And Away…
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Welcome to our blog, where we, Chris and Sam, share our exciting journey as expats returning to the UK from Knoxville, TN, to embrace a new chapter of our lives on the waterways! After years of adventure in the States, we’ve decided to trade our conventional routine for the serenity of narrowboat living. Our passion for travel, nature, and the charming canals of the UK inspires us to embark on this unique retirement lifestyle. Join us as we explore picturesque villages, uncover hidden gems, and navigate the challenges and joys of living on water. We’ll share tips, stories, and a few laughs along the way, inviting you to experience the beauty of life afloat with us!
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Thursday 19th February turned into one of our busiest cruising days yet. We travelled from the Broughton Arms to Red Bull Services, tackling 11 locks in just 2 miles. Safe to say I’m feeling pretty confident with lock work now — practice really does make perfect! We stayed around the Kidsgrove area for a couple…
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Friday, February 6th finally saw us waving a cheery goodbye to the boatyard — with fingers firmly crossed that we wouldn’t be seeing them again any time soon, at least not unless it involved a drink and a social call! With a shiny new alternator fitted and a brand-new mattress on board, we set off…
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Saturday 24th January – We cruised the boat back to Wincham Bend just as the computer shop rang with an update. They’d done everything they could: most of the videos had been recovered, but sadly not all the photos or files. When Chris went in to collect it, relief quickly turned into another task altogether.…
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The last time I wrote to you all, we were hopeful. The plan was simple enough: move on, find water, empty the bins, and continue north. Alas… winter had other ideas. We were iced in for another four long days. Needs must, so we wrapped up and made a trek to the local Co‑op to…
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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…
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The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of travel, family time, and settling into our new floating life. From long-awaited reunions and seaside stays to ticking off boat jobs and preparing for a very different kind of Christmas, it’s been a season of change, gratitude, and a fair bit of adventure. Here’s a little…
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The last fortnight has been a bit of a blur — equal parts soggy, sparkly, musical, and mildly chaotic — so, you know… standard AndAway life. First up: solar!We finally had our panels fitted, and honestly, Matt and Gary from OnboardSolar.co.uk deserve medals… or at the very least a dry pair of socks. They worked…
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Living Aboard Our Narrowboat | AndAway.uk It’s been just over two weeks onboard now, and things are finally starting to feel a lot more settled. We’ve gone from chaos to something that resembles a home… albeit a floating one with endless to-do lists and patchy WiFi. Speaking of WiFi — yes, we’ve finally had it…
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After a whirlwind of packing, planning, and farewells, the day finally came to say goodbye to Knoxville. Our last few evenings were spent just as they should be — sharing wonderful dinners with family and friends, filled with laughter, stories, and the kind of lingering hugs that say what words can’t. We travelled up to…
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With our goodbyes and gatherings behind us, this past week has been all about one final task — clearing out the rental. What began as a quick tidy-up somehow turned into another full weekend of sorting, lifting, and decision-making. We decided to hold a garage sale for two days, hoping to lighten the load and…
And Away... 