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Hi Paul - that's an interesting question! You're right, it is a short one. I don't know if there are any specific rules for this canal because of its size - but from what I've observed during my many walks and bike rides, there are often boats (non-hire boats) moored up on the designated CRT moorings (eg 2 days max) and often there are others moored up against the bank along the canal on undesignated places. There are several wharfs and marinas though, and they seem largely full most of the time. I know that some of the Mon & Brec boaters watch this channel - so if any can answer your question, I hope they will! Cheers, Jeff

Hi Dave! Thanks as always for the great comment. Glad you liked the video and photos - I was definitely lucky with the weather - although the sun played havoc with the camera's exposure settings! Those houses are fabulously placed! Yes, Mon & Brec is pretty but I do love the Birmingham canal network too - nice to have a change - I'm looking forward to cruising along Gas Street in Gladys some time this year! 👍👍

Thanks DC! - knowing your extensive knowledge of the canal and the area, I had a feeling you'd know more about it than me! I have walked down that road/lane on other occasions, so I do recognise where you're mentioning. That's nice to hear that more of the kilns remain - it must have been a bustling place all those years ago.😁 As always, thanks for your excellent comment! 👍

Hiya Rob and thanks as always for the lovely comment! Maybe it was the theatre complex? I think it opened around that time? Ah now - I wasn't totally accurate when I said I had every film version of Christmas Carol... there are two I haven't got - one is the Albert Finney musical, and the other, I'm sorry to tell you, is the Muppet one! Even though the great Michael Caine is in it I believe? (Get Carter is among my other top 10 films). If I had to choose a favourite version, I think it would be the 1950 Alistair Sim one, but must say that Patrick Stewart played the old devil very well too! Hah - your dog sounds great Rob! I used to have a Border Terrier, so if I do get a dog, it'll probably be another one like him. Big decision to make though!🤔

​@@GladysthenarrowboatWe had two half brothers that were Border Terrorists they were 14 and 15 we lost them in Covid so I wouldn't argue with your choice.

​@@GladysthenarrowboatWe had two half brother Border Terrorists they were 14 and 15 we last them at the Covid time so I wouldn't argue with your choice.

Hi Rob - aw that must have been great having them both together! 'Border Terrorists' - I love that! Mine also lived to 14, he was the light tan colour and looked very scruffy by the times he went for grooming and a very handsome fellow afterwards! 👍

Thanks Madison! Glad you liked the editing 😊 Yes, I love Brecon - always have done 👍

Hi James! Ah yes, the Road House boats are a fabulous yellow and blue - really attractive. When we hired, we used Castle Narrowboats, just around the corner from Road House. I recognise the 'hotel-like' boats you mention - they do look very well appointed, and are maybe slightly wide?, but carrying too much kit by the sounds of it! That said, it IS very shallow in some places! Brecon Basin is a lovely spot - easy walk into town, lots of mooring and the theatre /cafe too. I love filming there at any time - just a shame that Gladys won't get there for a year or two... but she WILL, once I have explored the other canals I want to do. Cheers!😁

Morning Annie! Thank you for another great comment and for your steadfast encouragement and support for the channel 👍 The jury is out on a furry friend - and you're absolutely right about the long term implications. Yes, I saw the reply you made yesterday to 'that' comment, which someone had left on last week's video. In hindsight, I wish I had just deleted the comment in the first place. In any case, it was a great response from you and I very much appreciate the sentiments you expressed. I was equally disappointed and aghast though, to see that the person in question responded back at you very quickly with what was a totally unwarranted rant. So I replied back and told them what I thought of their behavior and that I was going to delete their comment - which I then did. Sadly he/she sent me a few more messages after that, so I have taken action to prevent them leaving any more comments. If I hear another word from them, I will report them to RUclips, as I have a copy of the whole string of comments. Life is too short to get hung up on things like this though - and I'll carry on making my videos as usual. Hopefully I will get up to the marina to see Gladys this week or next, but as I said on the video, I will return to her properly around mid February. ❤️

​@@Gladysthenarrowboatah, I received a notification he'd replied but you'd obviously deleted it so I didn't have to read it. I wonder why they felt the need to say anything at all, it's not as if they're paying to watch so just look at something else would be better. Trouble is social media is an easy platform for those who are permanently angry & it let's them kick off at anyone they choose. Sad. But yes, ignore them is best though it introduces a sour note to the day when you come across things like that. Keep doing what you're doing Jeff, the rest of us are happy! Re dog/cat it's easier to get a dog to wear a flotation jacket........ 😹

Thanks Annie - no, I just cant understand the mindset of him/her. It takes all sorts I suppose. Im glad you didnt have to read his/her response to what you said - but anyway, far as Im concerned, thats the end of it. - Unless he/she does anything else - in which case I am ready to report them to RUclips. Anyway - lifes too short to dwell on it... oh, your point about a flotation jacket is spot-on... I cant imagine trying to fit one on a cat!!! 😮

​@@GladysthenarrowboatHaha, a trip to A&E might follow for a few stitches! For some reason I'm not getting notifications when you reply to me, tried unsubscribing & subscribing again but still not working. When you put up a video I get a notification though. Very strange, have to keep checking if you've said something to me.

Oh dear, sorry to hear that Annie. But I'll always reply to you, you can be sure of that! Similarly though, I don't seem to get notifications anymore when people subscribe publicly - I need to look into that! Yeah - a nice 48 hour wait in A&E, only to be told "you ought to have put some ointment on it"!😁

Poor cat, not many would enjoy such a restricted life though I know some permanent live aboards have cats. It's a bit different from being a house cat. I think dogs are more suited to the life as they can safely go for walks on the towpath, bit more vulnerable position for a cat.

Hi @geobolt8788! Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, a cat is certainly an option. One of my favourite youtube channels is Narrowboat Journeys - where Phil (who has been living the life and making videos for years!), has two cats that live aboard. They seem very happy and always keen to jump off and explore when the boat moors up.😁

Good point Annie! Most boaters do seem to have dogs rather than cats - but as you say, I'd expect a cat could easily settle in if it lived there most of its life - maybe from a kitten. Check out Narrowboat Journeys to see Phil's two cats 👍

​@@GladysthenarrowboatI will, thank you for the suggestion. Your 🐈 would have to be adaptable to living at your house between Gladys activities!

Yes, it would turn out to be a much travelled dog or cat... that's the other thing to remember! 😁

Thanks Frank, much appreciated 😁

Thanks Gerald! Yes, its definitely worth a visit 😁

Thanks Gerald! Very glad you have enjoyed them all - many thanks for all the comments you've made over the year too👍 Yes, the launch absolutely had to be Number One! 😁

Hi Dave, yes, I've been there a few times now haven't I! Its a great towpath for cycling (no mud 😁) and there's so many off-shoots you can explore - I'm sure you'll enjoy getting on there once this weather starts behaving. er... IF it does... Yes, its so annoying. I always turn my head away from their window as I walk past, but the BBC doorman always recognises me and grabs me. They did their very best this time, but I wasn't going to budge. In the end, in order to be released, I had to agree to a possible Christmas special, with me, Tom Cruise, and Arnold Schwarzenegger doing a round table of what its like being such an adventuring heartthrob. Mind you, I only agreed once they said the other two would get as much as I will in my fee - I coudn't stand to think of them losing out to me... Anyway - back to the real world... very glad you liked it Dave - and the photos. Yes, keep following me during the year and we will catch up somewhere along the W&B! Cheers! Jeff

Thanks Nigel! At 3am eh?! Very glad you enjoyed it, whatever time you watch! Thanks for the kind words too - its always nice to get feedback on the filming / and photos 👍

Haha! Nice analogy Dafydd! Yes, we're almost at the start of my 2025 adventures - and I'm happy to say its a bit milder outside today! 😁

Hi Rob, thanks for commenting - glad you liked it! Must have been cold if you only stayed 5 minutes! I'm trying to figure out a date for visiting Gladys this month - even though I see her on the webcam, I would like to check inside. Yes, I've made a cruising-plan but who knows if I'll manage the schedule - anything could happen! Cheers 👍

Wow - the throttle was frozen?! 😮 Yes, the gritters make a huge difference - sadly they don't go down every road and lane - we still have ice on our lane. Brrr... can't imagine riding a bike in this weather! Many thanks for the comment - very glad you liked it! 😁

Hi James - thanks for the comment - glad you liked the vlog.! I heard from Clive just before Christmas and he was hopeful that Bonnie will be ready this month. So, fingers crossed she'll be afloat very soon. I do hope so, as Clive's been waiting an awful long time - as most Beetle-buyers seem to, unfortunately. Calling in to Aintree on way home sounds a good plan - I hope you'll see some progress when you visit! I always walked in with trepidation whenever I went there. Sometimes happy afterwards and sometimes not. Yes, Birmingham is an amazing place - which I confess I hadn't appreciated before I started going there to make videos. The canal network there is fabulous and I am looking forward to exploring some of the many loops and branches when I get there with Gladys. 👍

Morning Annie! Yes, definitely a cold day there in Birmingham - and elsewhere too. Another boater has messaged me to say it was minus 5 when they visited their boat at Aqueduct Marina this week... Im so glad I had Gladys winterised or I'd be very worried about frozen pipes etc. I cant wait for it to get milder - hope the forecast is right about that! Glad you liked the still shots - I do take some time to try for the best image I can! Yes, I have a look at the webcam a couple of times each day - not much movement there at the moment, but it looks soooooo cold. You're right - Gladys stands out well amongst the otherwise muted surroundings 👍 Have a nice weekend and stay warm!😁

Glad you liked it Frank - thanks! 😁

Thanks Rosa! 😁

Thanks for the info Trevor. I remember doing that video - and wondering when I might go back. With luck, I will be going through there on Gladys some time in spring/summer, as I go down to Birmingham and then Worcester. Great part of the country!👍

Ah yes, I remember that bit of towpath very well Madison - had to walk the bike quite a lot that day! You also had a busy year and you definitely covered more miles on your Specialised than I did on the Brompton!😁

Hi Dave, well, watching me on two screens at once - I can't ask for more than that! Glad you liked seeing the videos - and there was no way I could leave the W&B out of my favorites - I'm really looking forward to travelling down there - I'm especially thinking that right now, during this awful cold weather - its a cheery thought to make life brighter. That's a great title Dave - in fact it'd be a good name for a narrowboat channel.👍 I certainly hope to include all those things in season 2 - 'chip shop of the week' for instance? Thanks for all your encouragement and support - it means a lot to me! 😁😁😁

Hi Annie and Happy New Year! Yes, most videos didnt feature Gladys at all - other than in the channel name or a casual mention! As you know, I started the channel early 2023 when I believed she would be completed in the summer of 2023 - but that never happened as we know - so I had to diversify - but have tried to keep most content canal-related. Or water related at least. That said, the Brompton has been a popular attraction but is definitely connected to Gladys in any event - and will come into its own once I sally forth onto the network in several weeks time. Yes very sad about the Bridgewater. I hadn't planned on going there this year but maybe 2026 - fingers crossed it will get repaired in good time but that said, it's a heck of a job. The Middlewich Branch (which Aqueduct Marina is based on), had a similar breach some years ago but they did an excellent repair-job. You're right, CRT isn't responsible for the Bridgewater, although the owners do allow CRT licence holders (like me for example), to travel along it - within a strict time limit I believe.

Hi Dafydd, thanks as always for your encouraging comment! Yes, choosing a favourite one was fairly easy but selecting the other 9 was very tricky and if I had to do it again, I'd probably end up with a different list! As for the cafe - well, it was a weekend and I took an educated risk that they'd be open! ... er no lets be honest, I checked their website www.goytrewharf.com/cafe/ Looks like they open Wednesday to Sunday October to March. Lots of people were using it when I was there - I was going to grab some lunch there after filming but it just looked too busy for me by then. Happy New Year!

@@Gladysthenarrowboat- I’ve even been there and seen a sign in the window announcing an open status. Only for the lights to be off and the place locked up. On other occasions, I’ve asked at the marina, to be told the staff would be in later or that they just left.

@@dcvariousvids8082 Oh dear - must say, I cant recall it being closed on the various occasions I've gone there DC... maybe they were hiding from you?!😁

@@Gladysthenarrowboat- Perhaps it’s me. They see me parking and hide. Then open when my car leaves.

I suspect that's the most likely explanation... try going in disguise next time??😁

Hi Rob and Happy New Year to you too! 😁 Thanks for taking time to comment - and judging by the very disappointing response the video has had, it seems that most other subscribers feel the same way as you with regard to reprisals. I must admit I find it very disheartening, after spending quite a long time putting it together and editing it. I'd hoped it might attract some new viewers but so far, 2 people have actually unsubscribed while watching it. (I get detailed stats from RUclips). Considering I never ask for any financial contribution from viewers (which many other vloggers actually do), I can't help but wonder what people expect from me! I'll have to think carefully about what to do between now and when I start my cruising in late February/March. Anyway, thanks again and I hope you are keeping warm - we've a few inches of snow here in south Herefordshire this morning. - I decided not to travel up to see Gladys yesterday - a wise choice as it turns out. 👍

​@@GladysthenarrowboatSuch a shame you've lost some subscribers I think when you start cruising it will improve, I think it's refreshing that you don't ask for contributions most others do some more than others a certain one comes to mind he sold his house about 6 years ago to follow his dream of being on the water and from what I've seen up to now the only thing they haven't done is put a begging bowl outside the boat.lol it takes all.😊

Thanks Rob - that's a nice comment - and much appreciated!👍 Yes, several of the 'big' narrowboat bloggers have membership options, and patreons and 'buy me a coffee' options. I read comments on a popular vlogger's video recently where commenters have provided her with considerable amounts of cash to get repairs done. The irony is, that once you get over 1,000 subs, you can apply to RUclips for monetisation - where you get paid monthly by virtue of the ads placed in your video. (More views = more cash). Someone with huge numbers of subs (and consequently huge number of views (often within an hour of publication)), will be getting a nice packet from RUclips every month. I even get something myself from them now - its not much as Im so small, though applying meant jumping through some arduous hoops involving American Taxes. It does seem that some vloggers are milking it for all they can - yet there are plenty of folk willing to cough up the readies. I really dont want to go down that road myself as long as I can manage financially. I'm confident my number of subs will increase once I'm actually travelling the system - but how some people gain the dizzy numbers they have, is still a mystery to me! Cheers 👍

​@@GladysthenarrowboatThe one thing we've not mentioned Jeff is click bait, If you watch a certain coffee boat and a younger slightly dissfunctual couple you could get some ideas you could start with the headline Gladys has been moved to the sea of tranquility and is moored near a Lancaster bomber.😊

@@robertbrierley7083 Hah! That's an excellent suggestion Rob! Love the Lancaster idea. I'll give this some consideration! 😁😁

Thanks James! And a Happy New Year to you too!👍

Thanks Barry! Yes, 2024 went by very fast. Really cold wintry weather here this weekend - I had planned on visiting Gladys today but have stayed home instead. Hope all good with you 👍

Thanks Frank!😁

Yeah, my favourite canal without a doubt!😁

Thanks Gerald! Im sure you and Rachel will join me one day in the spring or summer! 👍

Hi David. Yes the new G line looks nice - but at a greater cost. I'm happy with my 6 speed c line. Mine has mid handlebars - I think the low ones would be too low for me (I tried them, but Im 6 feet tall). Best advice is to try some out in a shop - I bought mine in an Evans store. Good luck anyway!

Thank you. I tired to mid bars today and was fine. C line also a little lighter. Exciting ..

Yes - they're great bikes and feel so well made. Ideal for train-travel. Have fun when you get yours!

Hi Pete - yes, I've heard that. So far I haven't changed the saddle and have kept the original Brompton one. 🙂

Thank you! And a Merry Christmas to you too! 😁