And Away…

Christmas Day this year was extra special for us. Not only was it our first Christmas aboard narrowboat AndAway, it also marked our first ever cruise on the canals. Talk about jumping in at the deep end – or should that be the shallow end of the Trent & Mersey!

We set off on Christmas Eve, full of excitement and just a little bit of nerves. Up until that moment our new floating home had stayed firmly tied up in the marina, so taking her out onto the water for the first time felt like a real milestone. “Slow” was definitely the key word as we made our way toward Anderton Boat Lift. With Chris at the tiller, we began learning how to steer and control the boat properly. It’s amazing how something that looks so effortless when others do it suddenly feels very complicated when it’s your hands on the controls.

Our route took us past the boat yard where we originally purchased AndAway. Seeing it again brought back all the memories of the big day we found her. The canal outside the yard was incredibly crowded – boats were moored up to four deep across the waterway. Despite the congestion, Chris felt comfortable on the water surprisingly quickly. Before long he was negotiating bridges and bends with growing confidence, looking every inch the seasoned boater.

There was only one minor mishap along the way – and thankfully it really was minor. We slightly misjudged the height of a low bridge and managed to knock the chimney clean off the roof. My heart skipped a beat, but luckily we didn’t lose it in the canal. Lesson learnt about “air draft,” we carried on our merry way.

I even had a go at the tiller myself. I’d half expected to be hopeless at it, but I was genuinely surprised at how fast I became comfortable controlling the boat. Tight turns, narrow gaps and low bridges all seemed far less intimidating after a few minutes. I successfully steered us under a couple of bridges and through some tricky bends without adding any extra DIY repairs to the list – a personal victory!

We arrived at Anderton late afternoon and found a lovely quiet mooring spot opposite a pub. Perfect planning if you ask me. After tying up, the kettle was on in no time for a well-earned cuppa, and then we headed out for a stroll around the famous Boat Lift.

A Few Facts About Anderton Boat Lift

The Anderton Boat Lift is one of the true engineering gems of Britain’s waterways. Opened in 1875, it was built to connect the Trent & Mersey Canal with the River Weaver, which lies 50 feet below. Nicknamed the “Cathedral of the Canals,” it was the world’s first commercially successful vertical boat lift. The original design used hydraulic rams to raise and lower giant water-filled caissons, allowing boats to move smoothly between the two levels. In 1908 it was converted to an electric pulley system, and after years out of action, it was fully restored and reopened in 2002. Today it stands as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and remains a working lift, carrying narrowboats up and down just as it did nearly 150 years ago. Unfortunately, the boat lift is out of operation at the moment and looks like it will not be open again until 2027.

Armed with a bit more knowledge and plenty of fresh air, we did the only sensible thing – we went into the pub for a pint. It would have been rude not to!

Christmas morning dawned bright and chilly, and we decided to continue our adventure a little further up the canal. Next challenge: tunnels! Our first experience was Barnton Tunnel, which is 572 yards long. On went the navigation lights and in we headed. I can confirm it was VERY dark – LOL – but Chris was completely unfazed and steered us through without a wobble. There was a second, shorter tunnel beyond that, but this one was a timed tunnel. For those still learning, that means north- and south-bound boats have different permitted entry times to avoid meeting in the middle. We’d missed our slot, so rather than wait around we turned the boat in a handy winding hole and made our way back toward Anderton.

Back on our festive mooring, Christmas dinner was cooked very successfully in the air fryer. It may not have been a traditional kitchen, but it was a wonderful meal and tasted every bit as good as any land-based Christmas lunch. After all, it’s not where you eat it that matters – it’s who you’re with and the adventure you’ve had getting there.

Looking back, spending Christmas on the move, learning new skills and gaining confidence together was the best present we could have given ourselves. AndAway already feels like home – just a slightly smokier one when the chimney gets involved!

Boxing Day arrived with the sun still shining, so we decided to start making our way back toward the marina. On the return trip we experienced another “first” – our initial stop at canalside services. Life on land comes with plug sockets and endless running water. Life on a boat involves a bit more planning! The services stop meant emptying the waste and filling up with fresh water. It might not sound glamorous, but learning how these practical systems work is all part of becoming proper boaters.

With the chores completed, we enjoyed a very pleasant cruise back down the Trent & Mersey. The winter sunshine made everything sparkle, and the canal was noticeably quieter after the Christmas rush. Chris and I both felt a real sense of achievement as we glided confidently back into familiar waters. What had seemed daunting only a couple of days earlier now felt perfectly normal.

New Year’s Eve was spent snug and warm in the marina. We took full advantage of modern conveniences and stocked up on supplies thanks to a delivery from Sainsbury’s. It felt rather indulgent having groceries arrive right to the pontoon, but we knew that once we left marina life behind us, things would be very different.

And leave it behind we did! On New Year’s Day we untied the ropes and set off for the last time as permanent moorers. From that moment on we officially became Continuous Cruisers – living full time on the canals without a fixed base. It was an exciting thought as we headed back out onto the water… although in reality we didn’t get very far at all.

Our grand start to the cruising lifestyle took us just over a mile up the canal to a quiet mooring in a small clearing. The reason for the short hop was that we needed to wait for our solar installer to come and make one final adjustment to the newly fitted system. While we were on our first cruise, we discovered something far less festive – the alternator on the boat wasn’t charging the batteries. That is a major problem on a narrowboat, especially in winter when power is everything.

Unfortunately, with the holidays in full swing, the boat yard was closed until after the New Year. So we sat tight, monitored our battery levels and waited patiently for normal service to resume. As soon as they reopened, an engineer was dispatched to us, and he quickly diagnosed and sorted the charging issue.

Just as we thought we were ready to press on, the weather had other ideas. A spell of very cold conditions swept in, bringing snow, hard frosts – and plenty of ice. We suddenly found ourselves completely iced in, unable to move. The canal looked beautiful, like a Christmas card scene, but pretty views don’t fill water tanks or keep cupboards stocked!

For six long days the only boat that managed to crunch its way through was the fuel boat. And that deserves a proper shout-out. Thanks to Halsall – Four Counties Fuels Ltd, trading as Fuel Boat Halsall, who got us fully stocked up with diesel and wood just when we needed it most. Continuous cruising in winter without them would be a whole lot tougher. Endless thanks from Chris and me.

As I write this, we’re finally hoping to head out this morning. After nearly a week in one spot we desperately need water and fresh supplies. Our closest option right now is Anderton Boat Lift services again, so that’s the target. The ice is slowly melting and two boats moored behind us have already set off successfully, so we’re planning to follow them and see if AndAway can do the same.

While the snow and ice have been very pretty, six days is quite long enough. It’s time to stock up, warm up and move on to the next stretch of canal.

This festive season has been a whirlwind of learning curves, engineering hiccups and winter weather, but through it all our little boat has truly started to feel like home. And of course, the vlog next week will let you see all the visuals associated with our first cruise!

https://www.youtube.com/@nbandaway

Stay tuned to see if we make it to the services – and wish us luck breaking free from the ice!

Until next time,
Sam aboard NB AndAway