. It really was a glorious morning, and just through the first

I’m Like a Bird

The Sumpners Afloat

**9th to 15th Jun – turning on to the Ashby** We decided to stay where we were on Monday as I had plenty to entertain myself – ,mainly Electrika admin – it’s starting to ramp up as we get closer.

Round To Fred’s. 13th June

NB Oleanna

*Granary Wharf, Leeds* Should we move or should we stay? Was the question over our cuppa in bed this morning. At 9am Office Lock would be unlocked to enable passage up the locks out of Leeds. Above the lock is

15 June 2025

What's that smell....?

NB What A Lark

Please start at the bottom and work up! ───────────────────────────── Finally coming into the lock. ───────────────────────────── A lady arrived at the first lock on the Middlewich Arm as I waited for David to bring WaL around, she looked expectant of me

pencelli

NB Harnser

Not the best nights sleep overall, early this morning Diana could hear a bleep. the invertor alarming on low voltage, so that was switched off, following on from this was not enough power to bring the water pump up to

Blimey... Where is everyone?

NB What A Lark

Today was supposed to be a lie in, a leisurely start, but when I woke up both the other boats had gone as had my husband biking! When David did return, we had breakfast together tidied the boat and set

North again: Day 20

NB Briar Rose

Tixall Wide is on lots of people’s lists of favourite moorings, and you can see why. The views across the water are great, we also had a view on the towpath side, and it’s lovely and quiet. No-one seemed in

(Actually) 12th June

NB Oleanna

*Granary Wharf.* **The preset** Photos, lots of them of the model box. Time to do the white card version of the storyboard. Also photos of all the model pieces for the Production Manager to see alongside the working drawings, these

14 June 2025

Abergavenny and Gilwern

NB Harnser

To see the previous three days of this holiday please go to [Diana and Brian's Holidays: Ebbw Vale 11-6-25][1] Last night was our last night in the Ebbw Vale Premier Inn, its probably the best room we have ever had

North again: Day 19

NB Briar Rose

Another sunny start to the day, and the promised showers haven’t really materialised although it has been pretty windy. We got a wash load of towels going before we set off. When we were ready to go, once the rinse

Improvements. 11th June

NB Oleanna

**A lurking boat down on the river** Back to model making today and listening to Tilly who would like to go out, her throne not an option on our current mooring due to cat health and safety legislation imposed on

Don’t miss opportunities for success

Pickingupducks

You have to see it, to believe you can be it, they say, and in education and careers that is so true. It was brought home to me this week at one of the best inaugural professorial lectures I have

13 June 2025

North again: Day 18

NB Briar Rose

The moorings at Fradley Junction are nice, even though the access lane to the pub runs alongside, but my goodness things get going early there! A delivery lorry reversed up to the cafe opposite at about 6.30, and before 7.30

Maps for Mobile and Tablet users

NB Floydtilla

Something for mobile and tablet users, we have a page with links to the maps we are testing, please let us know if this helps. I would recommend closing the map page after use, as they can contain large amounts

Checking The Fit. 10th June

NB Oleanna

*Granary Wharf, Leeds* A slower morning than yesterday with Saturdays newspaper in bed with a cuppa. **A contender for a painting** Over breakfast I plotted a route to walk today, up the canal to find an M&S then over towards

12 June 2025

North again: Day 17

NB Briar Rose

We had a relaxed start to the day, as we’d decided we’d get the bus to Lichfield to have a look round. We walked into Alrewas to get the 0948, and the route goes through Fradley village before joining the

Update

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

June 12th And still the wait continues! It's been two weeks since Ian had a scan and still no results! We are feeling positive, though, because 'no news is good news' as the saying goes. He also still feels remarkably

Baume-les-Dames (first Aesculapian snake)

NB Chalkhill Blue

──────────────────────────────────────────────── Our home next to the Veloroute for the past week ──────────────────────────────────────────────── SATURDAY 7 JUNE It rained on and off during Saturday morning so, apart from Karen going for a run, we pottered around the boat and Ougney-les-Champs where we

Guarding The Box. 9th June

NB Oleanna

*Granary Wharf, Scarborough and Chipping Norton* A silly timed alarm clock for us onboard today. I was up breakfasted, butty made and on my way into the station at 7am, Mick stayed in bed, Tilly stayed curled up. Today I

11 June 2025

North again: Day 16

NB Briar Rose

We had a very quiet evening and night at Shobnall Fields, even though the park is very well used by the locals. This morning we set off just before 9, aiming to be at Shobnall Marina when they opened at

10 June 2025

MopCop and scones

NB What A Lark

> So here are the Lewis's looking bright and breezy then next day. They had only just got back from walking Fletcher goodness knows how far when David and I said we were going for a wander (That is to

North again: Day 15

NB Briar Rose

Sunny this morning, but very windy. Adrian had a call scheduled between 10.30 and 11.30 so wanted to stay put to ensure a decent signal. While he waited for that, I walked back to the junction above Swarkestone Lock to

9 June 2025

North again: Day 14

NB Briar Rose

The water point in Shardlow is just through the bridge ahead of where we’d moored, so once we’d had breakfast we moved forward to fill the tank and get some washing on. Once that was done we went up the

Shallow

The Sumpners Afloat

**2nd to 8th Jun – back on the Cov** We had made a last minute decision to pop into King’s Orchard Marina on Sunday. They had space for us so we popped in, did the bedding and towels plus a

8 June 2025

Orange water, he dropped it and old farmers.

NB What A Lark

So then, the Harecastle Tunnel. Yesterday ago the nice lady I had chatted to at Barlaston lock had told me that nowadays you have to book to go through the tunnel with 48 hours notice, they hadn't been aware either.

North again: Day 13

NB Briar Rose

A day of multiple waterways. We started on the Beeston Cut, then the River Trent, then the Cranfleet Cut, then more Trent, then the Swales Cut, a bit more Trent, and then the Trent and Mersey. With the forecast looking