Living the dream on a 47" Narrowboat:

boredofbeingathome

They are hard work to get through and i don't blame you re the Wigan steps- they are awful. Haigh Hall is nice i have been a few times. It is a good canal for getting around on, although in the past few years the dredger boats aren't seen as often. Have you been to Parbold yet? Or gone on the Lancaster canal?

1sue23

I also live on a boat mine is a wide beam and is on the Leeds liverpool love the lifestyle, the only thing that worries me is illness and old age but will face that bridge when it comes to it .So good luck and happy boating .

bast

Not done Parbold but have been there, and its lovely, so pretty.. We have not done Lancaster yet and I really want to but because I still work, I have little time to actually get to places.. For instance, it took as nearly a whole day to get to Wigan, its slow going lol... The Wigan Locks would take us most of the day to do.. To get to Lancaster you have to thru the River Ribble, obviously tidal so you have to be careful... still want to do it..:)

bast

@ 1sue23, your posh, with the wide beam I too share your concerns that is why I worry about giving up the house totally. I really understand what you are saying, I cannot see how you could possibly do the locks when you get older, they are so physically demanding. I like you, worry about, illness, boats arent easy to get into or out of... The constant fetching and carrying all your food, and drinking water.. We actually moor the boat quite a bit away from the car, so it is physically tiring, we dont have a big fridge, so we need to shop daily. But I cannot stand still and let my life pass me by, I/We needed a change and I am happy we have. I look out of the window onto sheep, a heron who stops by, geese, ducks.. and when the sun shines I can see the water reflected on the roof, and I love lying and watching it... Its so peaceful.. I love the cosiness and the wood burning stove, in winter..Barbies on the deck of the boat, being able to take your home anywhere, even if it is just for the afternoon... *sigh* But then you know all this...:)

bast

Was talking to my daughter in Germany last night over the internet... and found out she is broke, bless her... I really admire her tenacity and respect the fact she never asks for money, is all alone in a strange country, does not know the language, but still gets out with her little phrase book trying to speak it...She has to work a month in hand, has brought all her bedding, paid a deposit on her flat, transport costs to work, food no wonder she is struggling. I really worry that she would not of asked for help, had it not been offered. I dont want her to feel alone. Quite often when I read the diaries on here it is not the amount of money that people owe, or just the lack of money, its the desperate loneliness that some people face. I left home at 17 for various reasons (a boy) !!! I never forgot how alone I felt when he moved on and I had no=one.. I was in debt and debt has an awful way of isolating you...

boredofbeingathome

bast wrote: »

@ 1sue23, your posh, with the wide beam I too share your concerns that is why I worry about giving up the house totally. I really understand what you are saying, I cannot see how you could possibly do the locks when you get older, they are so physically demanding. I like you, worry about, illness, boats arent easy to get into or out of... The constant fetching and carrying all your food, and drinking water.. We actually moor the boat quite a bit away from the car, so it is physically tiring, we dont have a big fridge, so we need to shop daily. But I cannot stand still and let my life pass me by, I/We needed a change and I am happy we have. I look out of the window onto sheep, a heron who stops by, geese, ducks.. and when the sun shines I can see the water reflected on the roof, and I love lying and watching it... Its so peaceful.. I love the cosiness and the wood burning stove, in winter..Barbies on the deck of the boat, being able to take your home anywhere, even if it is just for the afternoon... *sigh* But then you know all this...:)

I saw a Heron near Wheelton the other day- it just stood at the side of the bank and looked magnificent. I would love to own a canal barge and just pick up and wonder away when the urge takes me.
I agree with you about the Ribble, you need to pick your moments to transfer canals and it so nice on The Leeds to Liverpool canal..plenty of places to explore yet:D

bast

I wonder if it is the same one... god he is big when he is flying that wing span... He must have good eyesight as he can see me moving on the boat... He is very nervous... You can get a small narrowboat for a really reasonable amount a 30 footer would do you if it was just the odd excursion... Mind you then there is the licence fee and the mooring fees so it can get dear...

Do you go to the top lock pub...??

1sue23

I am lucky I have a mooring near to Skipton with electric hook-up and water tap which makes things a little easier and am very near to all the shops ten minutes walk into town . I woke up the other morning to the sight of the heron taking a very large fish from the canal and am woken by the swans knocking the boat for food .
So it is a lovely life not easy but very rewarding ,but don't think I would cope with it when I am older and less fit although there is a man in his seventies moored near to me who seems more than happy and seems to manage well .

boredofbeingathome

bast wrote: »

I wonder if it is the same one... god he is big when he is flying that wing span... He must have good eyesight as he can see me moving on the boat... He is very nervous... You can get a small narrowboat for a really reasonable amount a 30 footer would do you if it was just the odd excursion... Mind you then there is the licence fee and the mooring fees so it can get dear...

Do you go to the top lock pub...??

I walk to that hostelry quite a few times, i rarely spend there though:D It is a lovely walk through the locks and even through the village you can do a nice little circular route. If you stop at Withnell fold( next stop up) there is a lovely nature reserve there next to the canal:D

boredofbeingathome

1sue23 wrote: »

I am lucky I have a mooring near to Skipton with electric hook-up and water tap which makes things a little easier and am very near to all the shops ten minutes walk into town . I woke up the other morning to the sight of the heron taking a very large fish from the canal and am woken by the swans knocking the boat for food .
So it is a lovely life not easy but very rewarding ,but don't think I would cope with it when I am older and less fit although there is a man in his seventies moored near to me who seems more than happy and seems to manage well .

I am totally jealous now:p:D