Author: David Johns

Vlog 58: Through the Porthole

Posted on August 28, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

In which I travel – by car – to a legendary canal village and meet the inhabitants both human (should that be “hooman”?) and animal of the narrowboat Ewart and find out what brought them to the waterways.

Vlog 57: Sunny Side Up

Posted on August 20, 2016May 7, 2024 by David Johns

I’ve been sent an 80 Watt semi-flexible solar panel to review by a company called Lensun so here are my thoughts on the panel (until the point where I broke it, for more on which, watch the video).

Vlog 56: The Sky’s the Limit

Posted on August 14, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Up, up and away as I take to the skies to gaze down on the canals from the air. All courtesy of my friend and former BBC “rival” Jon Hunt,

Vlog 55: Davey Johns’ (gas) locker

Posted on August 7, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Now back at Yelvertoft, my narrowboat gets taken out of the water so that I can tackle the rusty gas locker properly, using Fertan rust treatment followed by red oxide primer, bilge paint and then two coats of Intertuf 16 blacking for good measure.

Vlog 54: Jiggity Jig

Posted on July 31, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Here’s my final leg of the First Great Round Trip, taking me back from just outside Braunston to Yelvertoft marina where I began.

Vlog 53: The Smell of the Greasepaint

Posted on July 24, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Getting back on track with the travel vlogs from my Grand Tour earlier this year, I pick up where I left off in Vlog 51 (Bascote) and continue my route back towards Braunston. In doing this I pass through the Stockton lock flight with the help of the lovely folk on the Mikron Theatre Company boat and up up just past Wigram’s Turn marina (Napton Junction)

Vlog 52: It’s not actually a vlog

Posted on July 20, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

This is a very ad-hoc video because as I was sitting on the boat near Braunston, staring out of the side hatch, a chap paddled alongside in a kayak. As I leaned out to chat, it turned out he wasn’t doing it for fun but for charity. So here’s his story.

Vlog 51: Hot Chicks

Posted on July 14, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

I’d spent about a week moored at the Saltisford Arm while I went to visit family (the ones who I was supposed to have gone down the Birmingham and Worcester canal to see, but didn’t). With the Crick Show fast approaching, it was time to head on back towards Northamptonshire, so here’s a couple of days cruising in that direction.

Vlog 50: Golden Oldies

Posted on July 4, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Every year sees the rally of historic working boats at and outside Braunston marina on the Grand Union Canal. I went along to get some footage and talk to the people who make it what it is.

Vlog 49: Locks Familiar

Posted on June 25, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

I’d spent several days idling away my time quite pleasantly at Kingswood Junction at Lapworth but now wanted to go and visit family for a bit so needed a better place to leave the boat. So I went down the Hatton lock flight to Warwick and moored in the Saltisford Arm, run by the Saltisford Canal Trust. Lovely spot albeit a bit noisy from the traffic nearby.