042 A WINTER CRUISE IN THE SNOW ON OUR NARROWBOAT

[@lumitoca]

Cruising the canals in the snow is now oficialy at the top of my bucket list

[@MinimalList]

It’s quite nice, especially if you’ve got warm clothes! M

[@TIEFTR202]

That has got to be cold standing in the cold with any type of breeze going. Cold, albeit beautiful!

[@MinimalList]

Very cold! M

[@lincolncityful1]

Certainly looks cold 🥶 great to see the start of your journey with these early videos 👍

[@MinimalList]

That was a very cold day indeed! M

[@GenaF]

Hearing you mention the water vole made me think of something I haven't heard either of you mention; Kingfishers. Have either of you seen any? They were something we loved to catch a glimpse of. If you haven't seen any, I hope you will do before long.

[@MinimalList]

We have seen many on the system, they’re just damned near impossible to film… a flash of blue and they’re gone! M

[@GenaF]

I remember Brinklow. It was there, beside the canal that I saw my only tilting train APT, the Advanced Passenger Train which I think may have been a prototype.

[@MinimalList]

Had never heard of it till just now, but there were four units… the APT-E was the experimental prototype and it ran occasionally from 1972-76, then three different versions of the APT-P production prototype entered service in 1981 (for a month) and again from 1984-86. Something of a debacle at the time, but apparently pretty influential. Also looked like something that should have been on Thunderbirds! M

[@rebeccavictoriax]

Oh you went through Sutton stop in Coventry! I live not far from there. Lovely bit of canal

[@MinimalList]

Quite a while back for us, but yes it’s a lovely area! M

[@susansutton2012]

Just worked my way through all your videos. Great entertainment. Thanks for sharing your lives with all of us. ATB Sue.

[@MinimalList]

Thanks for watching. I’m glad you enjoyed them! Jo

[@sallyu1]

We hired a boat from Rose Narrowboats last September. We went down to the Tescos at Rugby, turned around and went up the Ashby Canal, then up to Nuneaton, turned round and went into Coventry Basin, then back to Rose Narrowboats.

[@MinimalList]

Sounds like a nice tour! M

[@courierdog1941]

Michael: I got my MBA when I was 57 and then I persuaded my daughter to get hers and within months of graduations had secured a position in a major financial institution and moved to England where she now lives and works from home. When I retired the first time I decided not to go consuming as Engineering Consulting is extremely stressful, most of my friends died within5 years it has now been 20 years since I first retired. I got into courier work which was for me mostly long distance traveling which I liked so dis my Rotti companion. the last 5 years was in town work, more drudge work, so last July I retired again. This time I think it is for good, as my wife's health has declined. BTW George's agency is still waiting for an update on his staffing upgrade. ha ha I know this as we keep in touch with our Agency, to let them know how things are going with our puppies. It is very noticeable when you have George in a shot how he enjoys his new life.

[@sarahmartella3381]

Lovely cruising through the snow..I love following your adventures xx Looking forward to your next vlog. You both are so lovely and George!!

[@MinimalList]

Thanks for such kind words Sarah! I love making the cruising vlogs, and it’s so nice to hear that people enjoy them. Jo

[@ukulelalienation]

I'm loving your editing....I would be a fool to not see the love you put to that skill.

[@MinimalList]

Thank you. It is very kind of you to say so! I really do enjoy editing the cruising vlogs! Jo

[@luanncrownover4]

Snow scenery was spectacular! Thanks for suffering through that to do a chilly and damp video! It was gorgeous. My goodness Jo, you certainly get your exercise on that tow path! Looking forward to the next video!

[@MinimalList]

Thank you. Truth be told, it is much warmer walking the tow path with George than sitting on the back of the boat driving! Jo

[@mattstubbington8805]

Loved the snowy scenery, shame it never stays around long! Had to laugh at the end with George playing hide and seek in the hedgerow lol!! Brought back some lovely memories seeing that part of the Oxford again, many thanks!

[@MinimalList]

It was a very pretty cruise that’s for sure and I feel very lucky that we experienced it. George has great recall, except when he has the scent of something and then he just can’t hear us, which is most of the time! He is a lot of fun though! Jo

[@thewebtutorguy]

Even though I’ve been back many times, even in twice in January, I haven’t experience snow since I left England in 1956 so really enjoying your snowy vlogs.

[@MinimalList]

Glad someone does! M

[@robertmcauley2216]

Beautiful footage...stay warm.

[@MinimalList]

Thank you! We’re trying. Jo

[@ccooper8785]

Thanks for another enjoyable video; glad to see that you are still on the move. At 1:08 you fit the tiller and turn it towards the towpath, it may be safer to turn it away from the tow path side. This is something I would never thought about before reading an article about the narrow boat programmes with Guy Martin. Apparently one of the last things he did when filming was to slip coming on board and fall onto the tiller. Unfortunately he did not just break many teeth but drove some up through his upper jaw bone and needed long drawn out medical care :-( Stay safe and have fun.

[@MinimalList]

Ouch! Well, something to think about! I usually forget to attach it until the engine's running and I'm floating away, so I'm not sure I'll remember, but I'll try! M

[@narrowboatmum165]

Thank you for your videos our house sale is going through and we should be on our boat in a few weeks. Will be starting on Kennet and Avon and then heading towards Oxford Canal. It’s so helpful to have such a great guide. Love your videos.

[@MinimalList]

Exciting times! Good luck with the big move. Hope to bump into you cruising one day! Jo

[@greymouser8659]

Looks like George chose the latest mooring........ :) Stay warm. GM

[@navigator100group2]

Just a couple of tips, discovered in 1986 on the way to Chester. Ski mittens where brilliant in cold conditions, as against gloves of any type. Tip no 2 get a couple of fenders that have eyes on both ends. Attache a weight to one end capable of overcoming the buoyancy and trap the fender between the base plate of your boat and the projection under water( good for the shropie step)

[@MinimalList]

Ahh, both good tips, thank you! M

[@maxboonkittypoison]

the snow looks so nice, soft and peacefull. i liked you shown the engine and starting it in front of the camara. its got a nice sound. great video!! Greetings from Holland,, Kitty.

[@MinimalList]

Thanks for the feedback. It’s nice to hear what people like to see! Jo

[@maxboonkittypoison]

youre welcome

[@rogerbrown5558]

I know how cold an miserable the snow can be but it still looks romantic. Look forward to your next one. Watching from New Zealand, it's hot and humid.

[@MinimalList]

The snow looks beautiful and it’s fun for half a day then it is just a massive wet pain! We love New Zealand, we lived in Wellington between 2014 and 2015. Thanks for watching! Jo

[@2Sugarbears]

My friend lives in N.Z. he says if you don't like the weather..wait 15 minutes.

[@MinimalList]

That was our experience too. Quite often four seasons in one day! Jo

[@lth1072]

I'm watching this on my phone without my glasses as I forgot them earlier when going to work. At 5:10 I thought that was a pizza Michael had in the wheelbarrow 😂 . Ohhh dear .

[@MinimalList]

Hah! Wish it'd been a pizza! So much nicer than 50kg of coal! M

[@steveinbulko]

Hope you had time to visit my friends pub The Grayhound at Hawkesbury junction. Get guys. The owners Leigh and Anthony are very welcoming. I worked with Leigh for a few years at IBM. You are in our area as we live just outside Bedworth. Excited to watch your channel as always.

[@MinimalList]

We missed the Grayhound, I'm afraid. Looked nice, but the night we were moored there was miserably wet and cold and we decided to stay in. M

[@chriscross9505]

Excellent. You're making this winter CC mullarkey look easy now.

[@MinimalList]

It is to be honest. I can’t imagine that being in a mooring is that much easier. You still have the weather and mud to deal with, and you miss out on the glorious cruising days. Jo

[@barbaragriffin869]

So cold and the grass is still green? Cold weather=brown grass in my world.

[@MinimalList]

The grass is always pretty green around here, except when literally frozen. M

[@stevemercer1793]

Another nice and amusing video. The water point in the park at Rugby is where my wife slipped and fell on the wet grass getting off our hire narrowboat last summer and broke her wrist. It's a nice place but most of our memories of it are of hospitals and taxi rides!

[@MinimalList]

Ouch! That sounds like our memories of Aldermaston and Bathhampton! M

[@2Sugarbears]

you two are really getting your editing tight. I only notice by default. So enjoy you vlog. See you again.

[@MinimalList]

Thank you. It’s very kind of you to say so! Jo

[@titangaminguk105]

New favourite phrase “4-6 inch passchendaele of mud”

[@MinimalList]

Never a dull moment when Michael is waxing poetic! Jo

[@baitcommajail]

So far no BoatTuber I’ve watched cruise this section has ever commented on the single lane of canal at Rose Narrowboats, 5:15. When I sailed through there I was stunned that it got so narrow. Did it used to be a (stop) lock? (Also the tiny pedestrian swing bridge to get from one side of their business to the other!)

[@MinimalList]

Not certain, but I'd guess that it was a gauging point / toll station. Might also have been a stop lock, but I don't remember there being any of the hardware you normally associate with those. M

[@flashpoint8909]

hi guys, hardy hardy souls you both are. i was up that way last week looking at boats and it was freezing! guess i've gone soft living in Cornwall hope you get up to Gods country one day, Yorkshire that is. Keep warm.

[@MinimalList]

It has been pretty bloody cold and wet frozen ropes are miserable. The cruising is well worth it though. We will make it to Yorkshire at some point I’m sure. Good luck with the boat search! Jo

[@christopherjohnson5217]

hi im Chris.live and work on boats. i think u shud clean yur TILLA BAR & PIN !!!! enjoy yur videos.

[@MinimalList]

We’ve cleaned it once or twice since then, keeps getting icky! M

[@nw24153ns]

Why not attach the quick release, for the water supply, directly to the hose or within a meter or so from the end of the hose.

[@courierdog1941]

George says this staffing agency has not been updated by his staff as to his well being. ha ha

[@Feakre]

8:08 Jo predicting the future (with a face covering)? 😎

[@LinuxUser119]

Correct decision to move when you were grounding out against the side, even though the weather wasn't ideal. It must be nice on a cold day to step down into a nice warm cabin, with s real coal fire. I was getting quite homesick just watching you three. George is a real character.

[@MinimalList]

It's really nice, when there isn't a sopping wet dog bounding about and throwing frigid mud everywhere! M

[@mjallenuk]

Good lord you really could do with a dedicated dog wash!

[@MinimalList]

Any volunteers? M

[@mjallenuk]

Got my own dog wash issues thanks!

[@djembeboyzach]

was not sure how to get in touch so thought try here. do you guys remember a while back you said you were gonna repair a leaky window and show us how you done it. can you tell me if you done it and i missed it. i got about 6 of em. :( would love to see how it is done

[@MinimalList]

Hi there, we did our first repair, but didn't shoot it as it was us figuring out if it would even work... it worked, and then we got sidetracked doing the K&A to Oxford rush to avoid closures... we need to do another one, but we're waiting till the weather is a little more reliable, as doing it requires several days in a row of clear weather and relatively warm temperatures for the paint to set properly. The basic trick is removing the old (they're fixed differently on every boat), hoping like mad it wasn't last done with Sikaflex, and then cleaning priming and painting the rust and steel before reattaching with butyl rubber glazing tape (available from larger chandleries, including Midland Chandlers) and new stainless steel screws. We then put a silicone bead around the resulting seal as a secondary seal (this is controversial, but recommended by professional glaziers). We will definitely video tape the next one, but sadly it'll be once weather has improved. I really wouldn't recommend starting until there's proper conditions for the paints, or you'll just have to do it again in a year. M

[@djembeboyzach]

nice one. thanks for the info. yeah probably a good call to wait a bit. i will save this info but also look out for your video on it and give it a wee try.

[@NostalgiaSmith]

First there was Man-flu, and now we have Man-snow ;)

[@courierdog1941]

OK so we have established Michael works. can you share as to what you are working on.

[@MinimalList]

Before the pandemic I was mainly working as a volunteer helping people learn to program while I was looking for VFX consulting work … post pandemic I’m working on preparing for a turn in grad school. M

[@courierdog1941]

@@MinimalList Let me know when the pandemic ends. My Son-In-Law who works in Micro-Biology says it will not be any time soon like the politicians want us to believe. Here the Conservative Provincial Governments all want to push the envelope to open the economy, The Federal Government is warning everyone to be very cautious, More in hospital and the morgue is not the real way to open an economy. Personally I am in no hurry to drop the restrictions.

[@MinimalList]

Neither am I… to be honest the pandemic is never going to end. Thanks to the choices of both governments and individuals Covid is now an endemic virus, worldwide, and we’re going to see ongoing and regular effects for the rest of our lives. Over the next 3-5 years we’ll see those effects slowly become background noise, and then eventually they’ll just be part of the new normal… but we botched the response, so this virus will be with us, practically speaking, for the rest of our lives. Eradication is a practical impossibility now, with Delta’s transmission characteristics. What we have to hope for is further variants to be less virulent, over time. M

[@narrowboatersatlarge]

Is that part of Michael's beard on the mike, perchance?

[@MinimalList]

Michael's beard isn't nearly so soft and fluffy. M

[@alanlocke3826]

Just curious. How's the solar business working during the winter ? I realize it's not going to do the whole job but how much is it helping?

[@estherkalkbrenner5222]

Nice cruise :) do you know the gps tracker for dogs called “tractive”? Might be helpful in those cases George forgets about his main addiction (Tennis balls) and remembers he is a hunting dog ^^

[@MinimalList]

Hmm, interesting. I wonder how that integrated geofence works with a moving home? Luckily he hasn't yet shown much of a propensity to wander outside yelling at top of lungs range. M

[@estherkalkbrenner5222]

Minimal List not sure if the fence thingy would work on a moving home. But probably you would have to set up the area at every mooring.

[@sbayles]

Are the videos your work or do you have a job that can be done while you travel?

[@marilyns6043]

How many times do you think you've had to bathe poor George? He had that sad look on his face at 13:09 like he knew he'd done something that was going to end him up in the tub.

[@MinimalList]

Not too many times ... he often gets rained on sufficiently to reduce the problem! M

[@manwithapan9481]

LOL I think George needs some kind of full waterproof doggy all in one, how on earth do you cope when he gets into the boat :0o

[@MinimalList]

We don’t cope, the boat gets muddy! Jo

[@MinimalList]

Ha! I am not sure how George would feel about that and our laundry bill would go up. I bet he would look super cute though! Jo

[@johnrpickett1794]

Really appreciate your videos! Question. Have you looked into or are using 3G/4G or Wi-Fi extenders/booster-amplifiers for your narrowboat? It is one of my concerns when moving to a narrowboat life ... yes we are so digital now days. I am assuming either the local pubs have public Wi-Fi or a hotspot off the your phone is what you typically utilize.

[@MinimalList]

Sorry for getting back to you late. We have a 4G LTE modem that has external antenna ports, and two external antennas to mount on the roof. We haven't gotten those installed yet (waiting for warmer, drier weather), so we usually just have it sitting in the window. It works relatively well, better than the smaller MiFi units that a lot of people use due to the larger antennas. Signal is VERY variable though, and dependent on the cellular service provider's coverage, but so far our EE service has worked in most places, with some dead spots in Braunston and a few other places. A WiFi extender / repeater is really just a WiFi access point that can read a network on one set of channels and rebroadcast to nearby devices on another ... they work, but of course you need to have to be in range of, and have the password for, a fixed transmitter, and from what we've seen on the canals that is only very rarely going to happen, although when moored in cities we do sometimes pick up BT and other access points. Outside the cities, though, the only options are 4G and satellite. Overall though the biggest problem isn't signal or speed, it's the tariffs are too expensive for too little GB. M

[@johnrpickett1794]

No problem on time. Thank You for the information. There is so much to learn before we make the final plunge. We had some concerns with the internet since my wife is doing some classes via internet. Sounds like she will be OK. Right now our next step is Narrowboat rental (Wyvern-Grand Union) and try it out for a week. If we enjoy it, like I think we will, then back to US to finish her degree and retire to the narrowboat for a couple years. Still need to work on that tourist 6 month limit. Considering going for a two year Visa, possibly look into a student visa and there is always a chance my retirement could turn into a working retirement. To many details, again thank you for the information!!

[@MinimalList]

The visa process can be quite complicated, I'm afraid ... I'm lucky, as Jo's spouse it's a fairly simple, five year affair involving only a few dozens of pages of paperwork... but where there's a will! The internet situation is slowly improving; we've noticed that 3 -- oddly named company -- is doing some fairly large tariffs now relatively cheaply, so hopefully by the time you've got the details sorted it'll be even easier! M

[@johnrpickett1794]

Yes, I have heard that in Britain the paperwork can be very through. :)

[@MinimalList]

It is. And it's a bit of a Byzantine system, with some fairly opaque language and not a lot of options to turn to for clarity. But chip away at it, and you'll make it! M

[@jjjnettie]

I missed everything you said about Brinklow because you had one extra long beard hair sticking out at a right angle from the side of your face. LOLOL.

[@MinimalList]

That's the story of my life, getting ignored cause I've got one hair out of place! ;-) M

[@jjjnettie]

This is how OCD starts.

[@eraldorh]

Are you canadian?

[@MinimalList]

No, I'm British and Michael is half American and half Canadian.

[@gav3379]

Seems like Joe is doing a lot more walking than cruising. Doesn't seem to be much fun for her.

[@MinimalList]

I love the walking. It keeps George happy, gives me some exercise and on cold days it’s much warmer than driving the boat! Jo

[@sharpiesailor]

For all the enjoyment and information of your videos we'd like to contribute some #'s/$s (even if just to fill a gas bottle to help you get through Winter). What's best? PayPal? Intnl m.o.?

[@MinimalList]

We really appreciate the offer - truly, it’s so nice that you like our videos enough to want to contribute - but we’re not in a position where we need financial help, and would feel a bit odd accepting it. We make these to engage with the community, and that’s the help we tend to need. So, honestly, we’d rather you kept the money for yourselves to have nice experience, or if you’d rather give it to others then donate it to a charity doing some good work locally. J & M