OnTheCut

Corre (no mishaps or were there?)

NB Chalkhill Blue

──────────────────────────── Peaceful upside-down mooring ──────────────────────────── TUESDAY 29 APRIL We’d moored under tall trees on Monday and consequently were in the shade all evening. There were also tall trees on the other side of the water so it was still shady

A Much Needed Refill. 29th April

NB Oleanna

*Museum Gardens to Naburn Lock* Tuesday and the world was that bit quieter. This morning the rowers were from the older end of the spectrum, grey haired and not quite so feisty with their strokes. I was also not so

Swanning about at work, and life

Pickingupducks

Monday mornings when you live on a canal are rarely heart-sinking events as they can be in conventional life, but this Monday brought a real heart-stopping, breath-holding moment. From our dining table, desk, and workspace this week we’ve been able

Pills and Boxes

NB What A Lark

So here's my last tryout with a new font. The weather was bright but cold. It called for my windproof trousers, (basically plastic) but they did the job but a bit of an annoying rustle! Off we went about 10am

Claydon Top Lock

NB Harnser

Boats were moving early again, I expect planning to stop before mid day but we chugged off at our normal 10am ish. As we made our way slowly along the canal these horses caught my eye, the colouring of the

Batteries, and an empty museum

NB Briar Rose

It’s fair to say that we have been struggling a bit with our batteries ever since we set off. At first we hoped they’d just become a bit lazy while plugged in to shore power over the winter and they

The UK's best hidden coastal gems

Insure4Boats

**From quaint harbour towns to secluded bays, these are the must-visit seaside spots to avoid the crowds** * The Welsh village of Trearddur is the UK’s best coastal hidden gem. * Salcombe Regis and Goodrington in Devon are the second-best

Liquid Chocolate. 28th April

NB Oleanna

*Museum Gardens, York* Being in York meant that I could accompany our friend Frank on a hospital appointment here. A slow start to the day had been planned, but then I discovered that Frank had a whole itinerary for his

Marston Doles

NB Harnser

We woke to lots of bird noise and a couple of boats had been by well before we were ready to set off, The Grand Union was quite busy but once we joined the South Oxford at Napton Junction things

Braidbar progress visit

NB Briar Rose

We were up and out in good time this morning and driving up to Braidbar to see how work was getting on with our new boat, Kingley Vale. We made more decisions and also visited the fabric and worktop supplier

Narrow Escapes - series 2

NB Huffler

2025 series starts NEXT Monday 5th May It runs for 5 weeks, Monday to Friday at 4pm or you can stream it. We are part of this year's cast We might be old (in years) but our attitude to life

I’ll Be Wearing Orange Trousers. 27th April

NB Oleanna

*Museum Gardens, York* Subjects covered on the Geraghty zoom this morning included, 10 year old shopping, 10 pin bowling, the Popes Funeral and rowing. This has been relayed to me as I was out walking to meet a complete stranger

Leaving Rugeley

NB What A Lark

Morning all, Another change of font here, I'll see how we go.... We set off this morning a bit on the later side, David had moved the car onwards and I, well frankly Reader I was reading a really good

Wolfamcote

NB Harnser

It was about 10am when we left home, I can’t remember the last time I had the aircon on for 3 hours. The traffic was surprisingly light and the only holdup was after the A14 when they felled a roadside

Long weekend in Cheshire: Day 5

NB Briar Rose

Another sunny morning to wake up to, in fact the sun was so bright when I wound up the shower room blind, I had to wind it halfway back down again! The mooring before Red Bull Aqueduct actually had one

Grand Union Canal - Norton Junction to Weedon

NB Huffler

lovely old cottages here, once owned by the waterways. Beautiful working boat here. We often buy our coal from him. Southern Cross Interesting ..... 1930 stamped into the lock wall. A rebuild ? The well known Anchor Cottage at Long

So so lucky

NB Percy

I try each day to recognise how lucky we are. A lot of luck but plenty of planning risk taking and hard work of course got us to where we are. As life sometimes gets harder to reflect on how

Goodramgate Curry. 26th April

NB Oleanna

*New Walk to Museum Gardens, York* **A very busy river today** Preparations for moving the boat today with guests onboard. We undid our means of tying to the chains and just passed the ropes round them as a temporary measure,

Long weekend in Cheshire: Day 4

NB Briar Rose

The mooring above the Dane-in-Shaw Aqueduct was glorious, especially as we had it to ourselves. This morning we could hear a very elaborate bird song, which the Merlin app told me was a blackcap. And it was sunny again! As

The complete guide to jet ski rules and regulations

Insure4Boats

Owning a jet ski can be thrilling, but it comes with certain responsibilities. The main one is ensuring you know the code of conduct for using this type of watercraft. Brushing up on your knowledge before heading out during the

Homework

NB Herbie

We're back home now after a mildly productuve couple of weeks on Herbie. The worst of the roof rust is now removed, treated and overpainted. Still plenty more to do of course but things look a lot better along the

Béménil (over the top)

NB Chalkhill Blue

─────────────────────────── Saturday morning in Charmes ─────────────────────────── FRIDAY 25 APRIL Before cruising to our next stop on Friday we walked to the local village of Gripport to have a look around. To get there we had to cross a lock on

Everybody Blow. 25th April

NB Oleanna

*New Walk, York.* In between preparation for the party this evening I took to the river bank for my walk. Down stream under Millennium Bridge, then having to go a little in land to get round York Motor Boat Club.

Braunston - Grand Union Canal to Norton Junction

NB Huffler

We made good use of our time in the marina. Managed to wash and polish boat, and wash cratch cover inside and out. So off we go again I can here you saying "that's the entrance to the South Oxford

Long weekend in Cheshire: Day 3

NB Briar Rose

More sunshine! We set off about 9, and just as we were getting ready to go a boat came past. It turned out he was only going a little way before stopping. On the way into Congleton there’s the first

Bye Bye Bye

The Sumpners Afloat

**Leaving Brinklow and heading North – 18th – 27th April** Our guests – dubbed “The Stubb Family Robertson” in our WhatsApp group, none other than Anne and Gray, had arrived after a fairly arduous and trafficky journey. They had driven

Meeting a true blogger

NB Percy

Back in the days of Snecklifter ... ([This Link][1] is the only bit of connection with Mike and Liz from NB Snecklifter who were avid reading when I was really dreaming of canal boat living and ownership 2007/8 ish ?

Arrivals. 24th April

NB Oleanna

*New Walk, York* **New Walk** Awake again at 7am with the University rowers. A while later a couple of sculls came down from York Rowing club, the lady asking her friend about boats moored along this stretch. There are only

Two Months in Gisborne: Grandparenting, Beaches And the Slow Life in NZ

NB Areandare

Long weekend in Cheshire: Day 2

NB Briar Rose

A really beautiful Sunday morning, and to remind ourselves what day of the week it was we had eggs for breakfast, scrambled on a Staffordshire oatcakes! We headed off along a footpath over the fields, and looking back got a

Grand Union Canal Two Boats ph Long Itchington to Braunston

NB Huffler

Weather dry this morning but quite chilly. We had a superb early evening meal with our travel partners here last evening. Excellent food, lovely staff and all round good value. We arranged to travel together again today. There they are

New Adventure ; cancelled or just postponed

NB What A Lark

Welcome, welcome Reader, Its been a while I know but here I am. Actually there are fewer and fewer of me left.... Bloggers I mean to say. All my old favourites have ceased blogging (Not died) but I keep tapping

Annual Report

NB Briar Rose

Fourteen years of ownership of Briar Rose completed, and of course this year has been a bit different because we are now living on board, as of four weeks ago. That would certainly explain why the number of nights spent

Sunny….. Scarbados! 23rd April

NB Oleanna

*New Walk, York* No real need for an alarm on this mooring as the rowers started to pass not long after 7am. I was up, breakfasted and out of the door heading towards the station a little after 9am. **Sunny

Long weekend in Cheshire: Day 1

NB Briar Rose

We were up and about promptly this morning, on a unusually murky and chilly day. We’d been joined at Westport Lake during yesterday late afternoon by two other boats, and one of them, a shared ownership boat, set off just

Still There. 22nd April

NB Oleanna

*Naburn Lock to New Walk, River Ouse* Anyone who has ever visited York by boat will be aware of how bad the boaters facilities are in the city. So before we left Naburn we wanted to have a full water

Travelling in the footsteps and hoofprints of history

Pickingupducks

1805. Admiral Lord Nelson told his men that England expected them to do their duty as they approached the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar, knowing many would lose their lives. As the smoke of cannons

A bit of progress and an upcoming event

NB Herbie

We eventually got all the black Fertan streaks off the side of the boat (that was a couple of hours work I hadn't planned for) and at last I was able to bring out the paintbrush and a tin of

Caldon Cruise: Day 9

NB Briar Rose

Yet another bright sunny morning. We were away about 9am, and made our way through Milton and towards Stoke-on-Trent. Many of the bridges are on bends, making them tricky to approach and impossible to see if anything is coming. This

Gripport (bloody nightingales)

NB Chalkhill Blue

We've not had a lot of sunshine on the canals over these last few days MONDAY 21 APRIL Before we started our journey along the canal des Vosges we needed to fill up the tank and spare jerry cans with

Sensible planning ...

NB Percy

I'm getting a tad wary of my leaning towards sensibility when it comes to planning and doing jobs. A few times recently I've caught myself not doing something or re scheduling due to material, time and tiredness. In a small

Happy 100th Fatso! 25th April 2025

NB Oleanna

Today would have been my Daddy Fatso’s 100th Birthday. Sadly he’s not still with us, but that is no excuse not to celebrate the day. We’ve headed to York with that purpose in mind, to hold a birthday party for

Caldon Cruise: Day 8

NB Briar Rose

We really liked the mooring at Hazlehurst Aqueduct; last night as we were going to bed we could hear a tawny owl calling repeatedly. This morning was sunny and bright again, and we set off at 9.15. After a few

The 10 best rivers to kayak in the UK

Insure4Boats

Looking for your next adventure? Kayaking is one of the best ways to explore the UK's natural beauty – just you, your kayak, and so many choices of rivers to roam. Whether you're after calm, scenic paddles or thrilling whitewater,

Wet, Brown And Willowy. 21st April

NB Oleanna

*Selby Swing Bridge to Naburn Visitor Moorings, River Ouse* Just what we expected a rainy Bank Holiday Monday! **Coming through** Waterproofs were put on as four of yesterdays cruisers left Selby Basin. There’d be more room for us now. We

A Setback! Plus Gertie falls in!!

NB Herbie

After my optimism of yesterday, fate had other ideas. My fault really, I should have remembered that Fertan when it is working produces a sooty deposit. Well last night it rained heavily and made a good job of dribbling little

Caldon Cruise: Day 7

NB Briar Rose

There was heavy rain in the night, drumming on the roof so hard that it woke us both us. By this morning, though, the sun was back out again. We’re getting very familiar with the industrial estate on the way

Royal Leamington Spa to. the Two Boats br 25 - Long Itchington, Grand Union Canal

NB Huffler

Departing our moorings in Leamington Spa we set off towards br 35 where we know there is a Post Office. Much regeneration going on around the Railway station Br 35 and the post office is in this parade of shops.

An Easter treat and some progress on the roof.

NB Herbie

They say the sun shones on the righteous. Well they must have got that wrong because it shone all day on us yesterday, which was great as we had a short cruise with our daughter Claire and grandkids Grace and

Caldon Cruise: Day 6

NB Briar Rose

A lovely sunny day, which was just as well as we had plans to meet family. We set off from the boat at around 9.30 and walked along to the end of the arm. There’s only enough room for a