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!
May 1st brought a temporary change of transport for us as we swapped narrowboats for trains and headed into Manchester for a lovely day out exploring the city. Our first stop was the magnificent Manchester Cathedral, which dates back over 600 years and has stood through everything from medieval times to wartime bombing during World War II. Despite the hustle and bustle of the city outside, it still feels wonderfully peaceful inside and was fascinating to wander around.
From there we visited Chetham’s Library, founded in 1653 and proudly holding the title of the oldest free public library in the English-speaking world. The building itself is incredible, full of dark wood, ancient books and centuries of history. Fun fact — both Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels studied there whilst developing many of their political ideas.
Next on the list was the Science and Industry Museum, which was packed with fascinating exhibits celebrating Manchester’s huge role in industry, science and innovation. We rounded the day off with lunch at The Wharf overlooking narrowboats — naturally! Some habits are hard to break.
After a few quieter days, we slowly cruised our way back to Poynton, where we are eagerly awaiting Helen and Jane’s arrival later in May.
May 7th saw me turn 61! After a lovely walk, the original birthday plan was to enjoy a Chinese takeaway — one of my absolute favourites and something we have not had since returning to the UK. Unfortunately, that did not quite go to plan, so instead we ended up at The Boars Head where we enjoyed a lovely meal and joined in with the pub quiz. Let’s just say we will not be appearing on any quiz shows anytime soon, but we did meet some wonderful locals along the way!
We somehow found ourselves back at the pub on Friday evening for live music from Northern Lights Acoustic Duo, a very talented duo playing all the classics. We also happened to meet Becky Holt — known as Britain’s most tattooed woman — who turns out to be a local!
Over the weekend, in honour of American Mother’s Day, the children asked Chris to take me to a local garden centre to choose some plants for the roof of the boat. We planted up three tubs: two filled with colourful flowers including poppies, pinks, sedum and gaillardia, and one dedicated to herbs. I am very much looking forward to having a little burst of colour and greenery on the roof throughout the summer.
The last couple of days have been much quieter thanks to some rather relentless rain, so I have decided to learn how to knit! Quite what I am actually creating remains to be seen, but it is certainly keeping me occupied and mostly out of mischief.
So now we hunker down and await Helen and Jane’s arrival — currently in torrential rain — and keep our fingers crossed that the weather improves for their visit!
And as always, don’t forget to check out the vlog, available June 3rd — plenty more views, mishaps, and adventures to come!
On April 16th we waved goodbye to Bugsworth Basin and pulled up right next to Tesco for a proper big shop. It’s not often the canal life aligns so perfectly with supermarket logistics—so we made the most of it.
From there we cruised on to New Mills, moored up for the night, and headed out to stretch our legs along the Millennium Walkway. Clinging dramatically to the side of the gorge, this modern walkway gives you a proper front-row seat to the River Goyt below—equal parts impressive and slightly nerve-wracking if you don’t love heights! We also had a wander around Torr Vale Mill, a huge historic cotton mill that once powered the town’s industry. It’s the kind of place that makes you stop and imagine just how busy and noisy it must’ve been in its heyday.
The next day we pushed on to Marple… and what a spot. We managed to nab a perfect mooring right in the centre—always a bit of a win—and quickly fell for the place. It’s got that proper small-town feel, pretty views, and the iconic flight of locks running through it. Safe to say, Marple has firmly made it onto the “future house buying” list.
Saturday the 18th brought even more charm, with Marple’s monthly market (every third Saturday, if you’re timing your visit right). You know we love a good market, and this one didn’t disappoint—local stalls, a nice buzz, and yet another tick in the “why we love it here” column. We also walked the full length of the Marple Lock Flight to scope out what lay ahead… always slightly intimidating when you realise what you’ve signed up for.
We carried on down to Marple Bridge, a lovely little village at the foot of the locks, before—quite rightly—ending up back at Ring O’ Bells for a well-earned pint. That evening’s menu? Fish and chips, plus our first encounter with a “Rag Pud”—basically a flat steak suet pie. Not the prettiest dish in the world, but surprisingly tasty!
Sunday was a practical day—we winded the boat and got everything ready for the locks. Then Monday morning (yes, early by our standards) we tackled all 16. Four hours later, job done, and we were moored just before Hyde Tunnel feeling rather pleased with ourselves.
Heading further along the Peak Forest Canal, we reached Hyde… and, if we’re honest, it didn’t quite live up to the Upper Peak Forest stretch. You can tell it was once a thriving place, but it’s a bit rough around the edges these days. Still, it wasn’t a wasted stop—we got a few chores ticked off and enjoyed a walk along part of the Trans Pennine Trail, which was a lovely surprise. This long-distance route stretches coast-to-coast and follows old railway lines, canals, and countryside paths—peaceful, green, and a nice escape from the town itself.
By Friday 24th we cruised up to Portland Basin, the end of the canal… but decided fairly quickly it wasn’t for us. So, we winded again and headed back, hoping to grab a familiar mooring—no such luck. We ended up pushing on a couple more miles before settling in. All was calm… until 3:30am when we were woken by very enthusiastic late-night partygoers. Thankfully, they drifted off as quickly as they arrived!
Soon after, we found a much nicer mooring at the foot of the Marple locks—fields of lambs, geese sitting on nests, and proper countryside vibes. From here we wandered back into Marple to collect a very exciting delivery from the Post Office—our new merch! Safe to say we’re really pleased with it: good quality, sustainable, and very “us.” (Link below, of course 👀). And yes… somehow we ended up back at the Ring O’ Bells again. It would’ve been rude not to.
Monday 27th, and it was time to head back up the locks—again, bright and early. This time we had some brilliant help from volunteer Gina and a passerby, Mark, which made a huge difference. Still took us about four hours, but with the amount of traffic on the flight, we reckon it could easily have stretched to six without them.
At the top we sorted water, bins, all the usual bits… but sadly our dream mooring in the centre was full. So on we went, another hour or so cruising (and wrestling with some very shallow edges), before settling near High Lane. It’s quieter out here, with plenty of walks, and only about a two-mile stroll back into Marple—so not a bad compromise at all.
We’ll stay here a few days before heading back towards Poynton, where Helen and Jane are rejoining us in their van. Which can only mean one thing… towpath drinks, campfire meals, and a few good laughs ahead 🍻🔥
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 trips that does your soul good.
The flights were long, but Virgin Atlantic were spot on as always — I do try to fly with them whenever I can.
The best part was seeing Bex and Stephen so happy and healthy. I came back to AndAway with a very full and happy heart.
And Chris certainly hadn’t been taking it easy while I was away… he’d been cracking on with the “honey-do” list and surprised me by wallpapering the boat — and I absolutely love it! You’ll have to let me know what you think.
After about 24 hours of finding my feet again, we headed out for a walk to Lyme Park. It’s about a 45-minute walk across fields, passing spring lambs and even a few Highland cattle — a pretty perfect route.
With roots dating back to the 1300s, the estate was home to the Legh family for over 600 years before being handed over to the National Trust. The house you see today began as a Tudor property and was later transformed in the 18th century into the elegant Italianate style, all set within a vast deer park designed by Lancelot Capability Brown.
It’s also instantly recognisable as Mr Darcy’s home, Pemberley, from Pride and Prejudice — yes, that famous lake scene!
All was perfect… right up until the British weather did its thing 🌧️ and absolutely soaked us on the way home 😂
On April 11th, we left the Macclesfield Canal and made our way onto the Peak Forest Canal, mooring up in Disley for a couple of nights. The views along the Peak Forest are absolutely stunning — the kind that really make you stop and think… could this be a place for a future move?
From there, we cruised down to Bugsworth Basin… and wow, what a place. An incredible mooring spot packed with history. Once one of the busiest inland ports in England, the basin was a key hub in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, linking the canal network with the nearby limestone quarries. At its peak, it was a hive of industrial activity, with boats constantly loading and unloading stone destined for construction projects across the country. After years of decline and eventual closure, it was restored in the 20th century and is now one of the best-preserved canal basins in the UK — and you can really feel that history as you wander around.
With the weather looking promising, we decided to break out the new BBQ… which turned into a bit of a comedy moment. Total fail on the first attempt — turns out we had the wrong charcoal! Add in a sudden change in weather and it wasn’t exactly the idyllic evening we’d imagined 😂
But… not to be defeated, we tried again the following night. New charcoal, better conditions — and this time, success! A couple of very nice steaks and a much more relaxed evening made it all worthwhile.
From here, the plan is to head off tomorrow towards Marple and tackle the Marple Locks — all 14 of them. That’s going to be a long day, I think! After that, we’ll continue along the northern section of the Peak Forest Canal for another week or so, hopefully finding more of those stunning views and perfect mooring spots along the way.
If you’d like to support us and what we’re doing, we’ve now got some AndAway merch available! There’s a QR code below if you fancy having a browse — every bit of support really does mean the world to us.
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” — who knew a long-lost school connection would lead to all this? So obviously we celebrated in style with dinner at Sutton Hall. The food was absolutely wonderful. Sutton Hall itself dates back to the 16th century and is a beautiful Tudor manor house, all timber beams and history — the perfect setting for a little celebration.
On Friday we walked into Macclesfield and were genuinely pleasantly surprised. It’s a lovely market town with real character. Historically, Macclesfield was one of the world’s biggest silk producers in the 18th and 19th centuries, earning it the nickname “Silk Town.” You can still feel that heritage in the architecture and atmosphere. We checked out the moorings there but decided they weren’t for us — much nicer where we were — although we did join the library, which now means access to an audio library. Boating win!
Saturday took us to the Macclesfield Silk Museum, which tells the story of the town’s silk industry and its global impact. It’s fascinating to see how such a small town once led the world in silk production. We may also have come away with some wallpaper for the boat… stay tuned for decorating updates.
Sunday was a relaxed four-mile wander around the local area. It really does have that quintessential English village feel — one for future consideration, perhaps? We finished (as you do) with a pint at Ye Olde Kings Head. Rude not to.
From there we cruised up to Bollington and laced up our boots again, this time heading up to White Nancy. Built in 1817 to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo, this iconic white landmark sits high above the town and rewards you with stunning views (and slightly aching legs). Another very lovely village.
Wednesday delivered all four seasons in one day — sunshine, snow, rain and hail. Canal life keeps you humble.
On Thursday we moved up to Lime View Marina, mooring just outside while we sort a spot for Chris for the next 10 days. I’m heading back to TN over Easter to see Bex and Stephen. Chris is staying with the boat this time but will come back with me in the autumn.
We walked into Poynton for a bit of charity shop treasure hunting and found Chris a brand-new wax cotton coat — admittedly off-brand, but brand new and just £7. A proper bargain.
We also finally met up with Coalboat Alton for much-needed diesel and coal… which was less of a bargain. £300 for diesel and three bags of coal. Ouch. From there we cruised another mile to Baileys Trading Post to moor up while I’m away. Talk about an expensive day — we even lost the chimney cap to the canal thanks to the wind!
So my bag is packed (along with shopping requests from both kids). By the time you read this, I’ll be in TN with my two favourite humans, ready for tight hugs and, I’m sure, a few drinks with friends too.
Sometimes canal life stretches you in every direction — but right now, I can’t wait for those hugs.
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 in the 1500s, it’s full of quirky character, creaking floors, and fascinating history. The weather was beautiful, and the easy half-hour walk across the fields made it all the more enjoyable.
A few days later, we ventured a little further afield to a spring farmers market at Rode Hall. Rode Hall is an elegant country house with lovely grounds, and their farmers market is well known locally for its fantastic selection of produce. It was about an hour’s walk across farmland to get there, but well worth the effort. We came back laden with wonderful local goodies – fresh bread, rhubarb, lamb’s liver, and pork pies!
After a blissful week at this mooring, it was time to move on in search of water, so we cruised into Congleton. We spent a few days here catching up on chores – washing, shopping, and giving the boat a good polish – before heading out to explore. One highlight was a six-mile round trip hike up The Cloud. Rising above the Cheshire plain, The Cloud offers spectacular panoramic views across the surrounding countryside. The climb was invigorating… although Chris did manage to lead us down the “slightly more adventurous” (and very steep!) route on the way back!
On Saturday 14th March, we set off on another six-mile round trip to Bosley Locks. The views once again were stunning, and we decided then to move the boat to the foot of the locks for a few days before making our ascent.
Tackling the 12 locks was a real milestone for us, but we were incredibly fortunate to have a volunteer lock keeper, Jeff, helping us for the first half. We then met NB Scarlet Lady coming down – a beautiful boat – and as a single-hander, the lock keeper continued on to help Russell the rest of the way down.
We also faced another first along the way – the swing bridge at Oakgrove, the Royal Oak Swing Bridge. There was a moment of apprehension beforehand, wondering how it would all work and imagining holding up traffic! In reality, it was fully automated and straightforward, and my worries were completely unfounded.
Two weeks, twelve locks, countless views—and just the one slightly questionable route down the hill !!
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 of days. Chris finally got a much-needed haircut (after my attempt ended in mild disaster… I won’t be opening a salon anytime soon). We also enjoyed a walk along the Macclesfield Canal, scouting out the route for our next stretch of cruising.
After turning the boat around, we headed back towards the Broughton Arms to meet friends, stopping overnight in Church Lawton. While there, we visited All Saints Church, a beautiful church dating back to the 11th century. With Norman origins and centuries of additions and restoration, it stands as a quiet reminder of the village’s deep history and enduring community.
We later met up with Helen and Jane at the Broughton Arms for dinner, a pint, and another quiz night — always competitive, always fun! The following day we treated them to their very first narrowboat cruise. Just a couple of locks, but in perfect weather — a proper introduction to canal life.
The next few days turned wet and windy. Helen and Jane headed home to East Sussex, while we embraced slower days filled with countryside walks… that naturally included chips, beer, and cake. Balance is everything.
Eventually, we cruised back to Red Bull Services to empty rubbish and the toilet, and refill with water before setting off onto new waters — the Macclesfield Canal. We found a stunning mooring overlooking open countryside and settled in for the night.
The next morning brought glorious weather, so we walked up to Mow Cop Castle, home to The Old Man of Mow. The views were spectacular. The dramatic folly at the summit was built in 1754 by Randle Wilbraham as a romantic feature designed to resemble a ruined medieval castle. But this spot is also significant for another reason — in 1807 it became the birthplace of the Primitive Methodist Church, when open-air meetings here sparked a movement focused on passionate preaching and working-class communities.
Fresh air, wide skies, sweeping views and a touch of history thrown in — our perfect kind of day.
And now, as I sit writing this, I’m looking out over the countryside from our home on the water — and it feels just right.
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 feeling refreshed and optimistic, bound for Bramble Cuttings, a mooring we’d been trying (and failing) to reach for several weeks.
It was well worth the wait. We spent a wonderfully quiet weekend there, tucked away off the towpath with picnic benches nearby and a real sense of privacy. After the bustle of the yard, the peace felt like a luxury.
The next couple of days were spent in Middlewich, topping up supplies and catching up on the usual essentials before it was time to tackle a new challenge — our first staircase lock.
For anyone unfamiliar, a staircase lock is a series of locks joined together with no pound (flat water) between them. Instead, the boat moves directly from one lock chamber into the next, which means the water levels all have to be managed together. They can be steep, a bit intimidating, and leave very little room for error — especially when there’s an awkward turn thrown in for good measure! This particular staircase consisted of three steep locks, and we were hugely grateful for the help of a lovely couple who had navigated it before. Their calm guidance made all the difference.
Buoyed by that success, we carried on to another three locks which we completed entirely on our own. Slow progress perhaps — but progress all the same. We’re definitely getting there.
We then spent a couple of nights in Sandbach, as I’d been keen to visit the market. Sadly, the market itself was a bit underwhelming, but the town more than made up for it. Sandbach is steeped in history and is best known for its impressive Saxon crosses, which stand proudly in the town square. Dating back to the 9th century, these elaborately carved stone crosses are thought to have been commissioned by a Mercian king and tell biblical stories through their detailed panels — a remarkable survival from England’s early medieval past.
On Saturday, February 14th, we cruised just two miles — which doesn’t sound like much until you realise it involved ten locks! By the end of the day, a well-earned cuppa never tasted so good.
After a couple more quieter days, we moved on to Rode Heath and moored near The Broughton Arms. We’re actually meeting friends here in a week’s time, so this stop gave us the perfect excuse for a reconnaissance visit. We took part in the pub quiz and came 12th out of 35 teams — not bad at all for two old farts!
And finally, today brings a new adventure: our first ever supermarket delivery with no fixed address. A huge Sainsbury’s order is due to arrive, and we’ll be meeting them in the pub car park. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly — this continuous cruising lark certainly keeps life interesting!
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. Over the next few days he was buried in footage, trying to make sense of it all — none of the videos had saved in any sort of order and most had no titles at all. It became a digital jigsaw puzzle that took far longer than expected.
With fingers crossed, we decided it was time to move on to a new mooring and finally get going again. Unfortunately, boating had other ideas. About a mile in, the dreaded alternator alarm sounded once more. That was that — stuck again. Another call went into the boatyard, with promises to try and get the engineer back out to us.
Being stuck didn’t stop us making the most of the situation. We headed off for a Sunday lunch at a lovely pub about a 30-minute walk down the lane. A welcome break and a reminder that there are always small pleasures to be found, even when plans unravel.
The engineer arrived first thing the Monday morning. After talking it all through with him and the boatyard, it became clear that the alternator simply wasn’t capable of keeping up with the demands of our battery system. To be fair, the boatyard weren’t really at fault — the system had been installed by the original owner and hadn’t been set up correctly from the start. A new alternator and pulley system were ordered.
While we waited, we had to get creative with water. Two local marinas kindly allowed us to fill containers and wheel them back on a trolley. The generosity of fellow boaters and marina staff never fails to amaze us.
That same afternoon there was a knock on the door. Joe — the fellow boater who’d helped us moor up in the ice — had managed to get himself stuck, possibly on a sandbank, just ten minutes away. Although we were eager to help, it was very windy and we’d already had issues earlier trying to cast off in the high winds. Still, we quickly unhitched and went to see if we could do anything. Sadly, despite our best efforts, we couldn’t pull him free and eventually had to leave him there. Several other boaters tried too, but it wasn’t until three days later that the local marina came out with a pair of hire boats and finally got him off.
A few days later the boatyard rang to say the parts had been ordered and were due to arrive early the following week. As a gesture of goodwill, they also offered to cover 30% of the cost of the repairs and parts, which we really appreciated. They even suggested we could move up to the boatyard and hook up to electric and water while we waited — another huge weight lifted.
We spent a quiet weekend doing chores on the boat, catching up on shopping, and settling into enforced stillness.
Of course, the waiting wasn’t quite over. The parts were still delayed and, just to add to the list, Chris’ credit card decided to stop working. Cancelling it and arranging a replacement proved far more complicated than it should be when your home floats and doesn’t have a fixed address.
Finally, the engineer arrived with the parts on Wednesday Feb 4th, We’re hopeful it will be a quick job and that we’ll soon be back out on the canal. That said, we’ve also just ordered a new mattress, due to arrive tomorrow, so with a bit of luck everything will fall into place and we can move on at last — rested, repaired, and ready for whatever comes next.
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 buy nine litres of fresh drinking water. At least we could have a cuppa while we waited for the thaw.
Following in Someone Else’s Wake (Literally)
On 12th January, two boats moored behind us decided to head out, bravely breaking up the ice as they went. Watching them crunch their way forward gave us hope, so we thought we’d follow in their footsteps.
Reader… that was a mistake.
The canal was still thick with ice in places and progress was painfully slow. About a mile in, as we rounded a bend, we were greeted by a very upset gentleman standing on the roof of his boat. He gave us a thorough telling‑off about travelling in icy conditions.
As you can imagine, this really upset us — the very last thing we ever want is to annoy fellow boaters. But just in front of him were the two boats we’d followed, and they very kindly helped us pull in and moor up safely. They reassured us with a quiet word: “Don’t worry about Dave — he’s like that with everyone.”
To be fair, we completely understood his frustration. We were the third boat to pass him that day. And in a lovely twist, Dave knocked on our boat the following morning and apologised — in his own wonderfully gruff way. Boating life in a nutshell.
Community, Cuppas, and Cracking Finds
We waited out the ice for another couple of days, but not before being told about a local community shop called The Very Green Grocery.
Run entirely by volunteers, the shop’s mission is to stop good food going into landfill. You pay £7 and can fill two large shopping bags. We walked away with cereal, tea, bread, tinned goods, frozen meat — easily £50 worth of groceries for seven quid. What an absolutely brilliant resource.
Ice, Again — But With a View
Once more we headed north, hoping to finally reach services. We managed another mile or so before the ice closed in around us yet again. This time though, the mooring spot was stunning — peaceful, scenic, and well worth the delay. Once again, kind boaters helped us gently into the side to moor.
Finally, after another two days, the ice had melted enough for us to move on. At last, we reached services to fill up with water, dispose of rubbish, and feel vaguely human again.
Our First Lock!
From there, we headed north and out into the countryside — and went through our first lock.
Now, I say lock… the difference in water height between the gates was minimal.
What is a lock? A lock is essentially a water elevator for boats. By filling or emptying a chamber between two gates, boats can be raised or lowered to match the water level ahead.
This particular lock exists to preserve water between a Canal & River Trust (CRT) canal and a privately owned canal.
After navigating through, Chris immediately turned the boat around and we came back through the same lock — because we couldn’t go any further due to a breach further up.
What’s a canal breach? A breach happens when part of the canal bank collapses, allowing water to escape. Until it’s repaired, navigation beyond that point is usually impossible.
We moored up in a lovely spot for a couple of nights and enjoyed some beautiful walks — the kind that make all the delays worth it.
Disaster Strikes 💻
Then… disaster.
Our external hard drive suddenly appeared to be completely empty. Hundreds of videos, photos, and memories — gone. Nowhere to be found.
After 24 hours of trying everything we could think of, we made the decision to hand it over to a professional. That meant casting off and heading back into town.
We moored up at Anderton Boat Lift again, dropped the drive at the computer repair shop, and then did the only sensible thing: headed to the pub for a very much‑needed drink.
Unexpected Visitors & Full‑Circle Moments
While waiting to hear about the repair, we received a message from Karen and Jason of “Just Two People” saying they’d just walked past our boat.
So of course — aboard they came for a cuppa. Our first guests!
Here’s the magical part: Karen and Jason were on the Queen Mary 2 at exactly the same time as us, completely unbeknownst to any of us then. And just like us, they were leaving the USA to move onto a narrowboat.
We’d chatted a little on social media after discovering our shared plans, but this was our first time meeting in person. It was fascinating (and reassuring) to talk through how similar our thoughts were about leaving America and starting this new chapter.
The Morning After… 🚿
The following morning, after our lovely visit with Karen and Jason, I decided a shower was in order. What could possibly go wrong?
Well… as I was getting out of the shower, I slipped and fell. Thankfully nothing was broken — just some impressive bruises and a very bruised ego. After a brief moment of lying there questioning my life choices, I accepted the inevitable and invested in an old-lady non-slip shower mat.
The joys of getting older — narrowboat edition.
Fingers Crossed 🤞
So today, we’re sitting tight, waiting for the computer shop to call. We had to order a new external hard drive, but the technician believes he’s recovered everything and is transferring the files as we speak.
Thank goodness.
Hopefully, once this is sorted, we can truly head into new waters — exploring new places and meeting new people.
And on a very happy side note: I’ve booked a flight back to Tennessee in April, and I cannot wait to see the kids again.
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!
Stay tuned to see if we make it to the services – and wish us luck breaking free from the ice!
