I went on many canal cruises with my parents, brothers and cousins in the 70s and 80s. They force you to take life in the slow lane, which these days is not so easy even on holiday. The longest narrowboat we had was 72 feet, which I think is the limit as that is the inside measurement of the locks. However you can get anything from about 40 feet upwards, and the shorter boats are easier to handle with a smaller crew. I recommend at least two active adults, one to drive and one to work the locks. Kids can help work the locks too, but some are heavy. They can also have a go at driving, under adult supervision. I miss the canals, I've lived in the US for the last 10 years. No canals here on the west coast.
I know. It was fabulous to slow down. At first my eldest daughter was saying "what are we doing today" but then she realized that just sailing slowly by was fun in itself - including walking the towpath and working the locks. It can be as active or inactive a holiday as you like. One thing's for sure - it was so fabulous that I'll definitely be doing it again...maybe a wider boat next time on wider canals, like the Norfolk Broads in the UK...wishing you a lovely weekend.
You make it all look so easy and great background music.When I visited London back in 1996 the English food was very expensive,often stale and a complete load of bollocks.I live in Australia where everything is fresh,cheap and yummy
Hey Dan, I know, I was really happy when I found that music too! Trust me, food in the UK has really improved since 1996 - it's actually pretty good. But it's true, everything in Oz is super nice and fresh...
I live in Worcester and the one canal from Droitwich to salwarpe and on to the river severn has only reopened in the last ten years or so. The canal fell into disuse many years ago, and the Droitwich Canal trust started renovations when i was a child. Just before it was completed they even dug the main road out from Worcester to Kidderminster, as the canal hed been filled in many years before and the dual carriageway road now goes over the canal on a brand new bridge!
I know, it's amazing. I was aware that this was a pretty new (ten years is still pretty new!) section of the canal and what made it possible to do a ring/circuit from Worcester. It's fabulous that they're resurrecting these waterways - they're such a lovely, tranquil place to be.
@@gowithjo1 Its only "new" in the regard to it being reopened. In Victorian times Droitwich was the centre of salt production, and the town made a fortune from salt. The canal from Droitwich to the river Severn was dug to transport the salt cargo from Droitwich to down the river. The new bridge was a massive undertaking as the main road had just been built over the, by then, filled in section of canal. The reopening of it has formed a nice circle thats not too long, just right for a few days narrowboat cruising.
@@roberttill3787 They did a really great job with reopening it - it's such a shame they closed it in the first place!! And yes, it's a lovely, short-break circle - perfect in fact! I've been looking for similar 'circles' across the country, but there aren't many of them it seems!!
@@gowithjo1 It closed with the arrival of economic road transport, and as salt was about all that came from Droitwich, it was abandoned. Strange fact about UK canals is that there is more traffic on canals than there ever was since they were dug, but its totally leisure transport using it. A trivial fact incidentally, did you know there are more canals in Birmingham that there are in Venice? (i presume by distance of the waterways)
@@roberttill3787 Robert, you are an amazing font of information! I can't believe there are more canals in B'ham than in Venice, though I should, because I sailed down an awful lot of them!!!
I have never seen a narrowboat with three bedrooms! Plus not just one but two bathrooms! That looks like it was an amazing trip. Next time we hop across the pond my kids already know we are going to rent a narrow boat. In fact, when they ask what I am doing and I tell them I am watching a narrowboat video, they just roll their eyes, LOL!
No, not on this trip - the canal wasn't recommended for swimming as I remember!! The River Severn might be swimmable but I didn't have time to do it! x
I know - that dinner was really special as well because it was the first meal out we'd had for AGES after the first lockdown. And it was quite a meal!! If there are no canals in New Zealand you'll just have to come to the UK to have some fun on an narrow boat. Something to aim for...
I would die for this sort of lifestyle. Tell any of your kids they are welcome to come to my suburban American lifestyle to life for a while so they appreciate what they have
@@gowithjo1 hi i cant get enough of the broads the reason i go for richardsons is we were on one of there boats and ripped the whole corner of it they came out to look at it and said it would have to go back to the marina when we got there they gave us another boat without even asking great company cant do enough for you have a great time
Really not too bad - it cost about £900 for the 8-berth boat for four nights - that's about $1160.00 - but you really wouldn't want to be 8 people in the boat as it's very tight. We were 5 and that was about right. If I'd had another kid we could have squeezed in 6 and that would also have been fine.
![15 Reasons Why Living on a NARROWBOAT is the Best Decision I Ever Made - Boat life [Ep 94]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gYa8D-3ahQE/mqdefault.jpg)
![15 Reasons Why Living on a NARROWBOAT is the Best Decision I Ever Made - Boat life [Ep 94]](/img/tr.png)
Phwoar! Beautiful introduction, boat looks nice, too 🌹
I grew up living above a pub with a jetty on the Stratford-Upon -Avon canal. Quite a lot of our summer food business was the boats.
I'm not surprised - boaters love a good waterside pub! Stratford-Upon-Avon would be a lovely place to go boating...
thank you for the trip. Most def one of the things on my bucket list.
So pleased you enjoyed it! I'm planning my next boating holiday as I write...watch this space!
That is a great idea Jo, looks like a lot of fun and something a bit different
Exactly! Such a refreshing change.
I went on many canal cruises with my parents, brothers and cousins in the 70s and 80s. They force you to take life in the slow lane, which these days is not so easy even on holiday.
The longest narrowboat we had was 72 feet, which I think is the limit as that is the inside measurement of the locks. However you can get anything from about 40 feet upwards, and the shorter boats are easier to handle with a smaller crew. I recommend at least two active adults, one to drive and one to work the locks. Kids can help work the locks too, but some are heavy. They can also have a go at driving, under adult supervision.
I miss the canals, I've lived in the US for the last 10 years. No canals here on the west coast.
I know. It was fabulous to slow down. At first my eldest daughter was saying "what are we doing today" but then she realized that just sailing slowly by was fun in itself - including walking the towpath and working the locks. It can be as active or inactive a holiday as you like. One thing's for sure - it was so fabulous that I'll definitely be doing it again...maybe a wider boat next time on wider canals, like the Norfolk Broads in the UK...wishing you a lovely weekend.
wonderful boat trip, thank you sharing very nice video,
You're very welcome - so pleased you enjoyed itX
There are definitely some splendid views.
I know - I'm already planning my next canal trip!
Oh I missed it so. Cruising with a narrowboat its so awesome. Next year I hope we can try it again. You have it well done Jo.
I REALLY hope that you - and I - can do it next year too! Thank you so much for watching and Happy New Year.
Beautiful boat and beautiful mother
Great vid! I like the music, the cozy boat, the good-looking gal running everything, the production, the family ordeal... Nicely done!
TYSM!
You make it all look so easy and great background music.When I visited London back in 1996 the English food was very expensive,often stale and a complete load of bollocks.I live in Australia where everything is fresh,cheap and yummy
Hey Dan, I know, I was really happy when I found that music too! Trust me, food in the UK has really improved since 1996 - it's actually pretty good. But it's true, everything in Oz is super nice and fresh...
Gosh I’m jealous. I’d love to spend about two years traipsing incircles reading one Dickens novel after another!
Yes, there is a HUGE appeal about living the slow life. What you suggest does sound heavenly!!
Wonderful video 💕
Thank you so much! It really was an idyllic slow travel holiday...
I live in Worcester and the one canal from Droitwich to salwarpe and on to the river severn has only reopened in the last ten years or so. The canal fell into disuse many years ago, and the Droitwich Canal trust started renovations when i was a child. Just before it was completed they even dug the main road out from Worcester to Kidderminster, as the canal hed been filled in many years before and the dual carriageway road now goes over the canal on a brand new bridge!
I know, it's amazing. I was aware that this was a pretty new (ten years is still pretty new!) section of the canal and what made it possible to do a ring/circuit from Worcester. It's fabulous that they're resurrecting these waterways - they're such a lovely, tranquil place to be.
@@gowithjo1 Its only "new" in the regard to it being reopened. In Victorian times Droitwich was the centre of salt production, and the town made a fortune from salt. The canal from Droitwich to the river Severn was dug to transport the salt cargo from Droitwich to down the river. The new bridge was a massive undertaking as the main road had just been built over the, by then, filled in section of canal. The reopening of it has formed a nice circle thats not too long, just right for a few days narrowboat cruising.
@@roberttill3787 They did a really great job with reopening it - it's such a shame they closed it in the first place!! And yes, it's a lovely, short-break circle - perfect in fact! I've been looking for similar 'circles' across the country, but there aren't many of them it seems!!
@@gowithjo1 It closed with the arrival of economic road transport, and as salt was about all that came from Droitwich, it was abandoned. Strange fact about UK canals is that there is more traffic on canals than there ever was since they were dug, but its totally leisure transport using it. A trivial fact incidentally, did you know there are more canals in Birmingham that there are in Venice? (i presume by distance of the waterways)
@@roberttill3787 Robert, you are an amazing font of information! I can't believe there are more canals in B'ham than in Venice, though I should, because I sailed down an awful lot of them!!!
Beautiful. Thanks for the trip❤
you're very welcome!
We can always count on you to do something a bit different. I am loving this vlog!
Thank you so much Aimee! x ps I was going to name my youngest daughter Aimee!!
A pleasant film. Thanks for sharing, and have subscribed 👌
Thank you so much! x
Enjoyed that thanks
TYSM X
How interesting 😊
I have never seen a narrowboat with three bedrooms! Plus not just one but two bathrooms! That looks like it was an amazing trip.
Next time we hop across the pond my kids already know we are going to rent a narrow boat. In fact, when they ask what I am doing and I tell them I am watching a narrowboat video, they just roll their eyes, LOL!
Lol indeed. You will have an amazing time!!!
ps - and it's amazing how much they can squeeze onto a narrowboat!
Hey Jo, love your spirit and adventure. Good on you! Did you have a wild swimming dip on this boat trip? P x
No, not on this trip - the canal wasn't recommended for swimming as I remember!! The River Severn might be swimmable but I didn't have time to do it! x
omg your dinNer looks delicious I’d love to go on a narrow boat we don’t have canals in new zealand
I know - that dinner was really special as well because it was the first meal out we'd had for AGES after the first lockdown. And it was quite a meal!! If there are no canals in New Zealand you'll just have to come to the UK to have some fun on an narrow boat. Something to aim for...
Happy Traveling from Alabama!
And happy travelling to you. I've just come back from a cruise which had people from Alabama on it!!! They were happy traveling too!!
Great holidays for families, all helping out and none having time to stare at phones! :)
Exactly!!! They were soooo busy with the locks - no time to cry: "I'm bored!"
1,53 phone looking 2,37
Thanks for the wonderful video. A canal tour on a narrowboat is now on my bucket list.
So pleased you like the video as well as the look of a holiday on a narrowboat!
You have some lovely cans love (. Y .)
You noticed that your comment was the only one that didn't get the "love" icon from the uploader, and yet it got the most likes! LOL!
A very nice boat with a very lovely lady on board
Absolutely awesome ! .. Please keep up the good work :o)
Looks relaxing 👌
Ha, it was relaxing, but it was also physical work at times! Which was actually nice, because I'm not good at literally doing nothing!!
It’s known as “the fastest way of slowing down”.
Looks amazing. What company was this with?
This boat belonged to www.abcboathire.com/ but I organised it through an umbrella company called www.drifters.co.uk - hope that helps!
:request: going to paultons park in southampton.
I'm not a fan of Paultons, sorry!!! I know plenty of people who love it there tho...
You should see the boats at Oakums make... Beautiful
Where do I find those?
I would die for this sort of lifestyle. Tell any of your kids they are welcome to come to my suburban American lifestyle to life for a while so they appreciate what they have
I think/hope/believe my kids appreciate their lifestyle!
The one thing holiday makers forget is that people actually live on the canal, they drive too fast, too close, and sometimes at high revs,
We are all trying our best to control our boats for sure. It's not easy steering a narrowboat for the first time!
My God. I'm not one of your children yet I am in pain. Well done. Stop typing YIKES
Do we need a license, please ?
amazingly, no!
You need to try the norfolk broards (richardsons cruisers) iam not affiliated to this company but they are great cant do enough to help
I've got a trip to the broads on the horizon!!! Can't wait...have you been?
@@gowithjo1 hi i cant get enough of the broads the reason i go for richardsons is we were on one of there boats and ripped the whole corner of it they came out to look at it and said it would have to go back to the marina when we got there they gave us another boat without even asking great company cant do enough for you have a great time
lad enjoying it i see, take his phone and drop it over side 1,53
@Gabriel De Leuw i believe you ... NOT LOL
ALL MINE 😙
Medieval music and little narrative makes me feel like mum is on a power trip and the kids are being tortured 6:25
Thank you very much for this great video. I am now going to have a narrowboat holiday rather than a holiday cottage.
I don't think you'll regret it - it's so different, original and memorable and makes a lovely change! Enjoy...
🇧🇷 🇧🇷 Lindo 😍😍
Hai
That looks like a lot of fun. How expensive is it to do a trip like that?
Really not too bad - it cost about £900 for the 8-berth boat for four nights - that's about $1160.00 - but you really wouldn't want to be 8 people in the boat as it's very tight. We were 5 and that was about right. If I'd had another kid we could have squeezed in 6 and that would also have been fine.
@@gowithjo1 That’s not bad. I think I’d enjoy a trip like that. I might have to look into doing it at some point.
@@mcearl8073 honestly, it's one of the most unique, memorable trips I've ever done. And my kids will NEVER forget it...are you in the UK?
Nice ☺️
❤️&✌️
So pleased you liked it!
1:31 so immature for laughing at this
Hot!
@Jo u steer a boat not drive
gah I know - I've since realised...
@@gowithjo1 lol 😛😛😅😅