Hi all, Carol and Andy here (weeks 8 and 19).
We took our firts narrowboat trip last week, and yes I do mean our first, we had never previously been on one!
What a lovely boat she is and what a truly amazing experience. Far too many experiences to put in a blog, suffice to say every day hwill be remembered for it’s own unique little (ahem) ‘experiences’.
As we were new I think that there was a tendency to think that all mishaps were of our own making. Towards the end of the week we realised that their are some pretty absent-minded fold out on the cut.
The hours spent at 3 Locks Soulbury due to Morpheus making friends with the bottom of the ‘pound’ was we discovered NOT due to Carol emptying the whole of the GU canal system, the boat ahead of us had left two paddles open and even though they had realised their error, neglected to go back and replenish the locks. As I said, we learnt so much on our holiday and I’m sure there is still much to learn.
We also learnt that boats actually do untie themselves! Well, that’s what the locals in The Boat at Stoke Bruerne told us after we’d found ourselves broadside across the canal late one afternoon. I have to say that I was acutely aware of the tightness of my knots last week, being new and all, all the more reason to think that a passer by had taken exception to my little Southampton FXC flag flying proudly at the front of Morpheus. I will take some convincing that it was an act of God.
Other memorable times were; discovering just how hard it is to clean soot from under ones fingernalis, discovering just what thirsty work it is for the helmsman (pubs aplenty thankfully), finding out the hard way why you are advised to wear waterproofs when travelling through the Blisworth Tunnel (still drying out even now), but by far the most memorable thing that we learnt was just how beautiful this country is when viewd from the canls – truly striking.
All the best to all of you other owners and look forward to meeting one of two of you on the cut.
Regards
Carol and Andy
xx
Glad you enjoyed your first taste of the “secret garden” and canal time which is definitely a whole other world to the one we live in every day. Carol, you get on that tiller and let him do the locks!!Why is it always the women who get the harder job!
Dean,
Really calm run from Cowley Peachy into Lil Venice. We had a meander around the tiny side arm Paddington) but in spite of there being free moorings we decided to enjoy the narrow oat view of Regents Park, London Zoo and take on the Gongoozler capital that is Camden Lock. What a brilliant laugh, absolutely
Y favourite part of the whole journey.
Upshot of that is that the gods certainly were showing us favour yesterday, as we found what must be one of THE best moorings in Lomdon. Wait til you see where we are, you will see what I mean mate.
I’ll text you the directions etc but basically if you drive to St Pancras International trail station and phone me, I will walk to you and show you where Tge Marina entrance is tucked away. FREE car park too which is rare around here. £10 a night it’s cost us, bargain I reckon.
C&A