OnTheCut

Some final stats

NB Briar Rose

After a long cruise I normally do a post with some stats for the trip, so I thought it would be nice to do some stats for the whole of our ownership of Briar Rose. We took ownership on 30

Soar-ing deep, high and demanding

Pickingupducks

In one of his 43 poems – yes, 43 – about the life of a river, Ted Hughes observes: > The winter floods have ruined her. > > She squats between draggled banks, fingering her rags > > and rubbish.”

Passing on Briar Rose to her new owners

NB Briar Rose

We were up early this morning and drove down to Kings Orchard for a final visit to Briar Rose. We arrived at about 9.30, and immediately set to loading our remaining possessions into the car. Then we spent an hour

Long catchup

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

It's been quite a while since my last post, realised I have been very lax on doing this blog, and because it's been so long, have had trouble trying to remember what happened since the end of October. All I

Panto Postcard 4, 2025

NB Oleanna

*57.25 hours* **Improved roses on the barrow** Monday morning we needed to attempt to catch up on ourselves and finish the technical rehearsal. The actors warmed up away from the stage giving the tech team some time to do more

In praise of tillers

NB Herbie

The lovely Adam and Adrian, whom many of you will know, pick up their beautiful brand new boat from Braidbar today, and watching a video tour of it I was amused to see that in spite of the boat being

Kiwis On and Off-Board Adventures – Part One

NB Areandare

Prop damage: Repair and prevention tips

Insure4Boats

A damaged boat propeller can cause all sorts of issues while out on the water. Knowing how to prevent prop damage and repair minor dings can reduce the likelihood of these problems occurring. Here, we share how to tell when

Kingley Vale handover day

NB Briar Rose

Today was the day we took over our new boat, Kingley Vale. There is a full report on the [KV blog][1], so add that to your reading list! [1]: https://nbkv.co.uk/the-long-awaited-handover-day/

A car full

NB Briar Rose

Lots more heavy rain overnight, but fortunately it had stopped by this morning and was quite nice. After breakfast we started packing proper — and began to realise that we had perhaps underestimated how much stuff was stashed away in

Panto Postcard 3, 2025

NB Oleanna

*68 hours* **Finn, the old silver back cat of Hackney** A bit of a lie in compared to recent times. A cuppa in bed and then it was time to firstly say goodbye to Mick who was on a booked

Packing

NB Briar Rose

Heavy rain overnight and more this morning, but it’s quite a bit warmer. I think I’d rather have it cold and clear (except that we still need rain…) This morning we started pack and cleaning, so now the saloon shelves

Unexpected celebrity status plus unscheduled drama

Pickingupducks

For the first time the passage of our 50ft floating home (plus office,studio, and workshop) along inland waterways in sub zero temperatures made a man dash out onto his balcony in just his dressing gown to see us. Despite his

Frosty

NB Briar Rose

As forecast, we had another cold night and it was very frosty this morning. But it was also sunny, and as I wanted to do some research for a magazine article, we walked down the canal to Whittington. Everything was

Sutton Park and The Royal

NB Briar Rose

We’re at the stage where we’re ready to pack — but don’t need to yet! We haven’t got room for boxes of stuff, and if we can live normally rather than in chaos for a couple more days, then so

Insurance and mile stones

NB Briar Rose

It was cold this morning, although the forecast sleet didn’t materialise. We took a car-load of stuff to the recycling centre in Lichfield, and then carried on into town for a Tesco shop. Back at the boat, Adrian followed up

Boat ramping etiquette and launch guide

Insure4Boats

Boat ramping comes with many rules, some of which are unspoken. This can make the process daunting if you don’t have extensive experience launching your boat using a ramp. In this guide, we share 10 boat ramping etiquette tips, along

Canal open!! plus the report of the commission looking into boat licencing and mooring

NB Herbie

I was quite surprised to receive the notice that the long term water shortage closures on the South Oxford have now been lifted. Some recent photos still showed the reservoir levels on the summit to be very low, although another

New Main Line, heading out of Birmingham

Captain Ahab's Watery Tales

New Main Line from Birmingham to Smethwick 1963 November 2025 Its a bit tricky to define the area heading out of Birmingham towards Smethwick and Tipton, but its a stretch of canal which is rich on history. H E Evans

New Main Line, heading out of Birmingham

Captain Ahab's Watery Tales

New Main Line from Birmingham to Smethwick 1963 November 2025 Its a bit tricky to define the area heading out of Birmingham towards Smethwick and Tipton, but its a stretch of canal which is rich on history. H E Evans

Moving prep — and dinner out

NB Briar Rose

We’ve started preparing for the move from this boat to the new one, and the first jobs included having a turn out of stuff we don’t need. Some stuff could go in the bins here, but we’ve also got some

A week away

NB Briar Rose

We’re back on board after a week down south. We left last Tuesday and headed for Kent; I caught a train to London to go to a leaving do, while Adrian went to his aunt and uncle’s. We then stayed

Characters of the BCN

Captain Ahab's Watery Tales

Characters of the BCN In my enthusiasm to track down the locations of the BCN I realise I often overlook the faces which used to be seen around the regions canals I have a terrible memory for names so this

Characters of the BCN

Captain Ahab's Watery Tales

Characters of the BCN In my enthusiasm to track down the locations of the BCN I realise I often overlook the faces which used to be seen around the regions canals I have a terrible memory for names so this

Tame Valley Canal

Captain Ahab's Watery Tales

Tame Valley Canal November 2015 The 8.5 mile Tame Valley Canal was a late addition to the region's canal scape, built in 1844 partly to offer a bypass round the congested city centre route to the Black Country, and partly

Tame Valley Canal

Captain Ahab's Watery Tales

Tame Valley Canal November 2015 The 8.5 mile Tame Valley Canal was a late addition to the region's canal scape, built in 1844 partly to offer a bypass round the congested city centre route to the Black Country, and partly

The Wigan 21. 7th November 2025

NB Oleanna

My friend Chris on NB Elektra, otherwise known as The Pink Hat Man, had been moored in Wigan near the bottom of the Wigan 21 flight of locks. He wanted to be at the top so he could continue his

H2 Oh!

Pickingupducks

Water – essential, but not the same for everyone or everywhere. For everyone water is vital to keep us alive, to keep our bodies going, to make us and the plants and animals we depend on, growing. For us as

Panto Postcard 2, 2025

NB Oleanna

*76 hours* **Stalls at the ready** Monday morning, I was back to it. Today publicity photos were going to be taken. I spent the morning sorting out dressing for the market scene. Lettering on banners, cheeses galore and plenty of

November 2025 – Some Canal Map Location Numbers

NB Floydtilla

Having check our database of locations we have a little bit of work sorting some anomalies that have arisen over the past couple of years, but for the moment this gives a guide to what we have done so far.

Home Mooring

NB Harnser

A rough old night and woke to the rain several times but this morning was calm and clear so we set off a few minutes earlier than normal, reversing back to the junction and going round the triangle, rather than

Whittington

NB Briar Rose

Lots more rain overnight but this morning was surprisingly sunny. We thought we’d better make the most of it so walked down the canal to Whittington, leaving the towpath at the first bridge, Bridge 80. After you’ve walked past all

Braunston

NB Harnser

It turned quite cool overnight compared to what we have been experiencing recently, down to about 6°C and this morning felt decidedly chilly out on deck, The still morning soon changed to a breezy one making it less pleasant in

Lord Vernon’s Sudbury Hall

NB Briar Rose

The forecast said this morning would be better than this afternoon, so we headed off in the car to the National Trust property, Sudbury Hall. The estate was owned by the Vernon family — and they also owned coal mines

Fizz and cake

NB Briar Rose

Quite a nice sunny day this morning, and while Adrian had a call to do, I went to do my steps along the towpath. He then joined me to do a few more. This afternoon, we drove down to the

Hillmorton Top Lock

NB Harnser

We were away a little after 10 on yet another warm, sunny morning. I wasn’t 100% happy with the new weed hatch seal I fitted yesterday as I couldn’t get the top plate as clean as I would have liked,

Past present and perfect

Pickingupducks

History isn’t something in the past if you live on the waterways. It is part of the present, entwined in daily life, in constant reminders, as we walk on and in the very footsteps of the past worn into stones

Ansty (outskirts)

NB Harnser

A bit damp over night and miserable this morning clearing up this afternoon. First job of the day was a visit to Playwright's for a Traditional Breakfast, unfortunately the order got muddled and we received two “Jumbo” breakfasts, two of

The Red Carpet

NB Briar Rose

A few domestic tasks first thing, like filling the water tank, and then we got in the car and headed off to Barton Marina. We’d booked with the little cinema there for a lunchtime viewing of [I Swear][1], a fantastic

November Braidbar visit

NB Briar Rose

We drove up to Braidbar today for the last visit before we take possession on Kingley Vale later this month. There’s a full update over on the [KV blog][1]. The boat is looking great, inside and out. Lots more photos

Coventry Basin

NB Harnser

As planned last night we ate at The Anchor and on the board it was pie night. Not real pies but a bowl of meat with a piece of puff pastry floating on top. That said my steak pie was

Stoke

NB Briar Rose

We drove the hour or so to Stoke this morning, stopping first at a fabric place to see what they had. Not what we wanted, was the answer. A cup of tea in the M&S Cafe was next on the

Anchor Bridge, Coventry canal

NB Harnser

We were a bit later getting away this morning and the timing was all wrong. Just as I was fitting the tiller to boats came by and we followed them all the way to Marston Junction. We set off this

Update on my insurance

NB Percy

Thank you all for the comments with information on who you are insured with. I got my Compare boat insurance renewal today and it was £310 up from £261 last year. I had a quote from Haven Knox Johnston for

Hawkesbury, Coventry canal

NB Harnser

Boy it was windy last night but no rain, we were moored beside the old GEC works, this is now being demolished to make way for housing.[[DSCF1207]][1]Thankfully they didn’t start until 8 o’clock this morning. An early start for us

Huddlesford Junction

NB Briar Rose

A pretty dull and slightly rainy day. This morning we drove into Lichfield to the big Tesco for a shop. After lunch, Adrian went off for an appointment about his painful foot, while I had a walk down the towpath

Brownsover

NB Harnser

Our journey to the boat was slightly different today as we called in at Brinklow Marina to meet some one. As it was lunchtime we then stopped in Newbold at The Barley Mow for a snack. I had sausage and

Car retrieval

NB Briar Rose

Having checked out the route yesterday, this morning we walked to Lichfield Trent Valley station to get a train first to Crewe and then on to Nantwich to get the car. The car has been looked after by our friends

Panto Postcard 1, 2025

NB Oleanna

*66 possibly 68 hours* **Not a bad start to Dave’s socks** Mick having been given the okay to drive again meant that instead of a seven hour train journey to Chippy we hired a car to get me and all

Settling in

NB Briar Rose

We’ll be here for a while now, but I still plan to blog each day — partly because this blog is a record of every night one or both of us has spent on board, and for completeness I’ll carry