Monday 20th May – Day 303 – 8 miles to go
We found a lovely mooring close to a shopping area which had every kind of shop you could think of, so whilst I cracked on with some work Chris went to get some last-minute essentials which we didn’t buy yesterday and then it’s cranking time.
I’m surprised how nice the Grand Union and Paddington Arm is. I think I expected more noise, more mess and to be in the thick of it, but it’s mainly countryside. There are bigger house boats and more widebeams and you’re never far from a cheaper supermarket, but other than that it’s the same as being in the countryside.
Anyway, it’s off we go as we cruise in the sunshine to Paddington. We are truly lucky with the weather today and as we cruise past the high rises we are soon into Little Venice where we luckily sneak onto the facilities just by the bridge for the usual boat services. It’s job done and through the famous Little Venice and we turn right onto the Paddington Arm and the true busy London begins as people are enjoying the sunshine and the restaurants and cafes are busy as we just cruise on by thinking about all the times we walked this way before we owned a boat. ((I’m surprised you can remember!))
We reach our pontoon in the basin and Chris, in true professional captain style, winds the boat straight into our mooring, we tie up and we are here! We have made it to our final destination on this leg of the journey. There is still lots to do. Including the Thames but for now we are here and it’s time for a glass of fizz on the stern! Day done!
Miles: 8
Estimate: London bound totals: cruising miles 175/175 ish Locks: 176/176 Tunnels: 6 Swing Bridge: 3
Tuesday 21st May – Day 304
Well the wonderful weather has left us already and we wake up to heavy rain which we don’t really mind. At least we were treated to a lovely day yesterday which made all the difference as we glided into London. ((Glided? I would like to see that Peachy! Now that would make a good YouTube Vlog!))
I decide to work in the morning as we haven’t got anything in particular planned today, so it makes sense to work whilst it’s horrible weather. In the afternoon it clears a little, so we wander to Ryman’s stationery shop as I’ve created a poster for the window to advertise and wanted to get it printed ((Oh LORD! I dread to think!)) my books and YouTube channel might as well make the most of the thousands of people who walk past the boat! We end up chatting to a lovely lad in the shop who is studying English Lit I think he said, but he wants to publish a book on the structure of poems so I told him everything I know ((Bet that didn’t take long)) about how to publish on Amazon and generally about the process of submitting to try and get an agent etc.
I really hope he goes ahead and tries to get published, it’s such a hard industry to be successful in. Sometimes it comes down to luck at submitting at the right time, sometimes it’s down to who you know, sometimes just sheer bloody hard work, obviously if you have a good book it helps. I’ve heard every different reason there is from authors who have become successful – the main one is work hard! ((you’re out then!))
That done we finish off the day with a wander into Hyde park and then it’s our first day in London done. and it’s wonderful to be here.
Wednesday 22nd May – Day 305
It’s up early ish as we make our way to the Science Museum. It’s not quite the experience we wanted, not that these places are ever quiet but we must have picked a day when the school trips were out in force so it was a little difficult to concentrate with screaming in the background. ((Grumpy old woman!)) I know! But particularly when you live on a boat and most of the time it’s just Chris and I, crowds and lots of chatter can be quite overwhelming. We eventually find our way to the picnic area on the third floor and enjoy our butties whilst we wait for the kids to clear off.
Then we have a bit more of a wander but there are a few things either being worked on or VIP area’s closed off for events but we still see quite a lot and enjoy the visit. We might try our luck again another day as there is still a lot more to see and it’s rare to be able to do everything in a museum in one visit.
It’s then back to the boat to relax and get some vlogs uploaded. Day Done. ((I can tell you’ve had enough of blogging! Where’s the detail about living in Paddington Basin? The walk through Hyde Park and the streets of Paddington? The description for the reader to immerse themselves into environment walking past the hospital, thousands of people the sights you’ve seen??)) It will be in the book! ((Oh charming! We have stuck with this blog for months and months and it will be in the book! Give me strength))
Thursday 23rd May – Day 306
I’ve received my Jersey book back from my publisher so have been working on some of the final edits today as we are aiming for a June publishing date ((That’s only so you can go to Jersey – working!)) So, I spend the morning editing and then we head out and catch the red bus which is our favorite way to travel in London. For anyone not familiar with getting around London; a lot of people use the tube and we used to, but the novelty soon wears off and the normal red buses are brilliant. The tour buses where you get commentary are great if you haven’t been before but expensive ,whereas the buses are approx. £1.75 per trip and you get to see London from above on the double deckers, much nicer than the underground.
This has been our preferred mode of transport in London for a while. They are so reliable and there are so many of them. To go long distances across London sometimes you have to get off and change to another bus, but again, so easy to do and so cheap and more often than not we manage to get the front seats upstairs for the best view.
Today we get the bus to Limehouse Basin to have a look at the lock where it exits into the Thames, a journey we are hoping to do soon… erm, we wish we hadn’t decided to come! It was a little windy and bit choppy but not overall bad weather and still the thought of taking our un-navigable narrowboat with the worst buoyancy and maneuverability is quite scary but fortune favours the brave or so we hope! ((Peachy is open to offers for spare rooms should the worst happen – Peachy think of the YouTube Hits if you sink The Plot!)) do not even suggest it. It would be terrifying! We treat ourselves to a drink to calm our nerves at the Pride of Whitby a lovely pub overlooking the Thames and think about the journey ahead.
By the time this blog out we will have hopefully tackled the Thames!
Friday 24th May – Day 307 – OUR ANNIVERSARY!
I totally missed the opportunity to share that our boating life is two years old today on socials ((I’m everyone is devastated they missed it))! This time two years ago we squatted in our old house – with the owners permission as we’d completed on the house sale the day before. We cleared out the final bits, dropped the keys off with new owners. Chris dropped me at work and went to see the boat before picking me up after work and driving us to Mercia Marina where we bought the boat and the rest is history! No going back and it was the right decision as we love this life and couldn’t imagine going back to a house now.
The toilet waits for no-one though so at 8.30 am we are wheeling our toilet cassette through the posh Paddington Basin to the Little Venice on the trusted Cassette Carrying Vehicle which is the electric bike. This really does make life so much easier as the alternative would be to wheel the toilet cassette through London and I’m not sure that’s really appropriate or to carry it which would break our already old and broken bodies.
It’s a lovely pleasant walk and still a little surreal that this area is our home for now. It does take a bit of getting your head around even after two years that you can just tie up and live somewhere different. It certainly is a unique way of life and one we cherish and appreciate even if i do get a bit grumpy ((A bit!)).
Boat facilities done, we catch the bus to the wonderful Natural History Museum and enjoy a pleasant time wandering the corridors and rooms. It’s much quieter here and we have time to mooch around. Museums are such fascinating places and a real privilege to visit. Then it’s back to the boat ((Back to the boat Frodo!)) and day done!
Saturday 25th May – Day 308
Today was a bit of ‘meh’ day. My hormones were kicking my ass. Goes to show it doesn’t matter how good your life is, when the bitching hormones decide they are going to make you stress and worry about everything there is very little even a stubborn Yorkshire Lass can do about them. Luckily, I’ve learned to just accept it is what it is and it will pass. So in the spirit of no-one being subject to death whilst i’m in a hormonal rage, I suggest Chris goes out for the day on his pushbike.
I think this is why we have made it nearly to 26 years. If he’d have stayed in I would have annoyed him ((How’s that different to any other day)) and he would have annoyed me for no reason other than raging peri-meri hormones so instead, he goes out an enjoys himself and I wallow in misery, ranting whilst I’m creating vlogs, writing my blog and editing my novel when I don’t feel like it, but it’s good to get the rants out. ((No-one feels sorry for you! Pull up your massive middle aged pants and just crack on!))
I manage to get my book finished and sent to my publisher, so all the big structural edits are done now so it’s just the final copy edits to do and then it should be ready to get the cover designed and the book ready for publication!
So, that’s day done in misery, in London, feeling sorry myself. I know it won’t last long. Tomorrow we are cruising the Camden locks and then onto the London Canal Museum for our two night mooring there. Although we realise that because it’s bank holiday the museum will be open which means we will have to move in the daytime so the trip boat can use the mooring so we decide to cancel and just have the one night tomorrow instead. Let’s see what happens tomorrow! Day done and it can do one!
Sunday 26th May – Day 309
Well it was supposed to be moving day today and the Camden Locks but my hormones are still being right bitches to be quite honest and so Chris makes an executive decision and books us in for two more nights in Paddington Basin. We have to move across the basin to the other side as this pontoon is booked by another boat but we are soon out of the space and in our new mooring.
As it turns out it’s a fortuitous move! ((that’s a big word for you!)) we get chatting to a couple moored behind us and they are doing the Thames next Sunday. After a bit of chatting and checking of the weather and it looks good at the moment and we decide to book it! ((WHAT???)) I know! The couple are going with other boats and one has a pilot and another a VHF radio so it makes sense to go with other people so we can all look out for each other. So, all being well next Sunday at 8am we will be leaving Limehouse Lock and cruising along the mighty Thames! ((I’m having heart palpation’s!)) Exciting and terrifying but another big tick off the list of things we want to do living life aboard.
The promised dodgy weather arrives so we chill on the boat and watch some bike racing before having a nice Sunday dinner followed by a little evening wander around Little Venice. Day done. Week done. Remember next week is the last week of daily blogs ((So sad!)) for a while as i concentrate on promoting the Jersey book, finish writing and editing the canal book, getting my website upgraded to start selling books and a list of boat jobs which need finishing as well as a visit to Jersey for my birthday! I will probably stick to a monthly update but will share bits and bobs on Facebook and Instagram if you want to see what’s happening! Thanks for reading and sticking with it so far! Peachy ((And me!)) xx
C.L. Peache 