Category: Other Canal Topics

Vlog 280: The Blue Bird of Happiness

Posted on October 13, 2022February 24, 2024 by David Johns

A few weeks ago I went past the well-known historic narrowboat “Dover” on the Grand Union Canal but its looks belie its actual interior so I went back for a proper snoop around.

Vlog 279: Honey, I Shrunk the Narrowboat!

Posted on October 3, 2022February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Regular viewers will know I have long had an interest in – some might say an obsession about – very short narrowboats on the British canals. The time had come for me to go and have a look around a couple and see if they are for me.

Vlog 278: Ferry Impressive

Posted on September 16, 2022February 24, 2024 by David Johns

I went to visit a unique ferry boat in south Wales. This is the story of that trip.

Vlog 273: Mast from the Past

Posted on July 26, 2022February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Rescuing hundreds of thousands of stranded Allied troops in World War 2, the Little Ships of Dunkirk are little miracles. Several of these historic vessels were on display at the Thames Traditional Boat Festival at Henley-on-Thames. I went along to have a look at all the spectacle and to hitch a ride on Little Ship “Aquabelle”.

Vlog 272: Going Underground

Posted on July 17, 2022February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Opened originally in 1811, the Standedge (pronounced “Stannedge”, apparently) canal tunnel is a legendary boating experience at 5km (3.5m) long and hundreds of feet underground. I was lucky enough to join narrowboaters on a Pennine Cruise organised by the Huddersfield Canal Society as they went through this amazing tunnel.

Vlog 271: Fun and Games

Posted on July 9, 2022February 24, 2024 by David Johns

On Saturday 25th June 2022, around 80 narrowboats took part in a colourful and noisy parade through Birmingham to mark the city hosting this year’s Commonwealth Games. This is my record of that day.

Vlog 269: Fire Power

Posted on June 23, 2022February 24, 2024 by David Johns

On a sunny day at the Anderton Boat Lift, I was delighted to have the opportunity to chat with Katherine Hutchinson who operates the steam-powered narrowboat Emily Anne.

Vlog 268: Gate Expectations

Posted on June 15, 2022February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Every year, the Canal & River Trust replace a load of worn-out lock gates across the 200+ year-old canals of England and Wales. But how do you lift a 4-tonne chunk of wood out of its bindings, on waterway, often with limited room to manoeuvre? With a crane on a boat, that’s how.

Vlog 267a: Pipe Dreams

Posted on May 31, 2022February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Throughout 2022, Scottish Canals is holding a series of events to mark the 200th anniversary of the Union Canal which links Edinburgh to Falkirk, and I went along for a two-day flotilla cruise to mark the occasion. This is Part 1 (of 2) of that trip.

Vlog 266: 2 Unlimited

Posted on May 23, 2022February 24, 2024 by David Johns

What would a narrowboat look like if you were able to start with a blank sheet of paper and design it so that the boat was still very usable in later life or with limits on your physical agility? A couple from Hampshire have done just that so I went along to see the finishing touches being put to the boat ahead of it going on display at the Crick Waterways show in June.