Blogs

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. Here in a, well what is the collective

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

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

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

A new year and time for a review

Pickingupducks

It’s the start of another year, a time to take stock and look ahead. That applies to us all, and particularly to us aboard nb Preaux our floating home and office. Six years ago we set off saying we would

Keeping Things Crossed. 15th September

NB Oleanna

*Redhill Marina* The advantage of being on hook up is hot water first thing in the morning, so a nice hot shower was enjoyed. My morning was filled with trying to catch up on the blog and making phone calls

Oh it's all gone terribly wrong

NB What A Lark

Finally the day arrived for departure. I'd been so looking forward to us being on WaL. David packed the car up, made the rolls, we always have egg mayonnaise rolls or sandwiches on car journeys, always a treat, the sun

Windows To Cat Mode. 14th September

NB Oleanna

*Redhill Marina* Mick was up early and heading off with the van back to Scarborough. He had a couple of chores to do in town, then drop things off at the house, things that we only use to move back

Home Mooring

NB Harnser

Last night we ate at the barley Mow, Pie and Mash with peas. The pies are home made and not a soggy bottom to be found.Real mash, not powder. This morning we were away a little earlier as I needed

Repaint Week 13 W/C 7th September, part 2

NB Oleanna

*Redhill Marina/Scarboreugh* Saturday morning, clothes packing. Finding a bag big enough to pack our dirty washing was one job. I’d made a list of things not to forget, the Christmas hamper, Tilly Too, my scene painting straight edge and some

Newbold

NB Harnser

Well not a great deal to report today, a little rain first thing, enough to wet the deck but fine when we left at 10. As the day progressed the weather improved and we again saw lots of hire boats.

How to work out your course to steer (CTS)

Insure4Boats

When you’re sailing or navigating a boat, pointing the bow straight at your destination doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get there. Wind can push you sideways, tide or current can carry you off course, and your boat could make a little

Repaint Week 13 W/C 7th September, part one

NB Oleanna

*Redhill Marina/Scarboreugh* Monday. Last week we’d forgotten to come away from Oleanna with the correct dimensions of the diesel cap so that we could get the correctly sized version. A message was sent to Tom which also enquired as to

The Sumpners Ashore – 2026 Tour 8

The Sumpners Afloat

**Week 8 – Sep 8th** **to 13th – Camels in the mist** **Days 48 & 49 – Monday/Tuesday** – we had a very quiet day on Monday, just enjoying the peace and solitude of Oursel-Maison. Well – I did! Paul

I'm back I'm back as a matter of fact...

NB What A Lark

Well Reader, It's been a while but here I am back from New Zealand where I decamped to in July to help our youngest daughter after the birth of their second baby. People have said to me that they hoped

Ansty

NB Harnser

Well it happened again, just getting set to go and a hire boat comes passed, then a boat comes the other way, then a second hire boat from behind. Now its really thick fine drizzle, the type that soaks you

You’re The Cream, Remastered! 14th September

NB Oleanna

Well here you all are, the reveal of Oleanna’s new livery. Apologies to those who may have tried the link earlier today only for it not to have worked. My proofreader was absent this morning to try the link without

You’re The Cream. 14th September

NB Oleanna

Well here you all are, the reveal of Oleanna’s new livery. I really hope this works. If the sound is turned down, please turn it up! > [ > View this post on Instagram > ][1] More photos and videos

Burton Hastings

NB Harnser

Yesterday afternoon Diana spotted a wet bit of carpet next to where the water pump is mounted in its own tray to catch any leaks, it also has a water alarm that hadn't sounded because the ray was dry. There

Sutton Cheney

NB Harnser

A little after 10 we went and said goodbye to Mike at the ACA shop and donated some more tat. Then I walked back to the boat to set off while Diana opened the bridge/lock gate, its bit of a

Paneful reflections

Pickingupducks

There’s a fragile, colourful theme running throughout our lives. It’s a theme that the narrowboat part of our life, just one of the many beautiful homes we’ve lived in, now takes us from one to another discovery of new, exciting,

Snarestone New section

NB Harnser

Bit of an early call this morning when the CO alarm, right by my head decided it wolf go into alarm. No idea why as the only sauce of CO was Diana and I breathing, still we went back to

Market Bosworth

NB Harnser

As planned we ate at The Lime Kilns last night, a very friendly staffed pub and reasonable prices with good service. This morning we were a little late getting away, the mooring was much quieter than I expected and it

Lime Kilns, Ashby canal

NB Harnser

Again two very nice meals last night at the Greyhound, they had a specials board on with Faggots top of the list so I didn’t look any further. We had a little rain overnight but it was gone by the

Coventry Canal Hawkesbury Junction

NB Harnser

I think we had light rain most of the night and it was raining when we got up, so no rush to leave. it started to ease just after 11am and I had another fiddle round with the magnet for

The Sumpners Ashore – 2026 Tour 7

The Sumpners Afloat

**Week 7 – 31st August – Sep 6th ** **– through little Belgium to France ** **Day 41 & 42 – Monday** – and a Bank Holiday to boot! The final day of the Great Repositioning Weekend. And to be

All Oaks Wood

NB Harnser

As I said last night we were moored just above the Hillmorton Locks, at 8-30 this morning a boat came by and moored ahead of us. We were on deck chatting about quarter to ten when a boat comes by

Hillmorton Top Lock

NB Harnser

You may recall that last trip ended slightly prematurely last week due to a burnt out 24 volt isolator, so the first job when we got onboard was to fit the new switch. I chopped the old one open and

Grand Union Canal , Braunston - painting and repairing click to read more

NB Huffler

Now we start to repair all the damage done to boat this year before we go into dry dock in early October. If we can get the prep done before going in it saves a lot of time once we

Shocked into sense this week

Pickingupducks

Hmm…that’s low… Sometimes we all need a stark reminder to stop and take stock. This week has brought us some truly awful reminders. Routine can act as a blinkers for us, so that we fail to see the big picture,

Areandare For Sale

NB Areandare

The Sumpners Ashore – 2026 Tour 6

The Sumpners Afloat

**Week 6 – August 24th – 30th ** – **Leaving the Baltic coast** **and heading to France.** **Day 33 – Monday **– and an unusual Monday at that. It was a moving day. We were leaving lovely Rügen and heading

Home Moorings

NB Harnser

Well bit of a disaster and a change of plans. Yesterday evening I was sitting watching TV and Diana was just completing cooking dinner when the screen went blank and the induction hob fan fell silent. First thought the invertor

Newbold

NB Harnser

I checked the water level at the Sutton Stop lock bywash yesterday and it looked to be down by about ───────────────┬─────────────── [[DSCF2279]][1]│[[DSCF2280]][2] ───────────────┴─────────────── 80mm. so far today we have had 50mm of rain added to it, so looking quite good.

From drought to escaping the flood in one (sl…ow) move

Pickingupducks

Having waved a fond farewell to wonderful friends from France with whom we’ve had an awesome week, I was just debating what to have for lunch (and as is my wont when I’ve been talking French all the time, debating

Hawkesbury Junction N Oxford canal

NB Harnser

This was our mooring for last night, once tied up[[IMG_20260828_093834]][1] Diana visited Gorety Portuguese shop for cakes and some lovely rice pudding and then Rudens Latvians store for pickled fish. We were a bit hesitant about going out to eat

Coventry Basin

NB Harnser

Only very light rain overnight but it kicked off this morning before we were up with thunder and a very heavy shower that then changed to steady rain. We were in no hurry and the app indicated it would stop

Hawkesbury Junction

NB Harnser

When we got up this morning there were a few spots of rain on the deck, but nothing like forecast. We were a bit later getting away this morning saying goodbye to the pile of fly tipping at about quarter

All Oaks Woods mooring.

NB Harnser

Well a few more boats arrived behind us last night so about 9am this morning we moved down to the lock moorings to wait for the flight to open. Its surprising with the canal level lower there is no cross

The Sumpners Ashore – 2026 Tour 5

The Sumpners Afloat

**Week 5 – August 17th –** ** 23rd** – **Mecklenberg Lakes and the Baltic coast** **Day 27 – Monday** – these Monday mornings – they come round too quickly as they mean Paul is back at his desk. I reckon

Crossing the rubicon

NB Percy

We brought Percy in 2012... she was 20 years old then and had been lovingly looked after by the builder and owners Tony and Gill Redshaw. The paint was looking a bit tired into our early years of ownership so

Grand Union Canal to br 100 South Oxford

NB Huffler

Now it is time we start to repair all the damage done to boat this year before we go into dry dock in early October. If we can get the prep done before going in it saves a lot of

Hillmorton top lock

NB Harnser

We didn’t really plan to visit this week, only decided yesterday so had to come via Rugby to stock up with provisions on the way to the marina. Once we were unpacked and eaten lunch we plodded off out of

Community which I like

NB Percy

Ok so the last post was a bit negative, just how I was feeling but the C&RT sentiment is baked in. In contrast we have been on the moorings here for a while now and its nice to feel part

Le service normal reprendra la semaine prochaine.

Pickingupducks

Apologies – spending time with old friends from Preaux on Preaux and in the National Forest. Normal service will be resumed next week. Have a great week in the meantime and thank you for all those rain dances which appear

Grand Union Canal, /South Oxford Canal br 100 back to Braunston

NB Huffler

having found a small spot of oil on the head gasket seal when he wiped the engine down last evening We decided to return to the marina to change the head gasket. It was much shorter to reverse to the