Are Northern Canals Deteriorating? Closures, Fallen Trees & Overgrowth
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- Опубліковано 30 лип 2024
- This week I leave Middlewich and head down the Trent and Mersey Canal towards Oakwood Marina navigating my way through fallen trees, shallow canals and overgrown bushes. Are the northern canals in decline? With all the stoppages and lack of maintenance it looks so, however with the government recently cutting the Canal and River Trusts funding are things going to get worse? Lets hope not as I absolutely adore this lifestyle but I am going to change things up and head south next year!
I finish the video off by meeting my wonderful friends and heading to the Bowling Green in Northwich for one of the best freshly cooked meals I have had in a long time - Highly recommended.
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Thank you so much for watching. If you are new here, I'm Heidi and I live aboard my Narrowboat The Rum Wench and travel the UK's Canals in search of Adventure. After selling my house to experience an alternative lifestyle I bought a canal boat and a camper van which as a solo female who loves to travel, gives me the best of both worlds. I have recently got myself a new addition to the crew, a fabulous companion - my little rescue dog Bonny who is an absolute joy and the perfect First Mate. I also work full time off grid from my tiny home and trade at canal festivals as The Narrowboat Pirate aboard The Pirate Boat.
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If you want to know more about LIVING ON A BOAT, CANAL RULES or WHAT I DID BEFORE BOAT LIFE then please watch these two videos:
• Live on a NARROWBOAT? ...
• My Narrowboat is batte...
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Otters Pocket by Heidi Manning
The Thrusting Cutlass by Heidi Manning
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#Narrowboat #canalboat #crt #tinyhome #boatlife #singlehandedsailing
00:00 Introduction
00:31 Engine Checks
02:25 Winding / turning a Narrowboat
03:14 Cruising to the Lock
05:48 Cruising
06:59 Cruising Plans for the Year
09:05 Fallen Trees and Overgrown Bushes
11:03 Huge Bush makes almost impassable
15:07 Mooring up and Grounding
16:38 2000 miles of connected waterways
18:48 The Bowling Green Pub, Northwich
21:36 Cheers and Outro
![Cruising my Narrowboat up the Cheshire locks | Heartbreak Hill Part 1 [Ep 40]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/i4xGiTRaAfI/mqdefault.jpg)
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I think you may have broken your personal record for most innuendo's in a single video.
Yup! Cheeky 🤣❤️ I ❤’er. 🇨🇦
Unfortunately its not just the Northern canals that are deteriorating, there has been a decline in the network since CRT took over 😢 its sad to see, not enough money in the pot 😮
Still a great life style ❤ stay safe 🌈❤
Yeah, but your old girl of a motor sounds so good when shes purring along. Like Robbie Cummings, his boat (The Naughty Lass), has a distinctive note too. Electric boats may be the future, but they do not have that oh so important "Heartbeat of the Home".
I just received a price to supply a complete kit for my 35 foot sailing yacht from a well know marine electric propulsion company. Only €77,000 if I fit it myself, so like Heidi I will stick to my diesel a while longer 😂
I love the sound of that old 2 cylinder engine
Perfect start to my two weeks off! I can't be the only one who ducks when watching you go under bridges 🤣
😂😂
You are not the only one. I duck too.
@@simonc858 yep,I duck too
In my opinion leading to the degradation of the canals are environmental pressure groups as it appears that they are changing the canals from ‘navigations’ to ‘Linear Wetlands & nature reserves’ and barge and boating does not appear in their plans.
I was about to make a similar comment. It’s not just about throwing more money at the issue but the fact that environmental legislation prevents, or provides an excuse for, the timely maintenance of the canal and river network. Can’t cut back vegetation in the summer as it affects nesting birds or dredge in the summer as it affects spawning fish. Never mind the cost and restrictions on the disposal of waste.
The canals are a national treasure and attract many visitors. There are over 38 million visitors to the UK each year. If a surcharge of a simple pound were added to airplane tickets, hotel rooms and Channel Tunnel costs for visitors entering the country then that would probably generate over 100 million pounds a year which could be earmarked for canal maintenance and restoration only. Nice video, your engine room is the cleanest I've ever seen.
That’s genius … if only our politicians thought like that 😃🏴☠️❤️
Well if those whom are eligible to vote would voice their real opinion it would happen over night . It really would but ,,,,,,, 😊
Thank you for a lovely video as always take care xx 😊
And I wouldn't mind paying. So enjoyed my adventures bumping along the canal paths as my sister and I explored parts of England a few years ago on our bicycles.
The funding has not stopped, CRT are still getting funding from DEFRA. It stops in 2027. they have cut back on the services, The winter works program has been cut down to 1/3 of what was the norm, CRT Management wait until reported faults fail then repair or replace lock gates, (costing up to 10 times more) CRT just not spending any funds on the canals. CRT's sole task is to keep the Canals open for Navigation. CRT.s Management are asset stripping the Nations treasure.
Oakwood Marina has the best cafe ever. Haven't been in a while but the food was great
I did pop in but it was very expensive over £10 for a breakfast and that didn’t include a brew 😩
Hi Heidi I love you program I love you Narrowboat I’d love to do that pick a nice way to live❤❤❤
Heidi I’m watching this and thinking you are truly one of the most inspirational people I know! From that very young girl in Pietermaritzburg coming here on your African adventure to the last time we met in person in the UK when you just got your boat and telling me about your vision to live this life and now actually living the dream! You are simply amazing, incredible!
Aww thanks so much Varsh … they were some of the best memories I ever made and you are a big part of them 😃🏴☠️🤣
@@TheNarrowboatPirate 🤗
I just realized, as you're talking about going further south, next year, that you can't really get lost when you live on the waters.
More innuendos than a Carry on film lol, love it.
When you check the oil level with the dip stick just be sure you aren't moored on a bit of a hill cos you can get a false reading if she's on a slope!! And don't forget to put the brake on!😃😅☺😗Trust me, I could be an idiot! Old smuggler Frank👍
😂😂 lmao Frank
We can all learn from this, Frank! 😂😂
Brilliant vlog! Seeing the change in Bonnie is fantastic! She’s all adjusted to boat life now! When going south next year just be careful to avoid all the horrid sewage locations! ❤❤
If your boats on a slope I think you'd have more urgent matters to attend to than checking your dipstick.😅😅😅😅
Frank, you may need to up your medication as you are coming across as half a bubble off center. 🙂
Helloooooooo
Heidi and Bonnie
Great video
Take care X X X
💋's for Bonnie X X X
Lovely vlog Heidi. Those bushes do need a good trim
Aww thanks Alfie love, yes there is nowt worse than a big overgrown bush 🤣🤣
Just wanted to say thank you so much. I would normally never see I live over here in the states in Kentucky and I can tell you I have never seen anything like the location where you are anywhere here in the states. thank you so much for taking me along and showing me such wonderful and beautiful places bless you and Bonnie thank you
Aww thanks so much 😃🏴☠️❤️
Hi Heidi I love the music Otters Pocket such a relaxing piece with the beautiful scenery. You had some challenging cruising this week, shame about the condition of the canals. I hope you managed to get yourself unstuck and we see it next week. The food from that pub looked amazing and glad we got to meet the chefs. Once again you’re promoting some great places to visit. Sometimes I wished I lived in England. See you next week. Linda
Thank you so much!
❤ wonderful adventure as usual. The posh pub had me drooling. Thank you
Aww Rebecca it was only £14.95 for 3 massive tapas - absolute bargain 🤣🤣
Really enjoyed this video Heidi. I live 2 mins away from the Rochdale Canal and like you I can see the deterioration. In my opinion it will only get worse now the funding has been cut. It’s such a shame as the canals give so much pleasure to boaters and walkers alike.
I loved the Rochdale when I cruised it all in 2020, even when I got trapped for 3 months because of a stoppage in Tod but wow it was super hard work 😩 almost every lock has a paddle out of order
Glad you had such a nice time out with friends good you ad company and a break tc now the oldies be nice to have the ditties back 🤗👍
Thank you, yes although I don’t have too many so we will see how it goes 😂 I won’t do them every week but it just be a bit of fun 😃🏴☠️
So happy to see you're doing good Heidi. You look like you lost a little bit of something maybe my eyeballs fooling me, but your looking fabulous Tallyho
Hi Hiedi. What a great vlog.thank you. We couldn't make out, on how you film yourself when you're steering your boat ? Love you xxx
Long pole with go pro on the end 😂
Love the new song. You take the corners just lovely... it makes me tilt along the way.
Great video yet again Heidi. Always love the education that goes along with it. Keep up the great work ❤️🏴☠️
Thanks so much!
Love your videos, always interesting and good fun
Thank you 😃🏴☠️
Hi Heidi
I like when you point out your location on a map specially for me not from the UK. It amazing the number of canals that in the UK. Thanks
Love Yorkshire pud too
I use this channel as food for my soul thank you :)
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 😃🏴☠️❤️
Fantastic video as always. Thank you.
The Rum Wench and Zorro sharing cozy accommodations (a lock) together?! That sounds like an interesting story. (What would they name the offspring?🤣😆😉)
😂😂
Just wonderful seeing the scenery and the travels with you.
One of the 38.2K subscribers - love every minute of NBP! Many thanks! - Me? Way down south! Kempton Park, South Africa! No canal in sight!
Thank you, I love SA - do you get bunny chow where you are ? I worked out there in the townships of imbali, petermaritzberg, joberg, Durban, lady smith and even went to the highest pub in lzuto 😂
Great to hear that you have been here! Yes, bunny chow, I love it! What did you do here? Teacher?@@TheNarrowboatPirate
@@davidolivier68working in the townships doing a music project 😃🏴☠️ Zulu community
Weathers been rubbish up here Mrs. Stuck with broken locks and closed Ribble link. I think it's fair to say prices are going up, but services and lock repairs are going down. I can see parts being closed due to lack of use. ❤❤❤ See you on the flip side Mrs.
Awww bless you Will, the North is being so neglected 😩
I don’t usually comment despite watching all your videos, just to say love them 💕 Bonnie has come so far great to see her enjoying life, you’ve done such a wonderful job training and loving her x
Thank you so much! She still has a long way to go as gets very stressed around other dogs still but we are getting there slowly 😃🏴☠️
Another great vlog. Enjoyed very much. Thank you.
Thank you 😃🏴☠️
That was great driving Heidi. Blimey it made me worry passing all those boats. Good on ya 👍😘❤️
Me too 🤣🤣
Glad you enjoyed the rum Heidi. See you soon. Love Stormy
I’ve no taste buds left 😂😂
Thanks Lovely Heidi and Little Bonny, for taking us along on this beautiful cruise and to see The Bowling Green with their staff and lovely looking food. Take care and all the best. Stevie ❤
Thank so much Stevie 😃🏴☠️❤️
Wonderful as always! Lovely video we totally loved it! Hey that Rum had some poke! Haha cheers the Cornish crew James and Shelly ❤
Great video Heidi. I was looking at narrowboats for sale today, there was some nice ones there but really I have to be in the UK you just can’t trust the net. Take care lovely lady and see you soon. 💕
Another lovely visit really enjoyed seeing Heidi and Bonny again this week very funny as well the things you say bless you both take care 😊😊😊
Thanks so much
Looks a nice pub..
It was gorgeous 😃🏴☠️❤️
Thank you for another great upload. Give Bon Bon a cuddle from me xx
She is currently snuggled up to me on the sofa 😂❤️🐶🏴☠️
Thats good advice Heidi, thanks. Its always good to feel your way forward when pushing yer bow through the bush! But here's the question. Should you run the Jolly Roger up first? 🤔 Thanks for a great video. 👋 🏴☠️ ( Bowling Green, Northwich, noted) cheers.
Thanks Geoff, it’s a cracking pub 😃🏴☠️❤️
Lovely as ever … thank you for your humour and efforts … we always enjoy NBP 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️❤️
Aww thank you 😃🏴☠️❤️
Love sharing your adventures on Thursday Heidi you and that little dog are a joy to behold, take care. Bill from Lincolnshire 🎉
Thanks so much
Lovely bonnie!
She is 😃🏴☠️❤️
Heidi hi! As usual, another great vlog. It must be really difficult to come up with new topics and takes each week, but you always ace it. Unfortunately, you have jinxed this year' summer, because we had about four good days, and it has been mostly crap since then. Always love your positive attitude. Stay safe, and looking forward to your next one. If you want to go south next year, you probably will need a phrase book! You will need to say grass, rhyming with a rude word for bottom, rather than rhyming with gas!
😂😂 thank you, I never know what’s going to happen in the videos until I see off cruising 😂😂 I just chat as I go along 😂😂
Great vlog Heidi loving the new music you have introduced.
Those yorkie puds looked amazing, lovely pub .
Have a fantastic week love to Bonny as always xx
Thank you! You too!
Good Friday Morning Heidi! What a fun and wonderful video. Here in the US we have a lot of issues with roadway maintenance issues and it should like the canals are suffering from similar circumstances. It is wonderful that you can be flexible and go where the canals are flowing. I love riding along. I would definitely go to the Bowling Green if I lived anywhere near. Please save a spot on board for me next week. I will definitely be there. Love to you and Bonny from Gramma Lainee
Oh you would love it … freshly cooked food, I’ll see you next week Gramma Lainee 😃🏴☠️
What a difference a few thousand miles around the world makes. We have had close to a month of too much sun and hardly any rain and the last couple days we are all cheering because it's raining and hopefully putting out forest fires. Same amount of daylight here or maybe a slight bit more. Thanks for taking us along.
Thank you 😃🏴☠️❤️
Caught this one in order, still going backwards through previous videos. It's always great to see new places . You have a great life style
Thank you 😃🏴☠️
Hi Heidi, and beautiful little Bonny, thank you once again for your videos, I must say I love the sound of the old diesel reminds me of traction-engines we had in a milk in the shed when I was a kid keep up the good work I must say you’re looking very beautiful you girls. Lots of love from Australia
Thank you very much!
Such a beautiful area of the canal system. I should get up there some day.
It looks like Bonny likes her new back garden.
That'll be a neck of rum at the end there.😂🤣👍
Hello from the Canadian Arctic
Ahoy 😃🏴☠️
Winter in the Arctic would really shiver your timbers.
Thanks Heidi. Another great adventure to have with my coffee.
Fiona from Australia. 👍
Cheers
You’ll have too let us know when you come to the Albert dock .I live in Liverpool and if I get a chance would love to get you a drink when your here ..
Another wonderful video! I hope it wasn't too difficult to get the boat off that ledge the next morning! Thanks for posting. Your vids keep me going until I can make it there and get my own boat :)
See you soon 😃🏴☠️
There’s the reason that I watch your UA-cam channel all the amazing rums you get gifted and your descriptions really do impact me when I go shopping for my own bottles , if they’re available in Australia of course.
Also, I enjoy the scenery of the canals. It’s a pity about the stoppages though, but that’s part of canal life as I have learned through watching boat tubers on UA-cam.
Anyway, hopefully you have warm sunny days, calm skies and smooth sailing.
Ben from Australia 🇦🇺
Thanks Ben 😃🏴☠️❤️
come down south
After watching some of Robbie Cummin on canal boat dairies I’ve commented on the state of the canals , like you say the need of dredging plus the narrowness of canals with trees and reeds ( I know they to look after wildlife ) . I know a lot of the canals are looked after by volunteers but the government should help more !My local canal is being dug out and restored ( Chesterfield canal restoration from Chesterfield to Worksop ( but having to by-pass the Norwood tunnel ) they’ve done Chesterfield to Staveley ) Take care on the canals ! 👍👏🇬🇧
Thanks David
One of my great desires in life is to run away to the canals. It just seems so awesome of a life.
It’s wonderful but hard work 😂🏴☠️
Unbelievable how close you to other boats when passing. Your confidence in navigating the narrowboat is amazing. Enjoyed this weeks adventure as usual
Thank you 😃🏴☠️
Another great vlog Heidi, may I say the 'old girl ' looks amazing, and the engine looks pretty good too, 😀😀😘, the canals seem to be the same as everything up north, forgotten about, some may say ' if you don't use it then you lose it ' but if people cannot use it, it gets forgotten about, take care ❤
Nowt changes the North always last can off the rank cheers n beers Marty Australia
Exactly it’s a bit of a catch 22 😃🏴☠️😃
Another great vlog Heidi and a joy to watch❤
Thanks so much! 😊
Great vid and as always educational Heidi !
Thank you!
South Oxfod is fantastic, lovely section if canal. Been down there 2 years, so beautiful
I look forwards to seeing it next year 😃🏴☠️
You just can’t help it , just like Greg Davies ex teacher who hated his job but what impression he made on his students. ❤
Loved tonight's vid. That pub looked amazing. Great food. Not surprising you were raving about the place.
Hope you don't have any more closures and you can complete your planned journeys xx
Thank you … I never stick to plans anyway 😂😂
22:00 "you know me". 🤪
Cheers Heidi xx Bottoms up...
Cheers 😃🏴☠️
brilliant as always, thanks for sharing.. very wise for being 28..
😂😂
Hello Heidi mick from Hull another very lovely episode hope you and bonny are very well and keep doing the video I really look forward to watching them xx😊😊😊
Thanks so much Mick 😃🏴☠️❤️
ooo... that was a tight squeeze
Hi hunnie fantastic video as always little bonny melts my butter and I have to laugh when she gets the toy doll that's she's not supposed to have lol.
Shame about the canals been shut hopefully not for to long.
Take care
Regards
Heidi
❤
Thanks Heidi 😃🏴☠️
Only recently started watching your videos Heidi, so got a bit of catching up to do. Loving them so far, you really are a breath of fresh air. Your innuendos really make me chuckle. Keep up the good work and be sure to keep the bridge hole clear !
Aww thanks so much 😃🏴☠️
Fab Vlog Heidi
love the video
Thank you Heidi for your videos. Can't wait from week to week to see your new adventures. I would like to hear some new Heidi music. You are so talented
Thanks Maria, I’m dying to make more music too but it takes me weeks to finish a track inbetween cruising, trading, making badges and editing videos in my free time …. Hopefully once the trading season calms a bit I can get back to more music 😃🏴☠️🎶
Awesome 👍
Thanks 🤗
Great video as always please keep them coming 😂 lizzy bulgaria xx
Thanks Lizzy 😃🏴☠️❤️
good vid cranking it on the cut thanks lee
Thanks Lee 😃🏴☠️❤️
Another Fab vlog. Anna and I watch you and Bonnie every week, part of our Saturday morning ritual with a cup of coffee. You are always fun and a pleasure to watch. Thanks x
Aww thank you 😃🏴☠️
Hi Heidi, happy to see this week's video.
Yay! Thank you!
@@TheNarrowboatPirate I must have missed this week's innuendo. I might have to go back and watch it again.
@@youknowme8578it’s British humour and there were a few …
Bedankt
Great video and, as usual, love the music. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it 😃🏴☠️
Engine maintenance ... amen! 🙂 From me a retired gas/diesel engine mechanic who is older than that Lister. Love how she sounds. Oh your vlog is so delicious. I know there are issues/problems with full time cruising, I've owned boats for 28 years, and I now own a 21-foot caravan and pickup truck, AND a stick-built home. But I sure do hanker to hire a narrowboat at least for six months (the most I would be allowed in the UK), or apply for citizenship and just live on a boat there forever. There are no canals or other such protected waterways here in the USA. How nice that people help each other through locks. Wish people would do that in life and in politics rather than criticizing and hating. 😞Just help each other, yes? LOL!!!! You started DJ-ing when you were 3, oh my heart. 🙂 Thank you for that, you rascal.
So, question ... for those of us who might want to hire a narrowboat for 6 months or so ... what's the best resource for maps and options on where to cruise? In England/Wales? Scotland? Am I correct that UK canals do not connect with Scotland canals? How dumb is that? Rather than answering me here, maybe you could address this in a future vlog? Oh, and I just typed this and then you show the Nicholson guides! Did you read my mind? thank you. 🙂
Just please keep cruising Heidi so I can dream. 🙂 Yes, human connections and human kindness.
Hiring a boat is very expensive as the insurance is ridiculous if you don’t own the boat …. Hopefully see you over here one day 😃🏴☠️
@@TheNarrowboatPirate Thank you for the heads up!
Hope you got off the silt ok. Nothing like meeting good friends over lunch. =-) Take care
Thank you Lorraine 😃🏴☠️❤️
Having met you a few times at Tipton and bumble hole . Ive always wonderd how your life was on the canal . Havig found your channel last week and discussing rum . Love how you keep a clean barge. I am impressed how clean you engine room is,. Now my observation is ,,, its as clean as your kitchen and the rest of the barge . So i am going to give you top marks for a clean ( very clean ) engine and engine compartment. Andhow you keep the oiler toped up and check your dipstick . I am very impressed girl . And the lister engine is a good one . Very impressed by your independence and clean barge . Nice video . My hearty.
Cheers Ken 😀☠
I grounded just outside Oakwood a couple of years ago roughly where you moored and gave up in the end. When I saw you mooring there, I thought, "oh no!", but you managed. Hope you got some sleep on the slope. A rum helps!
Next time I'm sailing Northwich way, I will try the Bowling Green. Looks great.
I just moored up where I came to a halt 😂😂
Just a quick Hello from New Jersey, USA. Enjoyed the video very much. Be well and stay safe. 😊
Happy Independence Day 😃❤️🏴☠️🥃
@@TheNarrowboatPirate Thanks.
Hey Heidi, it's funny how some of the things we do can introduce us to some lifelong friends. I've played guitar for many years (probably sound like I started just last week...lol), and I can't tell you how many friends I have made over the years because of it. I know the narrow boating is a lifestyle has made many lifelong friends for you as well. Thanks for another one. Take care.
It’s wonderful 😃🏴☠️ and I bet your guitar playing is awesome 🎵😂
The website for that rum you had at the end, said: "We suggest enjoying Chocolate Harrogate Rum neat, over ice or mixed with soda. Alternatively, treat yourself with a drop or two in a coffee or hot chocolate.
Please enjoy your >>otterly marvellous
I’ve no taste buds left 😂😂
Another great vlog, your optimism always makes me smile. Bonny is a beautiful little dog. Take care Heidi and Bonnie. X
Thank you so much!
Very happy to see you and dear Bonny . Lovely Heidi thank you . Had to laugh out loud * when you said it would put hair on you're Scammells 🤫 ATB Phil
Scammells 😂😂😂
@@TheNarrowboatPirate AKA Scammells wheel nuts.
@@terrystevens5261I know 😂😂 I referred to them as that when it was very cold 😂😂
Gosh what a beautiful day and the scenery is gorgeous love your adventures girl for sure I would not trade what I do now for a brick and morter either cheers Heidi good to see ya your friend from Orlando Florida ❤
Thanks Cynthia 😃🏴☠️
Where I live it's been gin and it weather.🌞🌈
I'm drinking bourbon today but best wishes and that looks like fine weather on the canal keep posting I'll keep following
I love bourbon too 😂😂
Just wait around a while for the overgrown bushes. In my experience, as they get older, they thin out a lot.
😂😂
Huddersfield Narrow is very shallow in places.
Friends of mine gave up on it and turned the boat round.
I did it in 2020 and it was the hardest but most beautiful canal I’ve ever done, however I had to walk up and empty 3-4 locks just to fill one lock … it took forever and I had crew 🤣