Facing Fears on a Narrowboat's Maiden Voyage
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- Опубликовано: 16 сен 2023
- This is a story about a 50-something retired woman earning her L plates on her Narrowboat's Maiden Voyage. Remember what it was like to learn to drive? Now imagine you're a learner, driving around with your house on water! Aunty T and I have a fun and stressful day together, navigating new tides and facing fears.
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With love,
May
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May, we did it!!! What a day. I love that I have a video as the only thing I recall is my piece to camera at the end 😂
We dont learn or grow in comfort or ease and I had become far too comfortable. There are many moment's when I question my sanity but not once have I regreted my decision. Im pushing beyond fear and that excites me. I cannot wait to see where this part of my journey takes me.
Love you girl, thank you for being a part of said journey! So glad I "stalked" you! Speak soon xxxx
Hi Tee. Absolutely love your out look on life. I live in a 200 sqft tiny home in Canada and I will be retiring the end of March 2024. My plan is to sell my tiny home, move back to the UK and buy a narrowboat. I was so happy to see I'm not going to be the only crazy single lady on a boat. I really hope I can find a wonderful mentor like May. Perhaps I can get you to pay it forward next year on my maiden voyage. Thanks for the tears of joy "if not now when" words to live by. Big hugs Chris
@@christinemcintosh1450 aaaw, thanks so much Chris. Do it! And yes, if I can, I will pay it forward. Though I can't imagine being that competent I know I will be some day! 🙏
Loved the video, I especially liked your honesty at the end. I’ve not been on a narrow boat - though I remembered my first time on the Thames - it was busy and almost a full contact sport. Hope to see more of your adventures in the future.
Tee, apparently my message here is 9 months after your maiden voyage and I’m wondering where you are in your journey ? I bet there is a bunch of us well defined 50 + yr old women with the sense of adventure inspired by you to take the plunge. RUclips your chapter even if they are little snippets. I’d definetly watch. I watch two women of authenticity on RUclips , May who is bright and energetic and Heidi of The Rum Wench who is genuine and knows her shit. Be the third woman you have a great spirit . I’m in the obsessive phase of trying to find the perfect boat with the cash I have. Maybe next year it will happen. By sharing , you will be playing it forward. 😊
Your help and encouragement for lady T is awesome. If only everyone could follow your example of kindness, what a beautiful world this could be. Sadly these traits aren't in the curriculum of Cambridge, Oxford, Eaton or Harrow.
What a gutsy lady T is. Love her. Such a huge step to take into the unknown, but what a lovely way to live.
She's incredible!
Thanks for being a great mentor, hope I see you next year on the canal.❤
That will be me this time ,next year I can't wait.Nick 🏴x
How exciting!!!
Absolutely brilliant video. When I teach cruising, I usually advise to bring the boat to a complete stop before leaving. Engine should always be neutral or off as this prevents propeller doing any damage to anyone that might fall in or snagging ropes or a boat wandering off doing its own thing like cutting fibreglass cruisers in half. :) I think everyone should have an Auntie T, maybe she could adopt us too. Welcome to the boat family. xx
GREAT tips! Thanks 😊 Sorry, this one is taken now but im sure there are others out there haha
Tracy Id love to meet you. May thank you for sharing and caring, bring us Aunty T. Im 50, in the US and if we were closer, T, id be your neighbor. Your both amazing inspiring people!
Thanks Shannon, so lovely that you're here with us!
Good people, and a good vibe, set me up for the day ahead. Thanks May.
Glad to hear it!
"It's all good in the hood".... Love it... 😍
Hahah it really is, brup brup
my first time on your channel - really enjoyed tagging along and very educational for two oldies who MAY BE about to buy thier first narrowboat. thank you May
Ooo this was 11 days ago, any closer to buying ya first boat?! nudge nudge. Thanks for being here
Yeeeeeees! This was a f**king epic video! 😁😁😁 and so nice to electronically meet and get to know Auntie Tee, you are also freakin epic!!! I was supposed to be going sleep but this was whhhhhey more fun!! Love you measle xxxxxxxxxx
Oh hello cutie pie 😘
Mays narrowboat driving school 🤌
she picked a perfect mentor 🎉❤
Aww thats a sweet thing to say, thank you 😊
What a great lady T is, I love Narrowboats I dream about living on one, spent a holiday on one I loved it, my then partner almost bought one to live on. We separated and now I know I couldn't do this single handed !!! So T you must be so proud !🎉 I hope you do a vlog x
Aww you so could Jayne, if you wanted it enough! Thanks so much for being part of our journey 😊
Good to see you smile again 👍
Naww, I smile about 98% of the time 😊
Awesome episode. 🎉😊
Thanks!
Reminds me of when I decided to take up flying as a hobby. Had no idea how disorienting and stressful it would be. Many men shed tears and dropped out before getting their final check ride and license. In the end I became much more focused. I also felt the same way as you when I bought my scooter to run around town on. Would be the best of both worlds with a house to dock your boat on the horizon.
Aww thats fun! Yes it would be lovely to have a house on the canal... maybe one day. And a house full of friends too
It was so smart for Tracey to connect with you and receive the training she needed. If she had relied on some old codger from a marina he might not have had the patience or given the encouragement that you did. I enjoyed all the step by step plus the POV perspectives from boat to lock to tow path to open sky to bike ride. I feel like I learned something today too. Good show.
Yay I'm so glad!
Hi Tracey, you have a lovely boat. You have an inverter like the one my brother had until it caught fire after nearly a year's occasional use. While he was probably just unlucky, you might like to consider fitting a cheap smoke alarm in the locker with it, so that if the worst happens, you can shut it off before it does real damage. The locker also needs good ventilation as they can produce a lot of heat. He now has a Victron, like May's, which are the best but are really pricey.
Thanks for the advice
Great advice, thank you 🙏
I love T,I remember you taking her out before, she’s got a quite personality and I wish her lots of luck in her new venture. It was so good of you go out with her. You gave her confidence for her first journey. Great boat T, enjoy. xxxx
Shes fab isnt she!
This was great, you are so kind May and I'm sure Tracy will soon have the hang of it. Gutsy ladies 💖
She's the best isnt she!
What a lovely heart filling video. Wishing Auntie T all the luck, love and blessings for her life on the water.
Thank you so much so kind
Hi Mary loved this video you really do make things easy with your warm friendly ways xx
Aww thats kind, thanks John
well done Tracy xxx great work with the support may xx
Thanks Kelly
That was a fun video to watch. All the best to Aunt T. Cheers!
Yay, im glad you found it fun!
Good effort from a career sailor of the world😎🦘 ‘..don’t sweat the small stuff and going slow is the safe way to go..’
Great motto, got it tattooed?
Tracy is mad as a box of frogs, I love her! Wishing you many happy adventures. Lovely to have good friends to help face our fears 😊
She's the best!!
🤣 so true! I thought it was at least two boxes but I've calmed right down in middle age!
You’re welcome, May. And thank you for the wonderful ideas you share with the world. ❤
Thanks for saying 🙏
Hat's off to Tina and to you for helping her 👍 another great vlog May keep up the good work 👍
Thanks Andy
It's so great to see your smile again and hear your voice, May, especially when you sing! You need to sing more in your videos! You do it so beautifully!
Thank you so much!! More singing coming up next!
Thank you May!
You are so welcome!
I imgine you find the lock gates a bit easier now you have the ratchet winder. I'm sure Tracey reaped a great benefit from your teaching. I'm amazed at her progress.
She did great didnt she!
Tracy is an absolutely stunning woman. Love the attitude, love the boat, love it all.... I wish her nothing but the best in her boating adventures and again thank you for sharing your time with her to help her along. The two of you make an unstoppable pair.
Shes amazing isnt she! Thanks Rod
Nice video may, it was nice seeing you accompany your friend on her first time out on her boat going through locks so you can advise her how to cope with everything. The word you was looking for during the video to describe the steering was extentuate
Thanks Stephen 😊
I can't stop grinning.
Haha ! I know the feeling yay
Hi May, well what a watch. Very Enjoyable. Reminded me of my first trip in my narrowboat. I understand the panic bit. I'm SO still learning after living on my narrowboat after 15 months. Great to have someone else on the journey with you❤XX
Aww love this, thanks Julie! 15 months, you go girl! Bet youve come so far. Sending hugs
🙏🙏✌✌💖💖the biggest thank you , is to you May , for bringing this channel to us
Bless ya! 😊 It brings me so much joy to do this work
T, what a lovely gutsy woman she is ! This video is so entertaining and it's great to see you two having so much fun, after all that's what life is all about!
May, you are such a lovely person, with a heart of gold, and your personality shines in your video's.
Take care ❤
Thanks Hazel, such kindness, big cuddles from us both
Well that was a fun time May, I'm sure Tracy appreciated your assistance and your time. That was very special of you to be there for her, she couldn't have had a better teacher. I could have been entertained for a couple hours on this adventure, Thank You for taking all of us along for the ride May.
Thanks for being here@
your a fantastic person May for helping your friend out with her boat it must give you great satisfaction doing this i hope as i try to help people to learn different things as well, and get a good feeling to see them succeed in doing things love the water the bush and the simple things in life which is the best things in life take care girl be safe
I hope so too! Thanks for sharing
You are an Awesome Teacher! Well Dun!
Aww thanks 😊
Love it May
Thanks Chris
Thanks for the video. All the best. 🐞
Thanks for the comment!
Good luck to Auntie T. Thank you.
Bless you! She will be reading these comments no doubt 😊
THANK YOU . KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
Thanks, will do!
This was an absolutely lovely episode in so many ways! Good on you for sharing your knowledge and for being such a good mentor! And along the way it provided a wonderful perspective of boat life for us dreamers. Perhaps you’ll find more opportunities like this. It was wonderful to see some footage from outside of the boat! Thank you 🙏
Aw thanks Dan, what a lovely comment 😁
Hi May, well that is so good to see you helping someone else especially another lady. Keep up the good work. Love your videos. Good to see those smiles on your faces Cliff from Logan city Queensland Australia 🇦🇺 from the big island 🧑🏾🦽🦘🐨🏝️🌏
Thank you so much! 😁😁
Thanks for the tuition,l learned from it to .l ‘m sure Tracy will be fine with your help .
She's doing great!
See you when you put out yours next video 📹, from John E May USA 🇺🇸 nice going. ❤❤❤❤❤
Beautiful cruise thankyou 😇
Thank you for being here J 😊
Another great Vlog, thank you!👌👍👍
Glad you enjoyed it
I live with no expectations at all , this way contributes to a simple and peacful life on my journey..
None attachment is a great blessing also .
Bless!
My second favourite video. What a learning curve. Mixed emotions I'm sure. Loved it. May, put your foot down and make Tracy start a channel 💚
Glad you enjoyed it! Haha she's been floating the idea!
@@wellbeingonwater It'd be great. Fresh from the start, the learning. Can't wait
Well done T, hope to see some videos from you very soon. im hoping to do the same as you soon so im watching all this and loving it
Wow - this was truly an inspirational video. Best wishes to you both on your journeys. Namaste 🙏
Thank you so much!
This has to the best example for unconditional friendship and love. Stepping out of the marina first time is one of the scariest things in the world. It will soon became all muscle memory, so don't worry about the odd mistake now and then, Tracy and May well you can now add narrow boat teacher to the ever growing list of things that you can do.
First one lock then a second, slow and steady Tracy Mac begins the adventure of with narrow boat life on the water, with Molly and May her side, the sunny days are just ahead. And the cares of the conventional world left behind.. So here's to you Miss Mac and long may you sail
Thanks Marytn! Love your comments!
Was really neat to see you help T out,im betting in a few months time she will look back at today and have a laugh about how nervous she was,she had the best person to learn from with you may,i was also seriously expecting you to lose it on that bike at the end girl lol,was impressed with your camera work.
Hey! Thanks so much, it was a brilliant day!
Well done May. Brilliant Vlog and so lovely to see the help and support you gave to a new narrowboat cruiser So much to think about and do and your experiences shared are really going to help. Loved your advice on addressing stressful situations. Even though the reality is that you have to experience it first hand to know what this life environment is like. Thank You for sharing
It’s so nice to see you two together, you clearly are encouraging each other to extract as much fun out of ordinary and every day activities. There’s a joy about your interactions. May , you’re evidently enjoying the opportunity to share your boating knowledge and helping Lady T to ‘learn the ropes’, her excitement and gratitude is your reward.
Aww thanks Clive, lovely comment
Great pun there ! Thanks for saying 😊
Wow May I been wondering when Tracy would return with her own boat Very exciting to see Tracy beginning amazing fun adventures ahead ❤ May you are so sweet to help Tracy
Thanks so much for saying!
VERY Kind of you May. She is a ‘Trip’.
Isnt she! 😊
What a nice vlog, always exciting to start sailing one a Narrowboat.
Isnt it just!
fab vid May, think ive watched them all now so you need make lots more as its the first thing i do when i get in work 😅
Aww bless ya
Love you may keep up the good work
Thanks T 😊
Going through Braunston tunnel first trip out you have cracked it, well done. Personally every time I go through there I hate it.
We didnt go through in the end, no time! I hope to someday
Loving Tracy and her dog, looks like they're going to really take to it.
I think so!
Wow May and aunty T fantastic vlog loved every second of it ...I always practice box breathing in times of stress and keep everything slow then if it goes wrong it goes wrong slowly and you can recover 👍
Hey Ian, so glad you took the breathing stuff on board too 😊
Thoroughly enjoyed this vlog. 😊
Yay! Had fun producing it too! Good job ey, I seem to be doing it a lot these days 😆
Well done to both x
Cheers David
I met Tracey at the Marina the other day when I helped her with her solar panel, she's a proper character! Bit gutted I missed you at the same time. Good for you showing her the ropes, sometimes we all need a bit of guidance 🙂
Aww so glad you met T, shes amazing!
Good for you may,, help someone for the day,, make friendship for a lifetime,, when things get rough, stop and think ,what things could have been, have good days may, and even better ones, I’ll be watching😎😎
Absolutely , me and T are bessies now. Shes such a character, love her to bits
Well Tracy did amazing, Im not really a driver not very confident. I also bought a boat, Im no to nervous to use it, I have had lessons with a great boat mover woman we did three days going through locks even Caen Hill locks which is 16 locks all in one go! That was super scary but fun at the same time. I'm moving my boat to a marina well she is helping me as I have to work too. I was very apprehensive at the end of the day learning but I managed it. Alot to learn and concentrate on. Tracy did very well with mooring up, thats the bit I struggle with I'm ok going 3 miles an hour, I was going slow. Anyway thats so kind of you to help Tracy May with moving the boat. I'm going to be in London for a bit so bit nervous about that, decided to do a winter mooring somewhere so I can get used to it. Great job ladies!
Didnt she!! What a day! Feels like ages ago now!
Amazing video. I had no help or tuition moving my boat from Alperton in London to Milton Keynes. 58 miles and 69 locks but I made it unscathed. It took 8 days but they were the best days ever. I very quickly learned how to drive a boat. Mine was a 60 x 10 widebeam as well.
Wow, that must have been awesome! Yes you do learn quickly! I took mine up the Thames in the first month, was a pro after that
Well done both I am in Daventry just down the road from ware you are if I new you both was doing that trip I would off came and helped you both xxx
Bless ya! Thanks John
Two Wilful Wild-Child's with the same DREAM! ..... Great Stuff .... Things can ONLY get Better ... We Hope! 😄
Aww love this, thanks Pete
And Aunt T, we hope you have your own channel soon.
Shes ace isnt she!
This is my local area! I'll be on the look out for you Tee on my next canal walk
Yay! Keep your eyes peeled
What a lovely boat you have got a good one there enjoy 😊
She's v. Happy with it!
Gorgeous May..Grazie
🙏
great vid...I am 57 living in Tasmania aus and thinking of doing this myself to live out my days...lived in England in the 80's and miss it sooo much. Thanks for the inspiration !! BTW you have such a sweet voice when you sing...you should write your own music if you don't already.
Hey!! Ooo I love tassie. I spent a bit of time there on my travels! Incredible nature! Thank you for saying, yes I do write my own stuff but only got 1 finished song haha!
She has a great friend in you May and you have made a great friend too 😊
Think I would lower the solar for better visibility
Cheers Duncan
wow may you guys are a trip happy boating from the usa
We try!
When my friend bought his boat (48ft) about 20 months ago, he was fairly worried about the length and handling, he had been on the inland waterways before, but in his 20's now in his 50's. His first major trip was from the Trent to London. That is a steep learning curve! I have jsut come back from a few days away on the boat, He just said where to go (which canal) and said "I'm on holiday now!" He left me to it! Nearly 15 years sailing on inland waterways means I handle the Narrowboat with a great deal of finesse.
It takes a lot to slow yourself down and apreciate what you have and where you are, the locks help a lot there as they will take the time they take. There are a few simple tips to impart from my life on the water;
Never get off the boat while it's in gear!
Never get off the boat without a rope in your hand (if not already teathered or someone else has a rope).
Always go slow.
If you have a pet, keep the boat to the side of the lock and controlled (not banging onto the sides of the lock, it spooks the pets)
Keep the revs low - who needs wash or noise.
Did I say go slow? 😛
Don't rush the locks, the gates will only open when they are ready.
Throttle back in plenty of time, you can always add more, but it's not easy to take off speed quickly.
Increment the tiller back as you turn, boats don't jsut straighten up so centralising the tiller slowly before you're pointing where you need to be means you don't slalom down the river or canal.
It's easier if you have 2 centrelines, pull them back to the helm so you can just grab a line and step off the now not moving boat.
Life Jacket! especially for a newbie, it's easier to fall in that get out and if you do get a concussion on the way down you'll live with the life jacket, you won't without it.
Oh, the last thing, go slow!!!
For a first timer, she did really good or at least that is the portrayal. 😛I expect it is a steep learning curve for her, but she'll do alright!
Thanks so much for sharing! love reading stories like these.
Nice loved it 👌
So glad, thanks for being here
Great video
Glad you enjoyed it
Eeekkk in about 2 weeks I get my new boat and I'm equally excited and terrified! Thanks for the perfect timing of this video 🏴☠
Good luck!! Just take it sooooooooooo slow!!!
@@wellbeingonwater Thank you 🙏🏼 & Ooo I certainly will 🐌 🏴☠️
I want to be her friend too! Her words really spurred me on with my own boat dream. If not now when.
Thats lush! exactly!! What great words
Awww want the dog 🐕 ❤
Fun!!!🎉
It was!
great vlog May.......S
Thanks S 😊
😧😨😧You chose a photo of explosion and fire for the preview and cover of this video. We opened the video in panic. I thought that your boat exploded in an accident with another boat....
Thank God. The video was interesting and funny.😍😍😄😃 A new boat❤... but in my opinion your red boat is more beautiful and impressive.
good luck May...😀😀
Sorry to scare you!! Went for a dramatic photo with a dramatic title! It was a lovely day all in all but there was drama for sure!
It's interesting that on the bike ride you were saying about expectations and idealising situations. Then later T was saying why sweat about the small stuff. That's absolutely nail on the head. My idealised view of living in a motorhome, and then moving onto a boat, was about travelling, and solitude, and doing my own thing. OK The harsh realities are there, but all my idealistic hope were also still there, the other stuff was just in addition to. But the small stuff will be in your life whether you live in a mansion, a crappy flat, or a boat. They're just part of life. It is though the idealistic expectations which whilst tempered, are there to be had and that's the most important thing. I could never live in a house again now.
You two are a power couple. You've both got amazing personalities, I can't wait to see T's journey.
Hey!! Thanks sooo much for sharing this. I love hearing how these stories and vlogs provoke threads of thoughts and reflection! Thanks for watching!
You're awesome as always (I was born in May, but that has NO influence in my opinion of you at all! Like, totally!), and so is Aunty T. Making that big of a change in your 50's isn't easy I'd guess.
Then again, I'm only 45, so still MILES away from being that old! xD
Seriously though, I have always lived alone - so the solitude of boat life would not be an issue at all. In the contrary, that's one of the main things that make the thought of coming over and living on the canals so attractive to me. The manual toilets are a big counter point though. 🙂
Until next week, have a good one!
Hey! Thanks for sharing a piece of you with us! Sounds like boat life would suit you! Great to have you here 😊
Thanks
Thank you so much for your kindness!
😮
Great Video with lots of Fun and Serious stuff . I would suggest getting one of those Self Inflating Life jackets. ( like the ones the volunteer Lock Keepers wear ) for when your Boating on your own , through a Lock . It’s OK when your using a Lock with a Canal Side Pub , and everyone watching you . But a very different story when your out in the Country side , on your own in a remote Spot . Look forward to hearing how your getting on , in a few weeks from now. 😊
Thanks! love a bit of balance with these vids. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!
I really liked this video. I learnt to ride a bike and never had stabilisers. I used to get into all kinds of panics and fall off. When I hit the ground it hurt because of how tense I was.
One day I got really angry with myself and decided I wasn't going to panic or freeze. Once I did that I learned pretty quickly that I could control the bike for quite a long way after I lost my balance.
Before long I was able to balance the bike almost completely stationary. I could lock the front wheel with my brake and still cycle without falling off. When I did fall off I was pretty relaxed, I leaned to hit the ground more gently and it didn't hurt so much.
I've recently been teaching my daughter to ride her bike and now she's doing small jumps and wheelies. Next were going to tackle the ramps and half pipes at the local skate park. It will be a new experience for both of us as they didn't really exist when I was her age.
As for driving, I grew up on a farm so was driving at 8. My feet were too small to get my heels on the floor, mix that with all the bumps of driving off road and it wasn't the smoothest experience. Fast forward 30 years and I quite regularly drive with a cup of coffee balanced on my knee.
Hey! Thanks so much for sharing a piece of you! Really glad you resonated with it!
Nice to see the locks and canals, so different compared to NL! ⛵ Thanks!🙏
Netherlands? I'd love to visit House swap?!
@@wellbeingonwater Yes, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 🤙 Always welcome for a collab! 🎥⛵
It feels like I just took drugs....I love it. I'm an addict now.😂😂😂.
Haha love this 😊😊😊
Lovely video. I think one of the things about boating, for me anyway. Would be learning how to look after the engine. Doing the stern gland thingy so you don't sink etc. Not as if you can't just pop into your local garage when drifting down a canal!
You get to learn your engine and once you do, you can't unlearn it, like riding a bike!
Hello May it seems you bought our old boat off Elly and mik. We bought it off Ken Froud and lived on it for 8 yrs constant cruising
Seen all of your vids. The camera loves you.
Terry and Lin.
Come visit!! Durof and I would love to meet you/see you again!
We would love to but I'm a bit crook at the moment.
Lin does Yoga.
We made some lovely hedgerow wine on Duorf, we had our own Duorf lable.
How brave. Being a hireboater i do not find cruising relaxing. It can be exhilerating, often beautiful but cruising requires concentration and zkill. It is inspiring to see people take the plunge and decide to live on a boat. Enjoy the nightly rock.
Love this! Yes it's not relaxing at the helm! Some days it can be but mostly it's not when you're whole home depends on your skills!
Well done Tracey and put in your mind everyday means less stress and more ability and in a few months you will feel like an old hand at the cruising. Always enjoyable to help people move on May as you enjoy that and the day as well, plus a new friend for life and not to long before Tracey massages, you in I'm an my way for a bankside BBQ and natter. Tin of touch up paint may be involved, but we have all been there.
Thanks for saying! Yes for sure this woman is a friend fo'lyf!
Great video, ...Good luck Tracy hoping you start a youtube channel ❤
We hope so too!!