Around the Boating Blogs

Around the Boaters Blogs

Firstly, I have come across a couple of boating blogs this week.. Paul has started one on the MSN system of blogs.. Tafelberg is 70ft long.. only just started this one, but I just loved this which was put on as a comment!

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... (......)... Oooo........
.....).../. ...(.....).........
.....(_/.......).../..........
.............. (_/.............
.just passing through.
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... (......)... Oooo.........
.....).../. ...(.....)..........
.....(_/.......).../...........
............... (_/............
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Another is Snowbird – Tom Leigh retired to Spain, but was unsettled out there

Then I remembered an old ambition of mind - to explore England via the unique centuries-old canal system. I began to get excited. Why not? What not buy a narrowboat instead of a yacht and spend a few years doing just that. A narrowboat can be just like a home inside and are stable enough for just about anyone.

Tom is fitting out Snowbird himself, and there are some pics on his blog showing the progress..

Being a yachtsman first and a narrowboat skipper second, I designed the layout as a yacht is usually done.

It’s always nice to have a boat just as you want it as a livaboard.. Tom certainly has the expertise to do a grand job me thinks.

….From Chas and Ann on NB Moore2Life..

At the top of the Adderley Locks and past bridge 66 we entered Brownhills Wood. It was so thick the suns rays found their way past the branches producing an eerie feel. It felt cooler in the shade. A lonely fisherman sat there on the tow path. Ann and Molly passed by the man who spoke but she did not hear the words. Somebody was cutting the grass using a noisy machine. He was dressed in protective mask and goggles so all you could see was his glowing eyes. Which one was the ghost which is known to haunt these woods? As I passed the fisherman I asked if he had ever seen the ghost. I heard his reply as the grass cutter had passed on. "It's too noisy for ghosts" he said.

Ha, well I think Chas was very brave to talk to the fisherman!  I wondered if the reply he got was with a smile or not.. still a good excuse for no fish caught today!!

…From Les Biggs looking for his new life on Valerie

This set me thinking would this be the way to go as i am not at all worried about fitting out my-self. Anyway further web searching brought up Liverpool Boats are producing a part fitted narrowboat wich has the kitchen and bathroom ready to use. So now i am doing my homework re pricing up all sorts of things to see if this could be an option for me.

All he has to do now is sell that house!!… He is nearly there with that though

… From Jo on her way along the Llangollen canal with Misty Lady

Why is it some people think they are above helping out at the locks, today we had a chap behind us on a hire boat from Anglo Welsh and he did not help one bit, not only that he pinched someone elses lock even though we held it for an on coming boat. Do the hire companies not tell their hirers how to use locks, and to be polite. it is not rocket science. If everyone helps each other out there would not be the ques, like we experienced today.

Everyone is in too much of a hurry this time of year… One or two weeks holiday in a narrowboat, must do it all.. must get to sucha pub for lunch then sucha pub for the evening!

.. From Andrew with Granny Buttons..

The further round the canal system I go, the more it impresses me that there are two waterways running parallel.  One set of canals is for boaters, walkers and cyclists, each of them looking at the others, smiling and laughing (and frequently cursing).   

And the other is for anglers.  Compleat anglers, we often call them.  And they (probably just as often) call us compleat and utter boaters in return.  We rarely look at each other, and my impression is that I'm lucky if get a surly nod from them in return for my smile.  They probably say the courtesy's all in the other direction.

Perhaps a canal fishing licence should only be issued on condition that you've taken an RYA-approved boater's test, and a canal boat licence should be issued only on condition you've caught an empire-approved fish.

I wonder how many people actually have taken that RYA test, I haven’t, but I qualify surely as a competent skipper, ah but I have caught the relevant fish required for this canal fishing licence!

I never seem to have any problems with fishermen on the bank, they are always friendly to me.  I make a point in saying hello unless there is a huge line of them, when I hope they pull that rod back in time for me to pass.. I remember on the K&A last year one desperate fisherman lifted his long pole too late and it got caught round the bow of NP.. he desperately tried to free it swinging the pole violently.  He did, but the pole swung straight into my throat almost knocking me to the floor… not even a sorry that day from him!

Anyway I have been wandering around the blogs a bit tonight and have thoroughly enjoyed it!