Vlog 33: Halcyon Days?
You might think that by the date of publishing this video I’d have assembled some footage of my journey so far. Well I have and I haven’t, which is to say it’s filmed but not edited. So the first true travel vlog will be the next video. In the meantime, a retrospective, looking back at what facilities you get when mooring in a marina; specifically Yelvertoft Marina where I was for winter. A massive thank you to everyone there who made my early boating days so pleasant.
Hi David, im making my way through your vlogs with interest, as thinking of doing the same this year, however still trying to decide between a luxury narrow boat, or a nice townhouse in Spain, anyway a quick question about the electric hook up in a marina, was it expensive, and how did it work? im sure there’s a vlog but thought id ask
Regards
Rob Burford
Hi. Tricky decision! Marina hook up at Yelvertoft was 16p/unit (1 unit = 1kWh). I used about 1 unit a day. Where I am at the moment (not a marina) is 13p/unit. I’ve seen prices as high as 25p I think and as I recall, Yelvertoft are putting their prices up to about 18p or thereabouts. Hope that helps?
Thanks for the wonderful video, David, you are assembling quite a narrative which can become a very useful DVD series in later years or so. You have obviously worked in media as your presentation is quite professional and without any ‘fluffing’, and you are quite engaging to watch.
The one thing I have discovered whilst researching the narrowboat lifestyle is how it can be perceived that the various water authorities and trusts are quite neglectful in the way they manage the whole canal system. This is not necessarily an attack of criticism upon them, but more an understanding of the sheer scale of the infrastructure they are charged with maintaining.
Their remit is a massive undertaking that requires an understanding and appreciation of what they are up against. When you look at the whole canal system, you can see what a unique jewel the country has, and I believe that with the right management agenda it can brought to a point where it can be self-feeding, self-nurturing, and self-sustaining for the future generations.
To get it to such a point requires that all who use the system come to a codified consensus, and all work to the same end. A different perception and approach is required from the water authorities and trusts, and a different perception and approach is equally required from those who live on and continually cruise the canals towards the water authorities and trusts. There needs to be a ‘coming-together’ between all parties and an agreed direction to which all can help towards bringing the system to the point I mentioned earlier.
Currently, in many cases, there is an ‘us’ and ‘them’ attitude between users of the canals and the authorities, each not appreciating what the other requires.
At one point in the system’s history, it became physically neglected, and although that has been dealt with in a majorly way over the years, neglect still remains in perception, and although the authorities could much more efficient and caring, the users have a massive part to play in helping to maintain the system to its most optimal condition. So obviously, working together has to be the must.
I believe marinas could play a much bigger part than they currently do, each one could play an interfacial part between users of the canal system and the authorities. CC’ers travelling the system can play a ‘reporting’ part on the condition and circumstance of the canal system and its locks, which they already do in a ad hoc way, and they can make reports at marinas. Marinas should be acting as ‘nodes’ on the system where water authorities and trusts truly interface with the users. The canal system needs more marinas, with all the facilities required of canal users.
Of course, revenue is the prime concern of water authorities and trusts, and although the summer months (in theory, where the canal system becomes a larger version of the Norfolk Broads) should see revenue increases as there are more users during the summer season, for the rest of the year, there are not enough all year round users to generate the revenue that can help maintain the system. All parties have to be realistic and accepting of the problems the canal system is having to deal with, and work together in an agreed consensus.
Apologies for the length of comment.
Thank you for the kind words and please don’t apologise for a well-worded and intelligent posting. Whether we need more marinas, I’m not sure – there seem to be plenty who have spaces already. Apart from that I think your argument has much to commend it, particularly the disbanding of the “them and us” culture. Saying it and agreeing is one thing of course, getting it done is another. I fear that, as with politics, there will always be a substantial proportion of the “electorate” who remain deeply unhappy and distrustful regardless of what those in authority do.
Good luck on your journeys. . As a land dweller I look forward to your vlogs .keep posting and I will follow the journey with you regards John.
Thanks John. Plenty of videos lined up!