145. Narrowboat cruise into Milton Keynes on the Grand Union Canal

[@charlesjordan8364]

As an American I enjoy listening to you so I can learn English!

[@alisonalexandratou8723]

Yes he does speak very well, good use of the English Oxford dictionary vocabulary!

[@for.tax.reasons]

Watching a boat go over a road via aqueduct just never gets old.

[@for.tax.reasons]

"This is the grafton aqueduct. I'm guessing it goes over grafton street." it's this exact sort of brilliant bits of deduction that makes watching your videos so enjoyable truly just a gift

[@CruisingTheCut]

[@DonaldSimsProduction]

It is nice to see a place take pride in itself.

[@SandraNelson063]

I love the sight of herons, swans and geese parading and swimming around or on the canals. It means that somehow, the people in the area are managing to keep the crap out of the water. The canals, and the green spaces next to them, are necessary habitat for these birds. I heartily approve of the idea of putting art works along the canals and under the bridges. The idea of canal "overpasses' boggles the mind! All that weight of water and boats hoisted up over another canal or river...Egad! Engineers are wizards.

[@desertrose2059]

Your videos give fodder to my dreams and flights of fancy. In another life, I would love to live there as you do, it brings me peace just watching your superb videos.

[@TribalHARRY]

Hi CC. Over a year ago i left a comment on one of your vids talking about how myself and my partner wanted to move onto a narrowboat after we'd finished university. Well I'm happy to say after all your influence, we put an offer on one 3 days ago and it was accepted. Provided the survey is sound we might just see you out on the cut! Thank you for all your videos documenting your life on the cut, it really helped us decide if narrowboat life was for us. I look forward to future content as usual.

[@CruisingTheCut]

That's fantastic news, congratulations. I hope life aboard will be everything you dream for! Well done. Cheers

[@petejones3065]

We have lived in Milton Keynes for 35 years now, and never stop telling people what a marvellous place it is, and was so pleased to hear that you were impressed. The canal is the Jewel in The Crown.

[@TommyRogic18]

David I’m re-watching your vlogs from the start. Not having the best trot with mental health at the moment, when things are bad I come and watch an episode or two and it never fails to help. I hope you’re enjoying a less stressful approach to KZbin and also that you’re aware of how appreciated your vlogs and reports are. I raise a cheese sandwich and a G&T to you.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Hi. Sorry to hear you’re having a troubled time at present and I hope sincerely that things improve for you. I’m glad the videos can help in some way.

[@scritti]

I too suffer with poor mental health. I've been on a few canal boat holidays (hired boats) with friends and thoroughly recommend it. It's so pleasant and relaxing to be on water and in the countryside. I'm also enjoying watching David's videos, really interesting and informative.

[@rachelmisc]

Just lovely ~ each vlog takes me away. These are mini- vacations. 💕 Thank you

[@thomastrout9997]

"Boats, Families & Dogs Welcome" oh that all of life were so. Thank you once again.

[@ikonixx]

What a lovely place. It's nice to see a town take pride in their canal for a change.

[@boomshank12]

An entire afternoon well-spent watching your videos! Thank you!!

[@monicalifornia_]

Continually impressed by the engineering of those canals. Astonishing!!!

[@Mykbyker]

Hi David, The mural you passed in Wolverton commemorates the Wolverton Works where the Royal Train was built and stored. The works employed well over a thousand people at it's height and the town of Wolverton was one of the first 'railway towns' with houses built for the employees. All that's left of the once proud Works is the derelict buildings you passed on your right as you entered Wolverton, sadly they're also due for demolition to make way for more new housing, just like the shiny new ones you passed which also stand on former Works property. But who needs railways now we've all got cars, even if road progress is sometimes slower than the canal!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks for that info - good stuff! Ah, more housing ... necessary but dull :-(

[@prancingppony]

I have just watched all the Cruising the cut videos start to end (it took weeks!) and wanted to say thank you so much for vlogging, it is interesting, well presented and filmed. It has really got me interested in narrow boats 😊 now I have to wait like everyone else for the next video 😂 If you ever go up the Lea Valley navigation I promise to come help you with at least one lock 😉

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you, glad you liked them!

[@JasperJanssen]

You know, you so rarely hear positive things about Milton Keynes but it does look like a grand place to live.

[@elizabethtrainer9732]

I enjoy that you take the time to always film the beautiful and interesting art along the canal.

[@wayneharris689]

What a wonderful way to visit Milton Keynes - Miles of canal and NO roundabouts!

[@EldoonNemar]

Love the videos. Please keep them coming. You're the tranquil sanity I need at the end of a work day.

[@SandraNelson063]

Amen.

[@for.tax.reasons]

11:24 the Ansuka looks really cool and would make a great name for a lead character in a movie

[@jonarnel.nygaard7598]

These videos are the best. I dont understand why you dont make more of them they are soo great! Look forward to (and hope for) many more!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Because I only cruise so much each week and I can only film so much and I can only edit so much!

[@bohomaturebabe]

He's got all the comments on the videos he has made to read through!

[@mischef18]

An interesting mural if you have lost your train of thought, then a fully air conditioned horse. Yes some of those back yards did look lovely. All the best

[@graceygrumble]

A very pleasant little chug.

[@gerrytanner1682]

Another excellent vlog David. I really like your commentating which is short, informative and interesting. Your background audio allows the viewer to enjoy the natural sounds.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you

[@CluelessinaCaravan]

I absolutely love Milton Keynes. Lived there for 5 years and often go back. You will have passed the caravan park at Gullivers next to the new marina under construction at Campbell Park.

[@karlfair]

That was fun. Going over the aqueducts gives a most interesting view.

[@gen1rev22]

Just what I needed for the day .....The windmill on the top of the boat , floating cinema and horse in the field , all cool .

[@ritubohra2559]

Watching boat over the road and Milton keynes is fantastic. Whole journey is speechless. Feel like i m floating nd superb green rey view

[@dougkfarrell]

Hi David, A really enjoyable, serene vlog! You're right, Milton Keynes looks like a wonderful place to visit. Oh, and you're right, the widebeams look ENORMOUS compared to the narrowboats! Doug

[@0HARE]

Well, this was especially delightful. The pretty views and the commentary were just right. Thanks for taking us along.

[@sheilaknight5370]

Thank you from another " avid fan " Had no idea Milton Keynes had so much greenery. Great shot of the heron !

[@davidchandler8881]

Thanks for being so complimentary about my home town David. It's original town planners really did try hard to get the balance right but unfortunately some of their current day replacements lack their understanding and vision. Wonderful vlog as usual very therapeutic as I'm sure many of your viewers will concur.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Your vlogs are consistently relaxing. Makes for nice evening before retiring. Thanks for all you do...

[@courierdog1941]

David: you just cannot believe how much you encourage your viewers with your simple elegance and flow of your Video Blogs and your matching commentary. Your professional background in Broadcasting shows in your demeanour and composure. Cheers

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you

[@deltavee2]

Kudos to Milton Keynes for doing it right when it is so obviously easy to not bother. Well done, I say.

[@joeclarke9782]

Thanks for another beautiful ride.

[@AnthonyChew]

So far I've been on a floating hotel (stayed a week), dinner on a floating restaurant and a floating karaoke. A floating cinema is definitely on my list of things to try!

[@michaelpilling9659]

Very impressive aquaduct over the River Ouse. What an impressive use of the canal through Milton Keynes. So little rubbish and graffiti. An excellent video David - thank you so much

[@sarahaugustine4185]

What a beautiful city and citizens (keeping their trash mostly to themselves). Thanks for the tour!

[@windsorlad1000]

Milton Keynes by narrowboat was a pleasant surprise to me when I went through earlier this year. My previous experience was by car, and I only saw dual carriageways and roundabouts. I moored one night right by where the cinema boat was - Great Linford, I think. It was a village before the city was built and there was still a row of arms houses and a pub. I also moored in Campbell park, which stretches right up to the centre of the city. It was really all very nice. Great that you are back on the cut. I have watched so many of your videos and appreciate your professionalism in the commentary and camerawork. Looking forward to the next one.

[@terrystephens1102]

Lovely scenery, great commentary, thanks David. 👌👏👏👏👏👏

[@bjbrown]

Very nice cruise and it looks like a very nice place to spend some time. Thank you to the people who made it pretty!

[@SB-000]

Would love to see your trip to the grocery store and shopping. Being in the USA it's interesting to see the differences of your stores versus ours.

[@CruisingTheCut]

I'd be likely to be chucked out if I start filming in the store, they don't tend to like that kind of thing. Also, I was there to shop so wouldn't want to lug a camcorder around.

[@theoddjobcentre6686]

@@CruisingTheCut I do love watching your videos

[@hildahickey6964]

I just happened up on narrowboat videos and I absolutely love your vlogs. You identify the areas you are in and your sceneries are so nice. I may never get to the UK but your videos take me there. Thank you so much.

[@adrianbarrett4544]

I used to live five minutes from the canal near the Lionheart cruising club. Milton Keynes is a lovely green space in the spring summer and autumn and the city has been very sympathetically developed where it cohabits with the canal. Residents around the area are usually very proud to be part of the Grand Union, which forms a wonderful ribbon of history through the new city. If you moor at Campbell Park watch out for late night inner city revellers. I moored there for a couple nights leaving my boat unattended for a couple of days and it was cast off and left to float away. Thankfully a neighbourly boater tied it up to his boat awaiting my return. There are residential moorings there in the park with no faculties and yet have a two to three year waiting list! Great vlog as always. Many thanks

[@GregWallis]

I used to live there, and MK is surprisingly green, full of parks, and much greenery. It also has the largest and most comprehensive cycle network in the UK. Interestingly, almost all the housing areas are actually below the roads and the canal, which is why they're pretty much invisible whilst cruising. The city centre, sadly, is a bit like North Korea. Great vid, as always.

[@ALifeFullofMeaning]

Great vlog, thank you. We know this stretch of canal well as we are moored in Northampton, and it is one of our favourite places to go when we are out for a week or so!

[@meekeykamira2187]

Thoroughly enjoying your journey.

[@for.tax.reasons]

4:00 that boat's windows remind me of windows on Indian trains!

[@pvangalder]

Thanks David...from an Avid Fan...the best kind of fan..lol

[@CruisingTheCut]

:-)

[@UrbanHomesteadMomma]

Lovely video... I do love seeing the aquaducts, for some reason I find them fascinating.

[@blitzie1233]

Been watching for 2 years and still enjoying ur vlogs!! Realized why. My DNA is 45% United Kingdom. I live in America. 😊

[@nikghoskin2302]

Nice video, I was hoping to see my boat! I frequent this stretch of the network. MK is actually a nice place to live, parks, a great cycle network and the canal going right through it

[@jerryshimon8541]

It be pleasant to travel with you while you shop enjoying your selection of proper viands for cruising the blog. 🥪😉

[@benstips1101]

Ive never seen a like dislike ratio that much in favour of the likes. Well done.

[@contrafax]

Thank you for showing that decorative windmill. It was so cute.

[@jimsp71]

love your presentations!!!! makes me want to sell everything state side and hop the pond to be a river rat so to speak!!!!

[@paulcollins9397]

You’ll soon have to don a disguise to go shopping! Cruising is a wonderful way of life! I’m glad you discovered it. Rock on!!

[@timpaszkiewicz7169]

It's amazing how a town can make the canals being the center attraction.

[@FiddlingwithmyWhistle]

very good.... the house that 'was' for sale.... 4 bedroom with 100 feet of moorings... for just £445,000. but Sold STC, just as well I guess don't know that I want to live in Milton Keynes. But thanks for zooming in on the sign... was easy to find the spot...

[@schirmeyerb]

For it is a lot of money for use FRENCH. ..445000.......of my opinion it is probably shipper in FRANCE

[@FU2Max]

My home town, thanks for visiting.

[@grooveyman]

A real pleasure to watch. We don't have anything remotely like this in Australia. Very pretty sections of canal. Very much appreciate your commentary.

[@derrickharvey7487]

Sitting here in my cruising sailboat on the west coast of British Columbia and feeling a tad jealous of your cruising will see how it goes tomorrow in 25 knot winds great vodkas always David cheers Derrick

[@luanncrownover4]

Beautiful cruise today. Enjoyed relaxing and watching the countryside unfold in front of you!

[@johannesmyrdal3466]

Thank you,I love your videos David.Love from Iceland.

[@nbflyingfox4672]

Yet another great vlog David. Like you i am surprised at the cleanliness of the canal and yes it's nice to see a town that takes pride in the canal that runs through it..

[@Brian-1948]

This brings back memories I must say. We hire boated through MK back in the early 80's and it's good to see the mural is still in good condition. We moored up somewhere and went into town for a wander round and some shopping. Having decided that the walk back was a bit much we decided to take a taxi back to the nearest road/canal bridge to the boat. The taxi driver was shocked to find that there was a canal running the town/city, his comment being - "I wondered where my brother went fishing". Didn't really give me a lot a confidence in MK taxi drivers. Thanks for the video.

[@jkatkat7950]

Not that I have lots of experience - only 1 hire trip as we are from Canada - but I do love when you go through bits that we had traveled as a family! Can't wait for the world to return to normal so we can journey on other parts of the system! I am particularly in love with aquaducts!

[@psychoticfox1965]

weve moored up in several places in Milton Keynes. its really quite nice along the canal and apart from a few areas, all seems safe too.

[@Philhoppermiller]

I enjoyed your cruise today. Beautiful countryside. I was let down when we could not go shopping with you. I would have liked to see inside a British grocery store. Oh well, if you have seen one grocery store, I guess they are like our's in Texas. Well we have one called Buc Ee's that is unic.

[@krystiansieminski363]

Ah, the slow pass of life with a great water travel twist.Got to love it, great video.TH

[@MichaelsMustang]

Clearly Milton Keynes acknowledges the canals contribution to the town and rather than trying to forget all about the ditch dwellers past and present they are quite proud of them and keep them well presented, rubbish free, one bottle does not count and almost Graffiti free. The mural of the train was likely painted by street artists so again clearly Milton Keynes realises it youth need things that interest them. I have to admit I find the wide beams large myself after you being on the midlands so much despite the fact that I am still weighing up which to buy narrow or wide.

[@lesleycouch6557]

Pleasantly surprised by how nice the canal is around Milton Keynes. Thanks for another good one :-)

[@kevgermany]

Another lovely relaxed cruise. Envious as ever. Kev.

[@GapBahnDirk]

A new perspective on Milton Keynes. Very nice.....

[@EmmaRitson]

Great as always.

[@DJFLIP2010]

Hi My Name is Phil, My wife and I watch your Blogs, watched your video about Milton Keynes. I have an Uncle and Aunt who have a mooring at the bottom of their garden just off the river Avon.

[@deepakgogoi5975]

Beautiful stretch of canal. And you are right, one feels one is passing through the countryside rather than a fairly large built-up urban settlement. For which the good people of Milton Keynes and the local municipality deserve fulsome compliments. And thank you for the wonderful journey. I am now ready to take on whatever the day brings.

[@steveratliff40]

Glad you had a good time off, but it has been nice to catch up on your adventures.

[@LS-qq5zh]

I live in Milton Keynes and I used to live behind the New Inn pub you passed. If you go past again, I recommend stopping there and going for dinner. Brilliant little pub!

[@lyndarichardson4744]

What an interesting variety of boat s David and what lovely scenery. Another cracking video !

[@joeclarke9782]

Another fine video in the can.

[@dickvarga6908]

A mooring at the end of your garden, Toad Hall up the slope, Ratty & Mole messing about in boats and.... TOAD on a jet ski! Rust & Rot! That amphibian is always a menace.

[@cooking23]

at 06:10 you passed the secret garden, it was once the location of two houses for the station masters at Wolverton,

[@EBaker0129]

I've only been to England once when I was a child. I never knew there was such a beautiful countryside there. I live in San Diego california and I'm a soldier for the salvation army. I will never be able to do what you do living on a narrow boat, but i can only fantasize about it. Hell of a life! Wish I could do it somehow..

[@for.tax.reasons]

10:50 that is _precious_

[@mattthecasualgamer]

Milton Keynes ain't that bad. I walk along the canal every other day at least 10 KM, from the City Centre and Campbell Park moorings all the way to the ASDA store you stopped off at in OakRidge Park. Didn't see you along the canal, so missed you on one of days I didn't pop out for a walk. Yesterday I was sat on the Bench opposite the Lion Hearts Cruising Club having lunch, then walked the route you travelled to ASDA.

[@CruisingTheCut]

I was pleasantly surprised with how nice it was. Keep an eye out for me on the way back ;-)

[@SandraNelson063]

Good Lord, I envy you! Well, the doctors don't see much of you I bet.

[@donaldscott4917]

Great Vlog. Really enjoy it. Wish I could persuade my family to take me for a few days on a canal boat again.

[@EnglishmaninMalta]

Enjoy your videos, i am not a boater just enjoy the idea, we are very interested here in Malta to encourage people going to beach and cliff walk to help clean up plastic, how great would it be to get narrow boat people to just pick up the plastic in a net, and disposed , instead of moaning about it !!

[@CruisingTheCut]

A few boaters do indeed clear up muck. I try to pick some up in a net as I go, though it depends on doing it without falling in...

[@charlie418791]

Always nice riding along,David. Enjoy your weekend, Sir.

[@TheVirginiaStew]

Great cruise...always love seeing all the different boats...Cheers

[@petejones3065]

Very good filming. We moor at Linford Manor Park (11.17 into the video), nb Knot Shore, so know this route extremely well!!!! However, was very interested to see two boats on your trip, that were still there yesterday when we went up to New Bradwell to wind, and NOT on winter moorings! Keep up the good work!

[@alexball5907]

I'm really enjoying these videos. Thanks for posting them up, I'm using them to figure out how rideable the tow paths are by bike as I've had some lovely days out riding along the canals this summer.

[@normanboyes4983]

Someone has art bombed MK. Thanks for the vid David.👍

[@JoniAviography]

Thanks David, brilliant as usual. Milton Keynes looked very nice!

[@HansFranke]

You're right, desprite the few botles at the end it was rather clean. Then again, I noticed that this more often depends on the people than being inside a city or not. A place like Stoke is rathar clean as well, desprite its size, while boating all along the Huddersfield Narrow (West), even way off the villages, as well as the northerne Macclesfield sometimes feels like driving a crawler thru a landfill (ok, exaggerated, still). In any case, introduceing a deposit for bottles may be a win for the country at whole and the canals in particular. Anyway, so far it looks as if the Grand Union might be a destination for next May. Thanks for showing it to us.

[@SteveH-gt3wz]

Another enjoyable video... Thank you, David :)

[@johnwalsh3635]

Wheelbarrows seem to be a popular item on narrowboats. Nice video again.

[@CruisingTheCut]

You can usually tell a liveaboard by whether they have a wheelbarrow in the roof ;-)

[@colinracheljustpootling7468]

We did this stretch last September. It really is rather lovely and very clean. We will definitely return to this part of the country