Some years ago, we had a young family (yes, they are now all grown up and in their twenties!) who hated walking very far, that’s when we discovered geocaching, the greatest global never ending treasure hunt https://www.geocaching.com/play . The caches or treasure boxes are hidden everywhere around the planet and range in size from a…
What happened to September!
September ran away from us while we were doing stuff! It started with a slight disaster. At the beginning of September, we were heading for a marina in Newbury, where we had planned to leave the boat for three weeks. This idea was scuppered when a lock ahead of us was broken by another canal…
Big skies and tall tales in Wiltshire
We spent a few days on a stretch of the Kennet & Avon Canal, nicknamed the Long Pound in the Vale of Pewsey, Wiltshire. It passes the Barge Inn at Honey Street, recognisable because it has been featured in a few TV programmes such as Village SOS, The Haunted and Inspector Morse. This area is…
Some places surprise you
You know when you’ve previously lived near to some where for 13 years and think you know it- well think again. When you’re living a different style of life, you find yourself seeing a place in a new light, discovering features and hidden gems that were in plain sight. We used to live in a…
Where are we? Finding our way
“Where are we?” That might sound daft, but it’s a legitimate question when most of the canal and river system looks like a watery green corridor! Thankfully every bridge and lock have names and numbers and junctions usually have signposts. But when there’s nothing but greenery, it’s often a sense of smell that helps!…
Hot and Steamy in Bristol
Having spent a long weekend in Bristol we’ve now found a peaceful spot on the River Avon to try out our new boarding ladder. We’ve got it hung over the gunwale (upper side edge of boat) in the bow and it has given us easy access into the river for refreshing cool swims. Quite wonderful…
Big locks and curious sights
We’re now on to the Kennet & Avon Canal (K & A). It’s 87 miles long, stretching from Reading to the Floating Harbour at Bristol. They started building it in 1718, but it took just over 90 years to complete. By the 1960s, parts of the canal had fallen into disrepair and were closed. It…
Trains, Swans and Traffic lights
We’re back home on the boat after an epic trip to Criccieth. And after a rather challenging train journey to Oxford on nearly the hottest day on record! The Llyn Peninsula (North Wales) is a favourite family destination and tends to have a bit of a microclimate. This means that the weather is changeable but…
Oxford, Morse and footsteps in the dark
We’ve had a few days in and around Oxford. We tried to moor along Port Meadow, the massive flood plain that borders onto the city centre and had to turn around to pull in above Godstow. It was a gorgeous spot that was close enough to walk to the Trout Inn which has featured in…
A thoughtful time in Lechlade
Over the last few weeks we have cruised into familiar territory, very familiar to Ian and not so much to me! When we first bought this boat back in 2009 it was based in Newbury and occasionally we would have a longer cruise and head up on to the Thames and the Oxford Canal –…