Living on the narrowboat in summer 2023
Having has a successful first time living and working on the narrowboat Dreamcatcha in summer 2022, it made perfect sense to to the same again in 2023. The best laid plans…
It is fair to say that living on the narrowboat in summer 2023 has not been as successful as the last one. To be fair nothing has gone wrong, but a hectic life got in the way. Being near a car has been essential and that leaves the choice of route and timings limited.
We began with the plan to stay on the Lancaster Canal for the duration. This allowed us to be close to our base at Barton Grange Marina and as such the car. The reason was we had a few concerts booked, from Hyde Park, to st Helens and then to Essex part way through, plus a 30th birthday nowhere near us. In addition, my parents are getting on a bit as with a few doctors and hospital appointments cropping up made sense.
Two weeks into the trip though we were bored. The Lancaster Canal is a lovely stretch of the network as long as you head north. There are no locks unless you include the Glasson Branch and that was closed. Very easy, but when you have done it so many times it is the not the place you want to spend 10 weeks especially when the weather is not playing ball. We had some lovely weather but when it changed boy did it change.
So, we made a random decision to move the boat. Looked for a new marina for something different. We , found the Swanley Bridge marina on the outskirts of Nantwich. They can fit us in from 1st September and as I sit at home typing this, Paul is working his way through the Bridgewater Canal.
On the way back from Lancaster to Barton Grange the weather looked good to I did some washing. We got a twin tub last year for the boat and it is perfect for quick loads. Takes about 15 minues and spins brilliantly. Drying therefore is a breeze. This year I treated myself to a nice new maiden and this was its maiden voyage. If you have never seen a maiden jump ship (or narrowboat) you haven’t lived. I was happily sat in the lounge as Paul was driving, the 15 minute wash had been done, the shiny new maiden out of its packet was on the front of the boat and washing pegged to it just in case a breeze fancied taking a sock to a new place. If only that was the case. Within about 5 minutes the whole maiden jumped (it did not fall), over the step and the side of the boat into the canal complete with clean washing. Paul has never done an emergency stop before. Now to find the maiden, out cmae the pole with the hook. Although it blew over the left side and we have moved over it, it could have been anywhere. We back up and went around the boat prodding untill we found it. Pulled it out and it was still complete with the washing and a mass of green algae! What a mess. It took 2 hours to wash the same clothes it had taken 15 minutes to do originally and the maiden had to be showered down. Next time the maiden will be at the back of the boat!
This meant we had to plan the logistics so that we could cross the River Ribble and navigate to the new marina whilst still being able to access the car to get to appointments and the concert. Crossing the Ribble, as mentioned last year needs booking and the anchor. The anchor lives at home as it would be in the way on the narrowboat. A drive home and a few nights here means we can pick up the anchor. This time I left Paul to cross the river with a friend, work was a bit busy for me and the internet needed to be top notch, I have no time for any issues.
Once the crossed I have to drive to Tarleton to get the anchor back and to take said friend back to his car in Preston. Get home and get a neighbour to lift the anchor out of the car. It is a big anchor! (it needs to be to keep a 60ft boat grounded).
I stay at home as Paul works his way through the Rufford branch of locks. Dreamcatcha gets a temporary marina for a few nights whilst we head to Essex. We then pick up again to move through to Gathurst, Wigan. I stayed to help with a couple of locks including the deep lock, look at the picture it is aptly named. Then left again for appointments as Paul carried on ready for me to meet up tomorrow at Preston Brook. This is not straightforward either, I have to drive to Nantwich to the new marina, leave the car, get a friend to pick me up and drive me to Preston Brook tomorrow where I will then be on hand to do the locks going forward.
Due to work, we can only move the boat at night, so it takes much longer than it would if you could just put your foot down, well still do 3 miles per hour but just more hours.