Vlog 337: Wet T-Shirt
Having brought the boat out of water for refurbishment, it first needed a really good shower to get some of the long-standing muck off. It’s still a bit mucky in places but it was a good start.
Continue reading
Vlog 336: If you build it…
Formed in 1969, the Grantham Canal Society is undertaking the huge task of restoring a 33-mile canal dating from the Industrial Revolution, over 200 years ago. I went up to see how they’re getting along.
Continue reading
Vlog 335: Nimble Boating
There are some aspects of the boat’s refurbishment that simply can’t be achieved (or are difficult to do) while it’s in the water so in this video I took the boat from its mooring at Stourport a little way down the river to a wharf where it’s been hauled out so that I can work on it on dry land.
Continue reading
Vlog 334: Happy Trails
The annual IWA Trailboat Festival 2024 was held on the Ashby Canal at Moira in Leicestershire, a gathering of compact, lightweight canal boats that can be towed on a trailer behind a suitable car or van. These included Wilderness Beavers, Sea Otters and even a Caraboat!
Continue reading
Vlog 333: The Write Stuff
Two things: a) after at least two years, I have finally finished by book all about the canals, and 2) an update on the Twiggy refurbishment.
Continue reading
Vlog 332: Charging Ahead
The first (possibly to-be-annual) Electrika event for people to get together and discuss electric propulsion on canal boats and narrowboats was held last weekend; I went along and this is my document of the proceedings.
Continue reading
Vlog 331: Hull’s Angel
This time, I’m looking at the question of what do you do if you want a custom-designed boat to live on but don’t have the budget to buy a new-build?
Continue reading
Vlog 330: Going Dutch
Although I’ve been past several Dutch barges on the canals and rivers in my time, I’d never done a video about what they’re like until now. And this is a very nice one indeed…
Continue reading
Vlog 329: Carpet Diem
As part of the ongoing refurbishment of my cabin cruiser “Twiggy”, I have ripped the carpet out of the front cabin, as you will see in this video. You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs, as they say.
Continue reading
Vlog 328: The steepest lock flight!
Opened in 1774, the Bingley 5-Rise lock flight is the steepest in Britain and still going strong today. The Canal & River Trust held a media day to celebrate this milestone and I went along.
Continue reading