And Away…
New Adventures
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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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I spent a wonderful 8 days with Bex and Stephen over in Tennessee — and the weather was glorious, not at all what I was expecting! We packed so much in: long walks, helping out in the garden, meals out, and just genuinely relaxing with them, their family, and friends. It was one of those…
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After a couple of nights at Lyme Green stocking up on supplies, we cruised the short mile up to Gurnett Aqueduct. What a gem of a mooring — peaceful, pretty, and perfectly placed between two good pubs and a garden centre (dangerous combination). It also happened to be Chris and my 12-year “Facebook friendaversary” —…
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After tackling Mow Cop, we rewarded ourselves with a gentler day, with a walk to Little Moreton Hall. Now part of the National Trust (which we decided to join), this truly is a gem. Little Moreton Hall is a stunning Tudor manor house, famous for its wonky, timber-framed structure that seems to defy gravity. Built…
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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…
And Away... 