Blogs
Keep up to date on the latest adventures and musings from boaters blogs.
21 October 2026
The First Of The 60ths. 17th October
NB Oleanna
*Bumingham / London* **Bumingham shortly after sun rise** Another early start, this one even earlier than the last few, we were awake before the sun had lifted over the horizon today. Breakfast and the magic food bowl set. ***Not Again!
20 October 2026
Westlife. 16th October
NB Oleanna
*Scarborough /Bumingham* Up early, a few jobs to be done in the house to leave it ready for lodgers. The freezer was the main job as it had been defrosted yesterday and needed mopping out. The drive back southwards was
19 October 2026
A Day In Hand. 15th October
NB Oleanna
*Bumingham/ Scarborough* With a day in hand on our schedule, we decided to make use of it. Mick headed off before 8am to pick up a hire car. I pottered and got things ready for a day away, maybe a
18 October 2026
Oh, BUM! 14th October
NB Oleanna
*Wolverhampton Tunnel to Sheepcote Street Bridge, **Bumingham*** **One day!** Whilst Mick tightened the stern gland this morning I chatted to Frank keeping him upto date on paperwork I’m doing for him and checking to see what other things he might
17 October 2026
Will we fail?
Pickingupducks
You join us on the edge. On the edge of major change. On the edge of a major quadrennial event. We are at last, after a long journey to get here, heading into dry dock tomorrow. We will cruise in,
16 October 2026
21 with 4. 13th October
NB Oleanna
*Autherley Junction to Urban Moorings to Top of Off Side Mooring Wolverhampton Tunnel* Up early, a check in with Frank who had been moved at midnight within the hospital. A list of things he might like when he moves to
15 October 2026
Don’t Forget Your Drain Holes
The Sumpners Afloat
With Winter fast approaching and the likely periods of heavy rain on the way, I thought it would be good to highlight one of the most important routine tasks for all narrowboat owners – drain hole clearance. On most cruiser
Protection. 12th October
NB Oleanna
*Moat House Bridge 74 to Autherley Junction* Apologies that this is becoming a bit more of a diary at the moment rather than a boating blog. The blog has always been a way of recording our life afloat which includes
14 October 2026
Rallying Frankness. 11th October
NB Oleanna
The Geraghty zoom conversations included Zack, Library banning, hose pipe dispensation, the final Waverely trip, and Ardingly Reservoir. Afterwards we pushed off with the aim of finding a mooring better for Tilly than last nights. **Frothy Man** Some days you
13 October 2026
Funny Feet Locks. 10th October
NB Oleanna
*Hazelstrine Bridge to opposite Otherton Boat Haven* Five minutes late pushing off this morning! A boat came past us, it had slowed a touch to pass, but still had us all over the shop, as we discovered this was the
12 October 2026
Three In A Line, In The Rain. 9th October
NB Oleanna
*Tixall Wide to Hazelstrine Bridge 96* A stormy night. Really quite windy. This would most probably have woken us both up at some point, but we’d normally have been able to get back to sleep. However, there was a tapping
11 October 2026
Adventures: missed, mis- and mini…
NB Cleddau (Boatwif)
A team of C&RT volunteers had been hard at work all morning, cleaning, sweeping, scraping weeds from between the paving slabs, even grass cutting around the Wharf. After the long, baking summer this was a novelty – freshly trimmed grass
One For Each Bedroom. 8th October
NB Oleanna
*Tescos, Rugeley to Tixal Wide, Stafford and Worcester Canal.* Mick started sorting clothes for a wash this morning. Now that the weather has turned a bit chilly we both realised we’d only two pairs of jeans each. Having another pair
10 October 2026
Chestnuts Roasting. 7th October
NB Oleanna
*Fradley to Tescos Rugeley* **Guess who forgot to put a blob of something on the cratcch poppers!** Rain. Not heavy, but rain this morning. The forecast last night had suggested it wouldn’t last long, the Met office app suggested it
All change
Pickingupducks
This week has been very different for us – 3 days helping with young family and now the Skipper is doing the same for older family. Amid this we have managed to catch up with old amd new boating friends
9 October 2026
Two lumps of something and two Heros.
NB What A Lark
This mornings start was delayed.... But not for too long in fact. The sun came out and although it wasn't as clear as yesterday it was still fabulous. David had moved the car ahead to Bratch Locks. So when he
A goose and an almighty crash.
NB What A Lark
Time to pull the pins and make tracks or ripples I suppose. The lock just in front of us was empty and as David was letting off the bow rope, yes you've guessed it, a boat passed us by. ─────────────────────────
"It should be okay...."
NB What A Lark
It was time to leave Wolverley and really make the turn to return to Great Haywood. This trip had been not exactly cut short but trimmed, or shaved a few days. David had given me the option of getting down
Threads Of Remembrance. 6th October
NB Oleanna
*Alrewas to Fradley * **A misty start** A very misty start this morning in Alrewas, thank you Adam for the photo, I suspect we were still in bed with our morning cuppa when this was taken. Tilly still wasn’t enamoured
8 October 2026
Furthest West. 5th October
NB Oleanna
*Shobnall Fields to Bridge 47, Alrewas* So glad we were only moored here for one night. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice mooring but Tilly and I spent far too long here last year. When I say it’s a
7 October 2026
Bewdley and a Bride
NB What A Lark
The next day after David had fetched the car, we did a quick flit into Kidderminster for food shopping and a bit of a snoop in M&S. It was only as we arrived in the car part of the retail
Cookley and a cave
NB What A Lark
I'm so sorry Reader for my absence but I will explain later, but for now I will resume where I left off that is to say after a couple of nights at the previously named "Wide Bend", just short of
Three Stamps. 3rd 4th October
NB Oleanna
*Cranfleet Cut to Aston Lock to Weston Cliff Bridge 10 to Shobnall Fields* **Saturday** **Morning view** Tilly had an hours shore leave whilst we had breakfast on board, she did a bit of self catering earning this mooring a stamp
6 October 2026
OAC. 1st, 2nd October
NB Oleanna
*Stoke Lock to Sainsburys to Cranfleet Cut* First things first, someone turned eleven today and in so doing made me the youngest crew member on board! **O**ld **A**ge **C**at, 11, she’s reached 60 before me! She doesn’t act like an
5 October 2026
South Bound, We Hope! 29th 30th September
NB Oleanna
*King’s Marina to Hazelford Lock, River Trent* **Tuesday** Our Sainsbury’s delivery arrived and Mick was up by the gates waiting to let the driver in. Shopping stowed. A new gas bottle was needed to bring our supplies up to winter
4 October 2026
Setting The Plan In Action. 27th, 28th September
NB Oleanna
*Kings Marina / York / Scarborough* Sunday we dug out Tilly’s magic food bowl and set it ready to open in 8 hours time, topped up her biscuit bowl, then packed bags and popped the cheesecake into a cool bag
3 October 2026
B24. 26th September
NB Oleanna
*Kiln Pontoon to King’s Marina, Newark* There were several jobs we wanted to do whilst still being on the pontoon. The dishwasher had a clean cycle, the wet dry vac was used to go through the boat and then retreated
Seasonal shifts
Pickingupducks
That is it. We have worked the last locks for a month or so (at least for our boat – we’ve already offered to lockwheel for some friends, gluttons for punishment as we are!). We are just 8 miles from
2 October 2026
Frankness. 24th 25th September
NB Oleanna
*Kiln Pontoon, Newark* **Newark Northgate** This morning we were up and walking to Newark Northgate to catch a train northwards. Mick had a hospital appointment in Scarborough to attend and it would give us the opportunity to visit our friend
1 October 2026
All aboard!
NB Herbie
Yes dear reader, we are still alive (not sure about 'and kicking') and Herbie is till afloat and we are on board for a week. CRT promised an October 1 update on the closure of the canal hereabouts and true
Ten Pound Pies. 23rd September
NB Oleanna
*Opposite Kiln Pontoon, Newark to Kiln Pontoon, Newark* Whilst having our morning cuppa in bed we could hear a boat across the way on the pontoon heading off. A peek out of the front blinds, it was the smaller of
30 September 2026
Out Of Our Hands
NB Oleanna
**21st September** *Hazelford Lock* Today was a work day for me, a couple of panto meetings to fill the day. However the day started off with conversations with Chris who hosts the blog. His servers were having some problems, we’d
29 September 2026
Cruising Back To Blogging.
NB Oleanna
Here’s hoping our blogging woes have all been sorted. One thing that will be a bit different for a while is that Mick will be updating our blog roll manually, as and when, rather than it being automatic. We also
The Sumpners Ashore – 2026 Tour 10
The Sumpners Afloat
**Week 10 – Sep 21st** **to 27th – Take me back to dear Old Blighty ** And yes – I can sing that song, verse and chorus! **Day 62 – Monday** – Our last Monday was a beautiful one –
28 September 2026
Pont à Bar (boat painting)
NB Chalkhill Blue
**Monday 21 September** ──────────────────────────────── [][1] ──────────────────────────────── Feeling good to be back on board ──────────────────────────────── As is often the case when we book tickets to and from France, we forget the significance of the day we’re travelling. We often inadvertently find
26 September 2026
Fabled travel and ways to live life
Pickingupducks
Aesop the famed Ancient Greek fabulist was said to have told the tale of the hare and the tortoise. One so fast, so fleet of foot, and one so slow to be ridiculed. We learn such fables as children, but
25 September 2026
Day 72 of our 2026 Adventure – Return to Droitwich Spa Marina
NB Floydtilla
We start the day moored just opposite The Queens Head, after a quick poo walk and some breakfast, we started the last day of our trip. It feels odd that we may be back in the Marina tonight. While we
24 September 2026
Day 71 of our 2026 Adventure – The 30 Lock Lass
NB Floydtilla
Today we are doing the Tardebigge Lock Flight! It is the longest flight of locks in the UK, comprising 30 narrow locks on a two-and-a-quarter-mile (3.6 km) stretch of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. But before that Obi has his
23 September 2026
Day 70 of our 2026 Adventure – Three Tunnels
NB Floydtilla
Overnight this was a noisy mooring, it is very close to the main road and the railway line. We also had some people step on the boat after midnight, but Obi barking soon sent them away. In the morning he
22 September 2026
Day 69 of our 2026 Adventure – Selly Oak
NB Floydtilla
After a bit of restless night, Obi did not seem to be feeling very well, we spent a bit of time talking to Vets, but in the end we could do nothing for him until the morning. Once the morning
Another day on Maud
NB Harnser
We were travelling as passengers on the Wherry Maud from Sutton Staithe back to her base at the Forsythe Wherry Yard at Ludham. The wherry was due to leave Sutton at 1030, but first we had to drive to Womack
The Sumpners Ashore – 2026 Tour 9
The Sumpners Afloat
**Week 9 – Sep 14th** **to 20th – Our last full week** **Day 55 – Monday** – as is customary for a Monday it, was a “staying where we were” day, so that Paul could have a good start to
"Wot! No supper??"
NB What A Lark
So the next morning was bright and sunny. Not too windy in fact just right a bit like Goldilocks's porriage. An easy run from Wombourne and the Bratch locks through to Swindon where we both got another soaking! Here in
21 September 2026
Day 68 of our 2026 Adventure – Pump Out then to Birmingham
NB Floydtilla
Today started with Obi’s poo walk along the canal. Then we turned the boat around and headed back to the pump-out point at Black Country Living Museum. This time when we arrived there was only one boat moored and the
Site Problems
NB Oleanna
Due to problems that our web site host is aware of the blog is running very slowly. It may take some time to fix so for the time being we wont be posting. We’ll save everything up for when things
How Did They Do That?! 18th September
NB Oleanna
*Sainsburys Nottingham to Stoke Lock, River Trent* **HMS Titani** I was expecting a phone call from the panto set builder this morning. I got my drawings out from the cupboard and sketchbook to make notes, have to say over the
20 September 2026
Wet Wet Wet
NB What A Lark
David was up and away this morning way before I was awake, but not before he'd done last nights washing up. There is this time when he is awake and it's not light enough to go cycling. Marvellous really, when
One long day
NB What A Lark
So with the threat of rain fast diminishing from the weather satellite app that David actually pays money for; (He's very sniffy about weather apps in general and has active and ongoing discussions with other golfers who try to tell
Slowing To Stop. 17th September
NB Oleanna
*New Boots Footbridge to Sainsburys* Last night we’d given our cruising plans some thought. Our original aim had been to head to York for a get together with an old friend and family. We’d considered it possible in the time
19 September 2026
That Spring Feeling. 16th September
NB Oleanna
*Redhill Marina to New Boots Footbridge 18, Beeston Canal* Now that Tilly is sitting in the windows she’s been eyeing up the grassy bank alongside the mooring here. There will be friends in there, but there is also a wasps