Peter Reg

Hi all, I'm on the Macclesfield just got up the 12 locks!!!! Heading for the Peak forest.. It's very nice and also quite! and a bit shallow in places... Just wondering if it's always like this, I mean quite...?

Ive been a liveaboard since last November, on my first boat and I'm liking it so far! Came along the K&A a few weeks ago and enjoyed that, went to Bristol then cruised to Portishead on my own!!! Then got a pilot to go up to Sharpness,,,, locked out at 05:30 and had a wonderful cruise, a bit scary but I think it's worth doing at least once on a narrowboat.... Now heading for the Shropshire union and then on with the adventure.. Hope you enjoy every moment...

Thanks homer2911 From portishead looking up the seven at the two bridges in the long distance and the flow of the tide coming in and out, !!! This will be a One time experience for me on a narrowboat...!

Hello everyone, I left Bristol early morning monday, after a lot of research of maps of the avonmouth and talking to other boaters and the harbour masters, made it to Portishead ok, what a wonderful journey, yesterday evening I had a pilot booked to go to Sharpness, also there was another boat there waiting to go but he phoned at the last minute saying he had to take a commercial ship and said if you talk to the pilot of the other boat, you could follow them! It's your call,,, he said,! I didn't think that's a good idea, so now I'm leaving tomorrow, lock out at 05:30 with a pilot... Looking forward to this wonderful journey up the river seven to Shapness.. ( it is in fact quite scary)? But exciting

thanks everyone, I'm leaving bath tomorrow so I'll have time to talk to the pilots and hopefully I can make the cruise to portishead on my own, it's got to be a great and challenging moment on a narrowboat....

. Thanks bassplayer, I will check that, if I need a pilot, I will get one. Thanks again. . I'll try to do the same, but if I have too, I'll get a pilot. Thanks

Hello there, I'm heading to Bristol in the next few days, and I'm going to get a pilot for the cruise up to Sharpness. (When they tell me the weather and tide is good) My question is, does anyone know if it is difficult to take my narrowboat from the floting harbour in Bristol to portishead?! It's my first time going on this route! Or should I pay a pilot to take me to portishead! Thanks....

Hi Mike, the trip down to London was really good, got into Paddington basin, only stayed a week, too much noise, lol Now on the K&A heading for Bristol, it's lovely here, but hard work singlehanded! Hope all is well for you. Yes Naughty Cal, I noticed the difference when I came back upstream, but I enjoyed the experience of the Thames, now on the K&A for a while

Thanks mark.

Hello all, my first time on the Thames, and I must say how different the boat handles, going downstream, it seems to feel like she's going faster with lower rev's! I've learnt to turn her around to head upstream to moor up, because trying to moor going downstream singlehanded is a bit difficult!! But I'm loving it. I want to go to the Paddington basin? Does onto each know if you can just arrive and get a free 7 day morring or do I have to phone someone there?.. Thanks?

I don't have a house anymore, my boat is my home for now, I think I will have to leave the car outside a friends house, then catch a bus or train when I need it. Thanks again for your comments ?

Thanks for all your comments and ideas ?

That's a good idea, I have a bicycle with me,Thanks

Hello, I'm wondering if anyone knows where to park a car safely when Crusing? I'm a new liveaboard and I'm heading down to Oxford then the Thames to lo London then the K&A ! (Taking about 2 or 3 months) I will need the car sometimes and I've been quoted at some marinas on the way about £20 a week to park, is this a normal thing many liveaboards do? then I'll have to catch a bus or train to retrieve the car when needed! Sorry about this silly question, Thanks

Hi Have a look at Rugbyboats. I brought mine with them and was very pleased. Good luck

Ok, thank you, I will buy it when Im there.

Hello everyone, I'm living aboard now for 2 months on my first narrowboat, a Les Wilson trad 57ft, a lovely boat and my home and I'm enjoying it very much even though it is winter, I've just got a Gold license, does any know if it covers me for the Avon and Severn rivers, because I want to go up or down the Avon end of February into March !? I admit I don't have any experience of navigating rivers yet, but I'm sure taking it slowly and talking and learning from other boaters, reading these useful comments here,I should be alright, I'm singlehanded on my boat aswell,

Thank you Richard, I've got a lot to learn on the journey and I'm looking forward to it....

Well, I had the survey done yesterday and she's looking good,, only thing was a few window seals were popping out , so pushed them back into place,! Maybe I should put new ones in ? But apart from that she's ok. Next week I will pay for the boat and the insurance (the license ends March 15) and then I'm off to continuely cruise the lovely canals and waterways... I'll be single handed ! But I've got time to learn, no rush... Fins ara...

I will do that, thanks Dave

Hi ditchcrawler, yes it does, I'm thinking that as well, but I would like to change the name and the French flags ! So I'm going to look for a professional sign writer and make it match and look good.

Thanks sorry ,tried to post a smiley, but it didn't show

Thanks matty I'll give him a ring, as well. It does look good the paint job, I want to change the name of the boat, not sure yet how to paint or spay it, without ruining the rest of the well painted boat. Thanks again

Thank you, I'll be calling them tomorrow and a few others to get a price, try to get the survey done a.s.p and I hope the surveyor lets me be there, so I can learn a few things !

Thanks, It's a Les Wilson shell , Rugby boats, called Fantine. ( sorry, I don't know how to put the link here)