Saturday 31 May 2014

Gave the boat her new name

Engine: 1hr 20m Locks:0 Miles:0

Up at 08:00. Discovered shore facilities.

Renamed the boat from "Mrs D" to her new name of "Mind Like Water" using vinyl signs which work well. Ran the engine for a while to top up the batteries.

Took the car to do some shopping. First stop, Kings Lock Chandlery followed by fish and chips from the Kings Lock chippy. Next to Morrisons at Middlewich for groceries and finally B&Q at Crewe.

Back to the marina, Andrew to work and Alison to nap (post-pneumonia recovery).

Then took Andrew's car to Barbridge to leave overnight as part of the boat move plan.

Had a pint or two at the Barbridge Inn which was much busier than the previous day then walked back to Venetian Marina.

Early night full of chips and beer...

Friday 30 May 2014

Moved boat for the first time

Engine: 2 hrs Locks:0 Miles: 0

Moved all of 100 yards!

The post-survey works are now complete and we will be moving the boat to her new home at Swanley Bridge Marina as soon as her new CRT licence becomes active on 1st June.

We arrived at Venetian Marina about 15:00. Had to immediately move the boat from the service bay to a temporary mooring. Bit nerve racking but accomplished without incident.

Ran the engine for a couple of hours to top up the batteries and for hot water. Did a few miscellaneous jobs and prepared meatballs and pasta for dinner.

Then had a pleasant walk along the cut to Barbridge Inn which was surprisingly quiet for a Friday.

Passed nb Rebecca which belongs to friends of Alison. They were due on-board this weekend but did not arrive till gone 22:00 and then cruised the other way to Middlewich for the weekend; not returning till Monday. Will doubtless see them another time.

Back on board by 22:00 and in bed soon after.

Monday 19 May 2014

Bought our own boat!

Buying our own narrowboat had long been a dream for our retirement.

However 2014 brought a variety of challenges including serious health problems involving weeks of hospital. Thankfully that had a happy outcome but it does focus the mind...

So we made a decision to start looking seriously at narrowboats with a view to getting something sooner rather than later.

We had envisaged months of web browsing and trips around the country looking at potential purchases. However it didn't quite work out like that...

We had both independently seen a boat called "Mrs D" on sale at Venetian Marina but it was a bit more than we wanted to pay.


Then at the end of April, Venetian Marina held an Open Day...

"Mrs D" was not only still for sale but... reduced in price for the Open Day!

Well, we got the keys and had a look at the boat, then a look at each other. From that moment it was pretty much a done deal. A few minor details like the survey and sorting out the finance, insurance, licence, mooring etc. but by mid-May we had bought ourselves a boat!

She has everything we need to get started on this new adventure from pots and pans to life-jackets and an axe for chopping wood.


She is a 35ft cruiser stern with an open plan layout inside. No fixed beds but the dinette converts to a double bed and one of the benches converts to a single bed.


There are a few minor works to be done before we take possession which is planned for end of May with our CRT licence starting 1st June. Can't wait!