OnTheCut

An Aphrodite Rescue. 19th August

NB Oleanna

*Turnover Bridge 19 to Henry Knibb Bridge 3A, Trent and Mersey Canal* **Campervan Central** Eggs and mushrooms on toast for breakfast, they needed eating so we just had to. The water point was free by Beeston Lock so we made

Floating about: Day 11

NB Briar Rose

With Adrian not due back until this afternoon, I had quite a bit of the day to myself. I went for a walk, and this time went to look at the Murdishaw Valley Park. The road outside has a sign

Kettle Black. 18th August

NB Oleanna

*Stoke Lock to Turnover Bridge 19, Beeston Canal* We opted to have our tea with breakfast today as we wanted to cover some ground. As we pushed off a narrowboat at the other end of the pontoon had their engine

Floating around: Day 10

NB Briar Rose

We were up early this morning and set off around 7.15, although it turned out it was all a bit unnecessary! Preston Brook Tunnel is another one with timed entry, and going north you can only go in from the

Eating the elephant

NB Herbie

Now that it has turned somewhat cooler I've resumed painting bits of Herbie. Odds and ends you might call them but they really needed doing. First the bulkhead either side of the aft doors which had becaome faded and grotty.

‘S’ Approach. 17th August

NB Oleanna

*Hazelford Lock to Stoke Lock pontoon* **Thank you for the tea, thank you for my mug Tilly** Paracetamol has been doing it’s job and Mick woke this morning not feeling the need to take more. We enjoyed a leisurely tea

Floating about: Day 9

NB Briar Rose

This morning we walked up to Barnton to get my prescription from the pharmacy, which was pretty efficiently done. Barnton is having a Scarecrow Trail, with the theme of film characters. We particularly liked Mary Poppins. We set off at

It’s a Family Affair

The Sumpners Afloat

**11th to 17th August – Shakespeare Marina to ** Monday morning saw Paul working and me playing the waiting game. Our guests for the week had left on time – in fact actually a little before the planned time. They

Isuzu 42 Diesel Engine – Service Time (Basic)

NB Floydtilla

We log all our engine hours in a book with a running total, I know I have a gauge for this, but in a book I can note down anything else that happens and it reminds me when I need

Oh Dear Gladys! 16th August

NB Oleanna

*Hazelford Lock Moorings* Not much sleep to be had on Oleanna last night. I got about an hours worth before Mick woke me, he’d had none. He had chest pains. 999 was dialled, ambulance requested, our what3words location given to

Floating about: Day 8

NB Briar Rose

Today ended up being the day when we tested how easy it is to get NHS treatment when you’re living on a boat. But first, Bramble Cuttings was an idyllic mooring. It was sunny and warm last night, and we

Knee replacement update.

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

Today is 16 days since the op, I'm walking better but still have some pain behind the knee, why I don't know! The swelling hasn't gone down much, and again I would have hoped by now there would have been

Covered Cruising. 15th August

NB Oleanna

*Cromwell Lock to Hazelford Lock* Up early, we were in need of filing with diesel and to cruise around three hours today. Currently we have a destination in mind for my meeting on the south coast which needs us to

Floating about: Day 7

NB Briar Rose

Another sunny morning, although there was a distinct nip in the air first thing. We got a wash load going before we set off, and then untied at about 9am, straight through the first bridge. Before the next bridge there’s

BANG! On 11am. 14th August

NB Oleanna

*Stockwith Basin Bridge to Cromwell Visitor Moorings, River Trent* **About to leave West Stockwith Lock** With a 10am penning at West Stockwith Lock we got ourselves ready for tidal waters and as we pushed off from our mooring Mick radioed

Floating about: Day 6

NB Briar Rose

No rush this morning as we were expecting a visitor: my friend and former colleague, Jordan, was coming to see as, as his girlfriend’s family live nearby and he was up for the weekend. He was quite keen for a

The Sun Goes Down One Last Time. 13th August

NB Oleanna

*Rural Mooring to Basin Bridge 85* Cuppa in bed, then we decided to get moving before breakfast as it would be hot today. We had our eyes on a mooring that might just give us some shade for part of

Drought forces Operation Sanctuary

Pickingupducks

As waterways are closing around the country through lack of water including England’s inland artery, the Grand Union, we are now on a race to get to somewhere we can live, work, and safely access water and waste disposal. Closures

Floating about: Day 5

NB Briar Rose

I think there was a bit more rain in the night, certainly things looked a bit wet outside this morning. We got the washing machine going before we set off, and untied from our mooring at about 8.45. We were

Straight Out Of An Agatha Christie Novel. 12th August

NB Oleanna

*Retford and Worksop Boat Club to Log Rural Mooring* There was the hire car to return this morning, a Sainsburys delivery to arrive, water to fill up and the yellow water to empty. Mick headed off to Worksop with the

Floating about: Day 4

NB Briar Rose

We had a lovely evening with George and Carol last night, with plenty of boating and other stories exchanged. It was really lovely to see them, and not just make them work locks! I walked back with them to their

Summer madness -swinging the lead

NB Herbie

It's one of the hottest weeks of the year, so what brilliant idea did we have? "Lets go and sit in a hot tin box in a place where we're not allowed to move". Well here we are on Herbie

Am I Your Sister Or Your Wife? 10th 11th August

NB Oleanna

*Scarborough/ Retford and Worksop Boat Club* The Geraghty zoom included more about Alastair’s under croft, oil pumps, contactless access and Berlin. We then started to do chores about the house. Some curtains required some attention, just as Adam appeared to

Floating about: Day 3

NB Briar Rose

Last night we went outside after dark to see if we could see any shooting stars, because of the meteor shower. We saw a few, although most were quite feint. This morning was another sunny one, and we set off

Curtailed Shore Leave. 9th August

NB Oleanna

*Retford and Worksop Boat Club / Scarbados* Mick was up and off to pick up a hire car. It being Saturday Enterprise weren’t willing to come and pick him up from the boat club as they don’t have enough staff,

9th day

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

12th August I've been badgered by both Ian and Colin to stay off that leg! And I'm trying, but gosh, the boredom is setting in. I have another paint by numbers to do, but I can't get the stool and

Floating about: Day 2

NB Briar Rose

A heatwave was forecast for today, but to be honest it didn’t look much like it first thing, with heavy cloud and then a shower or two of rain. We had booked tickets for the [Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker][1],

Floating about: Day 1

NB Briar Rose

Another lovely sunny morning, and we set off just before 9, heading south and with exciting plans to go beyond Nantwich! (Not far beyond though, so maybe not that exciting). A bit chunk of the journey has to be done

One week later

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

Day 7 I managed that walk to the pub, it is roughly 500yds from Colin's gate with only an extra painkiller 'just in case'. A grassy slope was the only obstacle, went up okay but dreaded the coming back down

Down Down

The Sumpners Afloat

**4th to 10th August – Lowsonford to Shakespeare Marina** Well that was a heavy week – early mornings and lots of locks is the memory I’ll take from it. But enjoyable too. We decided not to move on Monday as

A good outcome.

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

9th August Oh dear, last night I had a fall! Well, it was more like a slide off the sofa with a derrière landing! You see the sofa is wide and to get comfortable you have to sit right back.

Painting and shopping

NB Briar Rose

It was due to be warm today so I wanted to paint the gunwales before it got too hot. I was out with the paint tray and roller before 9. Adrian arrived back at about 11, so I walked up

Designing a Serial Hybrid

The Sumpners Afloat

After nearly five years of living, working and cruising on “Old Nick”, managing the Electric Narrowboats FB group and organising Electrika for two years, we have had lots of opportunities to observe, discuss and ponder on what makes the perfect

China Chronicles Part Four – Dinners, Dancing & Disneyland Shanghai Shenanigans

NB Areandare

River Wey - Dapdune Wharf to Godalming

NB Huffler

Up early this morning. Filled with water and then off to Godalming and Sainsburys. We left early because Guildford has quite a bad anti social problem. New by laws came into effect in March this year to try and stem

Lock wind

NB Briar Rose

Adrian has gone to a former colleague’s summer party in Mansfield today, so this morning we walked up and got the car. Adrian then dropped me off at Venetian Marina, which wasn’t quite on his route but didn’t add much

Knee op recovery going well

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

So Marilyn (ex Waka Huia) has asked if I would continue to blog on my progress. Apparently helpful to those still awaiting a knee replacement and gives an idea what to expect. Of course, we are all different and my

Regrets aren’t always necessary

Pickingupducks

On Wednesday BBC Womans Hour featured women narrowboaters during their Listener Week. Back in late June when they first asked for suggestions for topics to cover, I proposed a segment about women narrowboaters, particularly about Charlotte Ashman, a talented artist,

River Wey to Dapdune Wharf

NB Huffler

Only a short trip today, all of 2 miles ! Before leaving the Rowbarge we polished the starboard side of the boat. Hard work and it takes a while. Tony puts polish on and I polish it off . Surveying

Chester draws us: Day 11

NB Briar Rose

We really liked our mooring last night, although the internet signal was decidedly weak. This morning we set off in the sunshine at about 8.45, first passing Chas Hardern’s boat yard. Beeston Iron Lock took a while to come to

River Wey - Send to Stoke

NB Huffler

We had 2 wonderful meals at The New Inn at Send. Dinner the first evening and then lunch the next day with friends. Ron and Tony did their apprenticeships together at Standard Telephones and Cables New Southgate, starting together 70

Making progress

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

The physio phoned me for an update, I was very impressed. The worry of not being able to lift the leg was mentioned, she told me not to try rushing it, all in good time. So long as I could

Chester draws us: Day 10

NB Briar Rose

The forecast today was for it to be a bit rainy, so it was a surprise to get up to sunshine. We pottered around doing a few boat jobs, then mid morning decided to walk to the ice cream farm.

Island Toll Houses of the BCN Mainline

Captain Ahab's Watery Tales

Toll Islands of the BCN Mainline Canal 7 Aug 2025 Movement along the BCN New Mainline Canal is punctuated with narrows, which always seem to accumulate sediment and slow passage to a crawl. The challenge for most boaters is deciding

Island Toll Houses of the BCN Mainline

Captain Ahab's Watery Tales

Toll Islands of the BCN Mainline Canal 7 Aug 2025 Movement along the BCN New Mainline Canal is punctuated with narrows, which always seem to accumulate sediment and slow passage to a crawl. The challenge for most boaters is deciding

Home Moorings

NB Harnser

It was a lovely evening last night, pity it wasn’t a full moon as it was quite red. not the best photo of it.[[DSCF1097c]][1] Overnight was not the best nights sleep we have had with a cow calling on and

Start of recovery

NB Free Spirit (Jameisons Afloat)

August 3rd I reckon 4 hours sleep was all I got last night. 6 am came around too soon, the nurse appeared armed with a concoction of drugs. Obs done again and thumbs up given. By 7 am, the consultant/surgeon,

Chester draws us: Day 9

NB Briar Rose

A nice sunny morning and at last the wind had dropped. As we were moored pretty much next to Tesco, we went for shopping for the next few days. Once all that was stowed, we set off at about 10am,

River Wey - Papercourt Meadows to Send.

NB Huffler

One of the places we always stop at is Papercourt Meadows. A stretch of watermeadows just after Newark Lock road bridge, that are a delight to visit. People come to paddleboard, canoe, swim and generally mess about by the river.

Willoughby

NB Harnser

A nice quiet night last night and we were away a little before ten this morning. Very few boats moored in Rugby when we got there but we had met a few boats, so could have been them. We arrived