180. Leaving the Ashby canal and turning north onto the Coventry

#narrowboat #narrowboats #canal #canals #liveaboard #cruisingthecut
With my time on the Ashby canal come to an end, I took my narrowboat back onto the Coventry canal and headed north, through Nuneaton and it's well-tended back gardens and allotments, and up towards Atherstone where I'd spend a few days while the heavens opened.
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End location: goo.gl/maps/sH...
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Theme music: "Vespers" by Topher Mohr and Alex Alena, from the KZbin music library

[@alejandrayalanbowman367]

The telephone pole goes back to the times before STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) and if you wanted to call a number out of your local area, you had to go through the operator. The operator would connect to the line to the area, you wished to call when another operator would connect you to the number you wanted. The number of lines between each town was limited so it could sometimes take quite a while to get through to a distant number which might mean your having to be connected to a number distant exchanges to get to the one you wanted.

[@RadRidesByCru]

It's said that telegraph pole you passed is the last of a sea of them once grown on that farm. The poles were harvested and replanted all across England with wires connecting them as fencing to control King James' vast giraffe herds. In fact, the name telegraph was coined because of that farmer, Peter O'Graff. If you needed giraffe fencing, you just had to tell O'Graff. I could be wrong though... The farmers name might not have been Peter.

[@katcankan7129]

🙋‍♀️ Yes please for tiny narrow boat tour. Another relaxing trip on the canal 😊. Have a nice weekend.

[@CanuckJim]

I don't dance in the streets anymore - the judge was VERY specific about that.

[@alanbower1193]

Great Star Trek reference.

[@acmeopinionfactory8018]

Alan Bower I thought it was a Martha and the Vandellas reference. ;-)

[@Suho1004]

I was watching this vlog in my study when my wife walked in looking for something. She stayed to watch the last few minutes, and then, when the outro music began playing, commented that it was very "healing." And this is exactly why I love CTC--when life gets me down, I can always get some healing here.

[@CruisingTheCut]

That’s lovely to hear!

[@TheKPCoyote]

David, you are simply the best. Of all of the KZbinrs I’ve watched, you are the most human. Bless you!

[@jeffreymorreale7223]

All these narrowboat videos make me want to move to England... just for the canals.

[@eamesaerospace2805]

Jeffrey Morreale they are pretty nice

[@avibarr2751]

And all the hundreds-of-years-old villages

[@dalebannon8503]

But, they all talk funny, says a resident of “The Colonies, AKA The States.”

[@sim-sam]

The poles name is Jean, and he is originally french, coming up to good old england back in the time, where there was no work back in france for telegraph poles. He is married to Christine, a candelabra, but she moved out to some nearby village. They have 4 children, all already adult and they moved away. Jean likes spinach tartlets with red wine and every now and then, when nobody is watching, has himself a little shot of absinth. cheerio! PS: be glad about the weather, down here, we actually have around 35°c - hardly bearable... someone turned on the oven...

[@frankligi7673]

OMG! You can find all kinds of info on google and yahoo. Jean, you say!!!

[@3704ruben]

Hey, David? When you go to the store to buy groceries. Could you show a short vlog of what it looks like in the store & inside a pub, of you having a pint & something to eat. Thanks. Love your videos. Keep up the good work.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Not something I'll do because if I'm lugging shopping bags back from the store I won't want to have the camera as well. Plus the stores likely won't want me filming. Plus I prefer to keep the channel narrowboat-focused rather than a general look at "UK life" (there are lots of other for that). I don't tend to go to the pubs, especially when on my own.

[@Mark-xm4sc]

I would LOVE to see a small series on tiny boats

[@sreed8066]

The Telegraph Pole? He is called Kevin. He's retired now from full time working but likes to volunteer on the canal and is a Friend of the Canal and River Trust. You will often find him by that stretch of canal. (it's been a long day ...)

[@hanshendriksen72]

Thanks David! A very welcome Friday treat.

[@deltavee2]

Oh yes, Please David! I'm dying to see the small narrowboats' interiors.

[@inkhole]

Lots of vegetables grown....but none eaten..:-)

[@CruisingTheCut]

Oh that's bad!!

[@inkhole]

@@CruisingTheCut So very true...Just surprised you didn't get there first :-))

[@robinoldgit1751]

I live in Nuneaton and many locals appreciate the local canals, a valuable resource and a peaceful spot or two.

[@scottfw7169]

Fireman's pole to the boat? I like that! :) Oh, and I would have to have a similar crane, too! _(and suddenly I'm hearing, "Robin! Quick! To the Batnarrowboat!")_

[@BrianMDIY]

@3:45 That utility pole has a unique feature. The lean-to pole supporting it is called a push brace. It's use to support corners when guying isn't a viable option. The cross arms have porcelain or glass insulators that supported iron wire for multi party phone lines and telegraph circuits. Judging by the amount of cross arms on that pole, it must have been busy with service in it's day.

[@billroberts4910]

Looking forward to the tiny boat video.

[@johnmontgomery4763]

I just got caught up will all (I think all...) of the vlogs. I was very happy to see the email notification come across, that a new vlog was available. My wife and I did our first canal cruise, as a lark, about 4 years ago. We cruised from Market Harborough to the Foxton Locks, then on to Husbands Bosworth, turned around (the canal was going to be closed for maintenance during the slow season) back through the locks, up the Grand Union, towards Leicester and then back to Market Harborough. It took us a week, we weathered a few squalls and, it was one of our most memorable vacations. Only after that trip did I discover your blog, when planning another cruise (completed last May)…and was hooked. Life can be wonderful, at two miles per hour…give or take. Thank you, for your entertaining vlogs and I look forward to the next one (Kelvin timeline…Ha!).

[@derykmacleod4979]

I lived on a sailboat in the US for 10 years. I wouldn't mind retiring to a canal boat and put put around seeing such beautiful views! Thanks mate!

[@for.tax.reasons]

I really do love Nuneaton's backyards they're so pretty and pleasant. Some of them could do with a sunbed by the canal edge.

[@for.tax.reasons]

I'm particularly fond of this episode's pun title well done

[@RustyShackelford6]

Smoopy

[@normg2242]

Ill say an enthusiastic "yes" to a series on mini boats...!!!

[@kenjoe]

'Dancing in the Streets'? A secret Mamas and Papas fan! Good for you!

[@karenhoward6439]

Those houses with gardens backing onto the canal are so lucky - while away a few hours watching the water, lovely

[@testingtimes7924]

Your videos are the most relaxing that I have seen on youtube. No matter what the stresses of my day may have been , a viewing of your latest video always calm's me right down.

[@williamsweat2580]

The English country is quite beautiful.

[@carolleenkelmann3829]

" And we're Rollin,...Rollin,...Rollin down the river." Can't wait for the small boat series!

[@sidneybowerman558]

This video had me slinking back into my armchair in no time at all. Trying to get help from the DVLA at this virus ridden time isn't recommended, but these videos are. Well done David, I think you are keeping me sane.

[@zapfanzapfan]

You are about halfway through your 5 year mission of exploring strange new life and new civilizations along the canals. No warp speed though :-)

[@cornbreadcuban5456]

Yet another appreciated Star Trek reference.

[@1mnstrbassplyer]

So awesome to see the canals. I live in the US and have my own boat that I cruise the rivers of the Pacific Northwest. Beautiful and relaxing for sure. I would love to visit your canals and cruise them for a year or so... Beautiful videos. Thank you for sharing...

[@iPugsy]

Another relaxing video.... And even more reasons for me to plan for this life

[@iPugsy]

My dream ... which I really hope I do some day. 100% off grid... A narrowboat with full electric drive and an aluminium hub

[@tomvanhummel160]

With us in the Netherlands it is called a city garden / allotment garden. And it's always nice when you see an area with all those vegetables and fruit and people who are enjoying themselves

[@petermastenbroek5264]

After 40 years in France, I still seem to remember that these allotments were called "Volkstuinen" in Dutch, "Gardens for the people", but the name may have changed over the years. Nobody ever informs me about changes in the Netherlands, and I have difficulties recognising the town where I was born (1948) Amsterdam, as so much has changed, and in my view not really for the better, I'm sad to say.

[@Taladar2003]

How about a Thunderbirds style chute instead of a fireman's pole. At one point some robotic hands slip your jacket on, at another you get your canal & river trust key handed to you, then your tiller,... before the chute deposits you on the stern of your boat and a voice counts down while the trees outside bend back so you can launch your boat from your hidden mooring spot under your house.

[@gbailey7610]

I would love to see a video exploring small boats!

[@christopherwhitelaw1197]

Hello Dave. First, thank you for vlogging your experiences for us. You are making converts of my wife and I. Re telegraph pole, these were pre/digital lines that used to be seen from railways carriages sweeping their multiple wires as they seemed to rise and fall from the train window. Canal routes often formed routes for these. The digital,age swept them away, since they were paired copper wires and simply couldn’t handle the traffic of modern telephone and internet systems, most of whose cables are routed underground. Fewer breakages when the poles were blown over in storms too.

[@jamesshanks2614]

Just an FYI here in the states the telegraph wires weren't copper, we used iron wires which were more than satisfactory for the days of the telegraph key. When the railroads started using telephones they discovered they could still use iron wires after experimenting with different microphones until they found one that worked properly. When I started as a locomotive fireman in 71 it was at the tail end of telegraph offices as I recall the railroad at that point had 7 offices still open but were quickly switching to commercial AT&T wires due to switching to teletype machines to transmit car consists of freight trains. In the days of steam a freight averaged 40 to 60 cars versus with multiple unit Diesel locomotives we usually hauled 10,000 ton freights eastbound and 4,000 to 5,000 ton empties westbound as the eastern terminus was Boston. The road was the Boston & Albany Railroad operated by Penn Central when I hired out. Cheers!

[@phu010]

Using separate wires disappeared long before the introduction of digital technology. It came about when plasic insulation became available and it became more cost effective to bundle the wires together into multi-core cables and string those between the poles instead. In fact the vast majority of the 'local loop' wired internet traffic is still carried along twisted pairs of copper wires, with fibre only being used to the cabinet in the street, at best.

[@watersrising8044]

Laughed at the Kelvin timeline…since I’m two years behind in my viewing (catching up though) pre-Covid videos often seem to be from an alternate universe.

[@ncplantdoctor]

Hat's the way - I like it. And dancing in the street - there'll be music everywhere. Nice.

[@Glad2bBack]

Love your vlogs Dave. I normally start my day with coffee and toast watching one. Such a calming start to the morning!

[@michaelpilling9659]

A lovely cruise from The Ashby. Very pleasant - excellent video. Thanks for all the information given as we travel David.

[@jeffmcgrath2202]

I never tire of your 70s and 80s musical puns

[@tonybirdwell2917]

Another great and interesting vlog. Thanks and please keep them coming.

[@nbafk8638]

Thank you for all your Blogs always of interest even more so with the "lock down" being at home and not on "AFK" reminds me of our trips on the cut and planning others later this year. The telegraph pole is apparently one of the only ones remaining but they used to run along the ties of the canal as the means of messaging just like in the "Wild West" films. From memory there is also one in the centre upper arch somewhere possible North Oxford or Coventry. I do have photos of both will try and find the bridge one. Stay safe everyone hope to catch up soon.

[@dionscott7901]

Love hearing the abundant bird life in the background. Thank you I watch your vlog to relax 😊

[@robchandler755]

I liked the look of that tiny narrow boat.

[@MrHabilis]

At 5:50, "Recalcitrant" -- "Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline." I like that! -Phil K. Indianapolis USA

[@jiloute22]

Good evening, David, it's always a treat for me to watch your videos

[@robertcochrane3936]

Love your videos very relaxing to watch. Keep up the good work 👍

[@luanncrownover4]

Very enjoyable cruise! Love looking at the houses and gardens along the canal.

[@for.tax.reasons]

5:52 Recalcitrant is also an an amazing name and yes that is a dope looking boat and yes I'm still waiting on your series on tiny narrowboats

[@CruisingTheCut]

I had one lined up but they've had to go into hospital but I'm still hoping to film with them when they're better.

[@for.tax.reasons]

@@CruisingTheCut oh dear hope they're ok!

[@ldriver63ld]

I found your channel a 2 days ago, new sub, I binged watched all your videos, absolutely loved every one of them, so looking forward to more🤗

[@CruisingTheCut]

That's a LOT of viewing! Welcome.

[@ldriver63ld]

@@CruisingTheCut I couldn't stop, I lived all the hours I watched vicariously through you, your videos made me feel like I was on those canals, some of them, because of the gentel sound of the water and hum of the engine so relaxed me I went peacefully to sleep.

[@beyergarret123]

Regarding the telegraph pole at 3:50 when I worked on the Railway in the 70s there were still lots of them in use along the line, it was said that you could always tell which direction London was because the cross bearers that carried the wires were always on the side facing London, presumably they were erected starting from London so it was natural to fix the bearers on that side as they progressed outwards, dont know if it was the same for poles along the cut though.

[@Eionful]

I like you site; I often come here to unwind from a stressful patch online or copying links to projects.

[@Tiberius9Films]

I think it's safe to say that you are living a charmed life! Thanks for the inspiration.

[@gerhardschmidtke7610]

Beautiful video about your tour, greetings from Germany.

[@incognitoatunknown2702]

A short series about tiny narrow boats. Talk about a perfect fit.

[@deepakgogoi5975]

That tiny narrow boat was really fascinating. Good idea to do a series on these boats. Looking forward to it. Have a great weekend!

[@gilbertfranklin1537]

David, I would almost swear that you made this video just for me! Loads of great camera shots from the tiller end over the magnificent length of the boat as it glided along the canal - with the most interesting views of the homes, gardens and shops. And with a lot of traffic showing so many other great narrowboats coming and going and mooring. Fabulous!

[@jchapman60]

One of the main reasons I look forward to your video's is your narration throughout in describing to us what is happening on the canal! It's hard to believe you haven't been approached by a the BBC in doing a series on your travels, or a Documentary! Yes, you're that good at what you do! What a waste to the people of the UK in not viewing what us youtuber's get to see! Keep them coming and enjoy your relaxing life style!

[@4sstg]

Just love these travels, and you narrate them so well. Grateful to you for this, as I am old and cannot travel. My heart is in England, though my body lives in Vermont.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you

[@joann5157]

Another lovely cruise. Thank you!!!

[@LiamHickey2967]

Great relaxing videos keep up the good work from across the sea in the emerald isle.

[@ratroddiesels1981]

we enjoyed your program , lots of bits n bobs to see and watch. we would also be interested in viewing many of the smaller narrowboats too ! cheers : )

[@suzettecalleja3122]

I hope you do a vlog on those tiny boats.

[@CruisingTheCut]

I was going to but it had to be postponed. It will happen one day!

[@CrankyBeach]

So that's what Nuneaton looks like... at least from the water. My maternal grandfather's father was born there in 1852, and at the age of 10 emigrated with his family to Petrolia, Ontario, where my grandfather and mother were born. They in turn emigrated to California in the 1920s. I expect I have some fourth cousins still in Nuneaton, but I don't know who they might be.

[@here_we_go_again2571]

David, thank you. 😊 This trip was so relaxing and was blessed with beautiful scenery 👍(not to mention the cute doggies along the way) 😊

[@marksummerfield357]

It's always nice to see more coming from your end of the world that doesn't contain London stabbing stats and anything brexit related. Although I'm sure people in your world are getting a fair share of negative news from here too. We should pass a law that says anything negative must be followed by something positive from the same area. Probably just a fantasy though. Thanks for the update, look forward to your new videos.

[@nairbvel]

References to KC and the Sunshine Band, Star Trek, the Mamas and the Papas, AND showing us a pub with the same name as a famous local restaurant here on my side of The Pond? No wonder I like your videos! (BTW, the lady who lives across the street from my parents has an alpaca farm & sells the wool -- it's quite nice to the touch & warm to boot.)

[@ourdill]

I live just a few minutes away from the anchor pub and my mum has her narrowboats moored at boot wharf

[@KENDOG419ALSO]

Still Can't get enough.... I'm back cataloguing old vlogs over again... MUST HAVE MORE BEAUTIFUL VISTAS.... and genuinely funny dialog... gasp* no for REAL... great stuff. keep it coming.... PLZ!!

[@geoffupton]

ahhh lovely! watch a cuppa and drink in the surroundings.... hold on, drink a cuppa and watch the surroundings! lol lovely locations... not much different to last time (ok a few differences!) but still very nice 😊 cant wait for the next vid 😊🍰

[@jake2213b]

I just love seeing all the boats. That one with wood was very good looking.

[@anitablades6033]

I had been wondering if you were able to make a boat Cute Like that!!!

[@0HARE]

Thanks for another interesting and pleasant journey. Wishing you well.

[@contrafax]

Love the dogs, so cute.

[@Hartley69]

Great vlog again Dave, looking forward to the rest of the summer following your adventures

[@thedonnybrookghost8394]

A cuppa & cruising the cut perfect 👍

[@susanwaltho4151]

Watching your cruising relaxing

[@JCDiamond]

Thank you for sharing this slice of the cut with us.

[@lynnbigner570]

Yup. That's the way you do it. A great vlog and it's free.

[@anitablades6033]

Retired it gets down to being choosing what you buy.

[@robsin2810]

As usual. A nice one DAVID. Loved the fireman pole idea. The telegraph pole is a SETI antennae in disguise. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺👍👍🥂

[@yeoldegrumpy-git1483]

he'll be thinking he's bruce wayne next to the bat boat

[@Chris_In_Texas]

The pole at 3:45 is for railroad signalling and telegraph lines.

[@getubelogin]

Springwood Haven Marina what very nice people, and the resident Victron Energy engineer is brilliant! He diagnosed a problem with our Inverter Isolation Switch and replaced it whilst we waited, service with a smile, I'd almost forgotten it existed!

[@raymondhayes7673]

Kevin is the engineer there, sorted my electrics in my camper van, very knowledgeable chap.

[@francisvanderhoven9088]

you are a lucky man

[@FiddlingwithmyWhistle]

Hi.... great

[@myhillslife27]

I must say I am not a drinker JUST the Gin and Tonic when desired and don't really like pubs BUT in the UK I loved them, I would love to visit all those along the canal.. What a beautiful finish to a vlog .. thankyou

[@kathleenlench4087]

You always cheer us up a very good video as always

[@pootle2768]

Oooooh that beautiful view on the corner just before the marina with that lovely solitary tree in the foreground and the sea of various greens. Just stunning. I could spend hours just sat drinking that view in (with a lovely hot cup of tea and a few biccies). Thank you for another wonderful vlog

[@deanmills5106]

Thank you, I look forward to all your videos.

[@grayeagleswolves]

That is a Great Video Really wished you could get a tour of the little Blue boat

[@whotknots]

Along with Llama, Alpaca are ruminant members of the Camelid clan who have a nasty habit of spitting their stomach contents at you if you upset them so Beware! I have no idea about anywhere else, but Alpaca are popular in Australia because if you keep a few with a herd of sheep they will protect the flock from the predations of foxes and wayward dogs. When in defensive mode Alpaca can administer punch-like kicks with their front legs that are powerful enough to discourage and even injure the largest dog! Some enterprising farmers even lease them out to other sheep growers particularly during lambing season. I have 'alternate lifestyle' neighbours on an adjoining segment of back fence who have a mated pair of Emus in with their chickens for the same reason! The emus are quite a popular feature with visitors and generally come to the fence to make their peculiar and resonant 'gloomping' noise. If I happen to be down there doing battle with weeds they will often settle down in the corner to watch proceedings and discuss my apparently lacklustre performance. I often toss them a few of their favourite plants such as dandelions and thistles which generally causes a chicken stampede and disgraceful brawl.

[@1258-Eckhart]

2:08 Narrowboat "Pedantic", now there's a vessel after my own heart, I'm tempted to put in a bid. We also have allotments in Germany on the same system (local council) - they're called "Schrebergärten".

[@anthonybelcher8569]

I love your awesome informative videos about where ever you cruising on that day,

[@alanstiles650]

Love the stereo effect on the sound of that oil boat engine as it went past.

[@McRocket]

A lovely video...informative, relaxing and interesting.

[@TheSinnyshinny]

Thanks for the mention!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Love the boat - and the roof!

[@TheSinnyshinny]

@@CruisingTheCut thanks!

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Pure relaxed joy. As always, thank you 😊

[@thegeneralissimo470]

That's an adorable little boat.

[@richardbrabbs8283]

Living life at a nice relaxing pace ☺☺☺