The canal / narrowboat thread.
Discussion
MartG said:
Guy using a drone to video the route of the defunct Derby Canal
Episode 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_FcKH4_ejY
Think how many canals could have been restored for the price of HS2...Episode 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_FcKH4_ejY
ThunderSpook said:
dhutch said:
Bacon Is Proof said:
My neck of the woods.
I'm at Bottisham lock, which provided me with a rude awakening yesterday as some tourists managed to open both ends of it.
Both gates, or both paddles?I'm at Bottisham lock, which provided me with a rude awakening yesterday as some tourists managed to open both ends of it.
Or a stop lock with very small fall!
Simpo Two said:
MartG said:
Guy using a drone to video the route of the defunct Derby Canal
Episode 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_FcKH4_ejY
Think how many canals could have been restored for the price of HS2...Episode 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_FcKH4_ejY
A decade or so ago Mrs.T66 and I looked at buying a narrowboat as a liveaboard. Didn't seem the right time, though, back then. Began looking again in late 2019/early 2020 as we knew we needed to change some things in our life. Covid made us push that decision a little harder, especially after being stuck in a small, sunless apartment for much of the last 12+ months.
It's taken a while to find the right boat, but we finally managed to buy one we loved and moved onboard a couple of weeks ago. It's been a bit of an adjustment in day-to-day living, but I have to say, once onboard, the trials of the outside world seem to fade significantly. The other benefit is having never settled anywhere for any length of time, at least we can float our home away if we need and relocate.
The other upside is that within 30 minutes cruising we are in the middle of the countryside with no-one around and views that we'd never be able to afford in a house. Winter, I'm sure, will be 'interesting' and a new challenge... but facing new challenges and learning new stuff is part of life.
It's taken a while to find the right boat, but we finally managed to buy one we loved and moved onboard a couple of weeks ago. It's been a bit of an adjustment in day-to-day living, but I have to say, once onboard, the trials of the outside world seem to fade significantly. The other benefit is having never settled anywhere for any length of time, at least we can float our home away if we need and relocate.
The other upside is that within 30 minutes cruising we are in the middle of the countryside with no-one around and views that we'd never be able to afford in a house. Winter, I'm sure, will be 'interesting' and a new challenge... but facing new challenges and learning new stuff is part of life.Thanks, guys,
She's 70ft. Built in 2000 and recently refitted. Lots of room as it's mainly open-plan, and with plenty of storage... but even then, Mrs.T66 will have to reduce the shoe collection! It was an easier decision for us than perhaps others as we don't have kids, and we've certainly never felt 'settled' anywhere. But I already feel like I'm home when I step back aboard.
Choosing (and it took a year to find one we felt at home in as soon as we stepped aboard) was odd. We set out looking for a reverse-layout (kitchen at the rear) and cruiser-style (so a large rear deck)... and ended up with a conventional bedroom at the rear and a trad to boot. Through looking at a few different boats we realised we needed a more open-minded aspect of the whole thing. Part of the problem was actually getting to see the boats we wanted - a few times we'd already set off on cross-country jaunts to get a phonecall midway saying "Sorry, it's been sold." Apollo Duck was always the first point of call, and we were the first to view 'ours' and decided right away - there were another five people due to see it after us. It's certainly a good time to be selling, and unless the government sort out international travel I think it will be the same for some time as people seem to looking at other options - the brokerage we used had never been busier, and much of their new custom was people looking for a floating holiday home.
We fully expect a very different life. I already seem to have the designated elsan duties, and even with 1300 litre water tanks (which are twice the size of any others we saw) we still managed to run out of water one evening as we forgot that the guy who brought it up from the Midlands had used a lot, too. Not something to think about in an apartment, but another of those small adjustments. There's a positive side to it, too - we're a lot more conscious of water and electric usage, even though we're hooked up in a small marina. We know there could be big bills (a few have said 'boat' stands for "Bring Out Another Thousand") but we just couldn't continue with extortionate rents in Manchester. Another bonus - in seven years in the old apartment I got to know (as in saying hello and small-talk stuff) a few other households in the whole block... but in two weeks we've had people help us with electric re-wiring, lots of excellent advice, have been shown around loads of peoples' boats and had some drinking evenings with them all, too. A real small and helpful community of people who have all just chosen a different way of life.
As I type this I'm in the huge open front deck area looking out over a serene and shimmering River Weaver with ducks and their ducklings quacking three feet away. It feels like another world. I have no idea what the future will bring, and for once have actuially stopped worrying about it.
She's 70ft. Built in 2000 and recently refitted. Lots of room as it's mainly open-plan, and with plenty of storage... but even then, Mrs.T66 will have to reduce the shoe collection! It was an easier decision for us than perhaps others as we don't have kids, and we've certainly never felt 'settled' anywhere. But I already feel like I'm home when I step back aboard.
Choosing (and it took a year to find one we felt at home in as soon as we stepped aboard) was odd. We set out looking for a reverse-layout (kitchen at the rear) and cruiser-style (so a large rear deck)... and ended up with a conventional bedroom at the rear and a trad to boot. Through looking at a few different boats we realised we needed a more open-minded aspect of the whole thing. Part of the problem was actually getting to see the boats we wanted - a few times we'd already set off on cross-country jaunts to get a phonecall midway saying "Sorry, it's been sold." Apollo Duck was always the first point of call, and we were the first to view 'ours' and decided right away - there were another five people due to see it after us. It's certainly a good time to be selling, and unless the government sort out international travel I think it will be the same for some time as people seem to looking at other options - the brokerage we used had never been busier, and much of their new custom was people looking for a floating holiday home.
We fully expect a very different life. I already seem to have the designated elsan duties, and even with 1300 litre water tanks (which are twice the size of any others we saw) we still managed to run out of water one evening as we forgot that the guy who brought it up from the Midlands had used a lot, too. Not something to think about in an apartment, but another of those small adjustments. There's a positive side to it, too - we're a lot more conscious of water and electric usage, even though we're hooked up in a small marina. We know there could be big bills (a few have said 'boat' stands for "Bring Out Another Thousand") but we just couldn't continue with extortionate rents in Manchester. Another bonus - in seven years in the old apartment I got to know (as in saying hello and small-talk stuff) a few other households in the whole block... but in two weeks we've had people help us with electric re-wiring, lots of excellent advice, have been shown around loads of peoples' boats and had some drinking evenings with them all, too. A real small and helpful community of people who have all just chosen a different way of life.
As I type this I'm in the huge open front deck area looking out over a serene and shimmering River Weaver with ducks and their ducklings quacking three feet away. It feels like another world. I have no idea what the future will bring, and for once have actuially stopped worrying about it.
Edited by MikeT66 on Saturday 5th June 16:24
miniman said:
MikeT66 said:
miniman said:
Sounds fab, I would love one at some point, albeit not to live on. Would really like a Josher bow.
Sorry, miniman... "Josher Bow"?MikeT66 said:
miniman said:
MikeT66 said:
miniman said:
Sounds fab, I would love one at some point, albeit not to live on. Would really like a Josher bow.
Sorry, miniman... "Josher Bow"?
miniman said:
MikeT66 said:
miniman said:
Sounds fab, I would love one at some point, albeit not to live on. Would really like a Josher bow.
Sorry, miniman... "Josher Bow"?Fellows of Fellows, Morton, Clayton canal carriers. I think this one might be a bit short, but I can't find a clear picture of a real one.
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