#64 Shhh...Don't Tell Anyone! | The End of the River Great Ouse

[@ben8mag]

I think that duck climbing up that man made water fall was just playing around. That was a good catch. Thanks for sharing with me or us if you like. ❤️

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Thank you for watching and commenting. Have a super week, take care🌻🦋

[@Red-ns9ny]

Was gorgeous as always such beautiful imagery. ❤ thank you

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Thank you so much 🤗🤗 Take care🌻🦋

[@NarrowboatWill]

I'm looking forward to cruising the Ouse. Low bridges but very pretty. Nice

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

I will definitely come back to this river too. Now, I have to make my way all the way back down, but I’m looking forward to it. Take care, Will🦋🌻

[@NarrowboatWill]

@@themindfulnarrowboat Ahh I don't like going back. It's always nicer to go in a ring. Take care Mrs mindful.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

That is true. They are trying to join the river up at Milton Keynes on the GU but the pandemic has slowed that all down.

[@diannemcfayden9068]

It’s so nice to see green in different shades on your cruise! It makes a change from the winter white view from my windows. 😊

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Oh for the return of the green scenes!Thank you so much for watching. Take care 🌻🦋

[@NBStoweAway]

Lol brilliant Vanessa I’ve never rooted for a swan as much as I did for that poor wee soul on the Weir….Brilliant as always 🙏🙏

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

It made no sense to me as to why the swan needed to get to the top of that weir but like you, and all who watched it that evening, we all willed it on and desperately wanted it to make it. It was perfectly fine afterwards and I watched it for a while get up onto the bank. It could have even walked, using the path to the other side of that weir if it had wanted to. Anyway, I will never forget its determination. Thank you for your lovely comment. Enjoy the sunshine, Mr Mutant 🐵! 🌻🦋☀️

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello Vanessa - greetings from Poland. I loved your poem . However, describing yourself as an old lady - never!! What a beautiful video. Poor swan. I hope he/she managed to get out of the weir safely. Your escapades of moth spotting were marvellous. Improvisation at its best. This part of the Ouse is gorgeous. To think that Danes got this far up river is incredible. Thanks so much for all your hard work put into making this vlog.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Hi Michael, thank you so much for another lovely comment and for continuing to watch the vlogs. The River Great Ouse is such a spectacular river and I will most certainly return one day. I am also hoping to spot an elephant hawk moth this year too.🤞🌻🦋 Take care

[@annhay4572]

I love the fun and activity and energy. And I love the peace and quiet, and the lovely music. And I love learning about nature from you. Cool moths inside your boat. Zephyr has been an explorer for centuries!! 🙂

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Thank you so much, Ann! Take care 🦋🌻🤗

[@RDavis-g3s]

Watching that swan 🦢 was i just. Kept watching it' so cool 😎

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

They are amazing birds. Thank you for watching. Take care🦋🌻

[@TheWoodlandhoBo]

Hi Vanessa. Just watched #64 vlog. So pleased you enjoyed the Ouse. I mentioned before that I lived on my narrow boat on the great Ouse for 4 yrs. well that is just a snip of my relationship with this river. From a young child I have been around it. I have walked, cycled, sailed, lived and worked along the whole length for over 40 yrs. From building wooden boats at Hartford marina and fitting out narrow boats to cutting the trees for the EA (I’m a tree surgeon as trade) to cleaning the lock walls…… the list goes on. I grew up in St Neots ( glad you got the pronunciation right 👍🏻) and have lived in Great Barford now for 17 yrs. I will return to boat life one day once I’m well again 🤞🏼. Your secret spot near Barford is an old favourite of ours, we call it “the seat”. This episode made me really smile. Thank you again.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

What a wonderful comment, Tim. It is fascinating to hear about the places that I loved visiting last year and that you named the secret place ‘the seat’. You certainly have had a list of jobs but working with the trees must have been the best surely? I recently read Finding the Mother Tree and I feel very protective about our trees now. You will get better and you will return to the water🤞🤞👍👍🙏Thank you so much for such a lovely comment. Take care🌻🦋🌳🌳

[@TheWoodlandhoBo]

@@themindfulnarrowboat Yes trees are a huge part of my life. I must look that book up. I’m not the strongest reader so I hope there are lots of pictures 😂. Your love for nature is inspiring. Good luck with your travels. I look forward to catching up to your latest adventures. Take care Kindest Tim

[@jillosler9353]

You made it to the end! What a shame the only exit is by retracing your same steps. Will watch with interest to see where your adventures take you next?

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Hi Jill, I don’t mind travelling back as it’s such a beautiful river and we will try to stop in new places, but I did look at the plans to join the river up to the GU and that would be amazing. Now, we will travel down all of the tributaries and take our time to explore them. I think you will have all of the good weather by September for your cruising! Thank you for your lovely comment and take care, Jill.🦋🌻

[@colincox1688]

What a fascinating view you see in the world, we are not on the canals yet, we have decided to buy a boat and live on the canals for a few years. Thank you so much for showing your travels, the Lodes and Barford are where I want to spend my birthday. Nature has a habit of showing itself when you least expect it, and it rarely behaves and puts on a show for us when we ask. Thznk you again for all the hard work you put into your brilliant vlogs. Colin And Heather .

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Hello Colin and Heather and thank you so much for your lovely comment. You have made a very wise decision in buying a boat. Two years living on mine and still I have no desire to move back onto land. You are very right about nature and its surprises. Have a wonderful birthday enjoying the Lodes and Barford. Take care🦋🌻

[@lisabishop4485]

Enjoyed this episode, as always. So relaxing, and educational, too. Coincidentally, a beautiful Luna moth came to visit us in north Georgia, USA, shortly thereafter!

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Hi Lisa, thank you for your lovely comment. You are so lucky to have such a spectacular looking moth on your doorstep! I bet if you tried the sheet experiment you would have an incredible variety. Take care 🌻🦋🦋🦋🦋

[@captaindavejseddon8788]

Hi, earlier this year I cruised to Bedford, but couldn't fit under that final lock so I moored at the bid pyramid swim centre. Thank you for sharing secret mooring, there are so many nooks and islands along that river and I plant crops there like strawberry and asparagus and herbs. My little secret food gardens along the river. One day I will print a map to sell to boaters.. Great video. :)

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Oh Captain Dave, what a lovely thing to do! I started sprinkling native, wild flowers along the towpath a couple of years ago, but have not done that recently; you have inspired me to start doing that again. I love the fact that you have planted edibles and I think putting out a little map is such a wonderful idea. If ever you do, I will help promote it for you. Have a wonderful rest of the weekend, take care.🦋🌻

[@jaybowles112]

The river banks are so beautiful in this part of the world.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

They are aren’t they? Thank you so much for watching. Take care 🌻🦋

[@johnallen148]

Hi Vanessa, great blog beautiful scenery on the way ,yes there is some very low bridges on the way I went once on a yogurt box and it rained so hard when we was in Bedford we was stuck there a week till the river dropped but it was fun ,thank you for a very interesting video,till next time take care keep safe, John 🥇🥇🥵🇬🇧🌹🥂🥂👀👀

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Bedford is a good place to get stuck though as there is a lot nearby. I was stuck in Windsor last year due to flooding which was also a good place to be, sadly the Queen didn’t pop round though! Thank you for your lovely comment. Take care, John.🦋🌻

[@pilpelet100]

You have such amazing perspectives on your boat (and off-boat) life. There's always something new and interesting. Thanks so much for posting.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Thank you so much, Ruth. I am so pleased that you enjoy the vlogs. Have a super week. Take care🦋🌻

[@westerlydiscusvanadis.7884]

Maybe this Powerfull Swan wanted to save energy by walking up? Short flights do consume more fuel.. Last week I had a swan in my lock and locked her to the Oosterschelde. Smart swan to use the lock instead of flying.. Beautiful video again Vanessa, Thank You! Casper, Lockmaster in the Netherlands

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

How wonderful that you assisted a swan up your lock! They are such clever birds aren't they? Thank you for your lovely comment. Take care 🦋🌻

[@nancinowlen3043]

Thank you again… Murphy and I will now look for moths in our back yard, here in Oregon, USA

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

I really hope you have more luck than me! There are some amazing moths out there, Nanci. Let me know if you find any! Thank you for your lovely comment and take care.🦋🌻

[@simon-nb-Betsyray]

Thank u Vanessa for another trip down memory lane 😄, did u stop off for a drink or meal at the Anchor pub at Great Barford? So relaxing there watching the boats. I totally enjoyed watching ur self and India trying to get the moths to land on the white blouse l think all that giggling frightened them off 🤣🤣. Zephyr looks in good health now 😃👍 I'm now looking forward to ur new adventures in these coming weeks, l hope u and the crew have a enjoyable coming week and stay safe. xx 🦢🐛

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Hi Simon, I did indeed eat in the Anchor pub and the food was lovely. It’s such a beautiful place to stop. India and I had such high expectations that we would attract so many of the amazing moths that we’d always wanted to see, and when nothing came and we realised how funny we must look staring at a shirt in the dark, we just got the giggles! I’ll keep trying though. Thank you for your lovely comment and take care, Simon🦋🌻

[@TrogART]

I have a theory that Swans do like to play, I have noticed they will sometimes position themselves in front of the boat to then surf on the bow wave. So I never try to avoid them anymore as we all know they will get out of the way and even enjoy a little surfing dude! Place the torch under the bed sheet, a glowing sanctuary rather than two light sources.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Wise words- thank you very much!👍 Have a super week, take care🌻🦋

[@dianethomas6749]

We loved your vlog Van, we are pleased you checked out that poor swan and identified some moths. Take care Diane, Izzy and Mathilda

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Thank you so much Diane, Izzie and Mathilda! I am so pleased you watched the vlog together. The swan was perfectly healthy just in need of a challenge, I think. Let me know if you find any interesting moths. Take care🦋🌻

[@sianiswack633]

Strong swan rises

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Very poetic! Thank you so much for watching. Take care 🦋🌻

[@lumitoca]

I read some where that moths go to the light because they confuse it for the moon light... maybe if you place the sheet with the light higher...?? Moths aside, great vlog as per usual!!! :D

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

You are right about that theory of the moon. I shall try what you say and see if it works. Thank you for watching and commenting, Miguel. Have a super week🦋🌻

[@Red-ns9ny]

❤😊😂 excellent I think you are supposed to have the light source eminating from the sheet. Connected somehow.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

I need to get some sort of battery pack to power a stronger lightbulb I think. Oh well, it was fun trying. Thank you so much for watching and commenting. Take care🌻🦋

[@allangeorgewainwright3812]

Another intrestlng video it's a shame so many Bridges are so low a big lack of forsight In the 60s and 70s,

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

The bridges after the unnavigable part are even lower and they are trying to extend the river to meet the Grand Union Canal, so they will definitely have to rethink those bridge heights. Still, it’s a great spot to visit. Thank you for watching and for your comment. Take care🦋🌻

[@kristiecolon542]

Beautiful!

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

🤗 Thank you so much, take care🦋🌻

[@Peter-nv3wu]

If all goes well and I am out there cruising as I hope to be next year, that hidden mooring is somewhere I will definitely look out for. But if my luck carries on as it has been for a while now I will probably find that same narrowboat and the same sailing dinghy there too.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Peter, I hope you will be cruising soon too and don’t worry, that boat and dinghy won’t be there because they were mine! I will send you a 🍀 for luck. 🤞for good times ahead. Thank you for your comment and take care🦋🌻

[@Peter-nv3wu]

@@themindfulnarrowboat That hidden away mooring really is something you dream about coming across, it's beautiful beyond words.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

It was but sadly, it’s only a 48 hour mooring. Along this river, unless you moor wild, the moorings are mainly 48 hours.

[@jiloute22]

Good evening Vanessa, if I can allow myself an idea, stretch the sheet and put the lamp behind, I think it could work better, beautiful town Bedford, have a good weekend and a good week.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

I shall put your idea into practice and I’ll let you know if it works. Bedford was a great place to visit. I really enjoyed it there. Thank you for your comment and take care, Jean-Louis.🦋🌻

[@michaelhaagman6815]

Hi Vanessa ..another lovely video of your extensive travels ..Great Barford , yes I’ve fished there just by the bridge on a stretch of water we called Roxton A .. guess that Swan won’t be going back there to the weir anytime soon ..they need a lot of room and distance to take off unlike Geese or Herons .. Loved that little Coracle type boat , they still use them in some parts of the country , although that particular one in your video I would think was designed by Fred Flinstone 😀 Also nice to see your Daughter joining you for a cruise .. hope you all have a nice time Great moth photos ..especially the Canary shouldered thorn .. Take care and Happy Cruising 🌷

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Hi Michael, you really have fished everywhere haven’t you! 😁🐟🐠🐡 I was watching the fish today actually and I thought that I really ought to learn more about the species that we have in our rivers and canals. I started researching about the mussels and did a vlog about it called Canal Monster; not sure if you’ve seen that one? The swan could have flown had it started further down the river as it would have had plenty of space, but for some reason it was intent on climbing that weir, such powerful birds aren’t they? It was interesting what you said about the coracle boats; they must have based their boat design on them. They are lovely looking boats. I’m glad you enjoyed the vlog. Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and comment. Take care🌻🐠

[@barbarabull2672]

Hi Vanessa, we had Old Lady Moths visiting our boat 2 days running! We also saw a most impressive Poplar Hawkmoth sheltering in the shade all day where our boat is berthed at Crick Marina. I support the idea of having the light behind the white sheet. Happy mothing xx

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

That poplar hawkmoth is an impressive looking moth isn’t it? So your moth encounters have been inside your boat too! I will try the light behind the sheet this week and also I might risk the mosquitoes and keep more windows open at night in the hope of some mothy visitors! Thank you so much for your comment, Barbara. Take care🦋🌻

[@alibenkahn5092]

A white sheet with a light BEHIND it is the standard way to attract moths!

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Thank you so much for watching and making a suggestion. I think that I might need to invest in a better quality light as my torch behind the sheet, just wasn't attracting the moths. Take care🦋🌻

[@hereward6771]

Love those imaginative boats. I was once on a cruiser on the Thames and this lad (late teens?) was sailing from one side to the other squatting on a block of polystyrene holding up a sheet of polythene as a sail. Worked perfectly well.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

That sounds brilliant, Hereward! That’s what being young should be all about, innovating sailing boats! Thank you for your comment. Take care🦋🌻

[@enjoyingthejourneycanceras2355]

I hope the swan made it out alright lol.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

It was fine in the end.Thank you so much for watching. Take care 🌻🦋

[@ross6343]

"like an old lady I'd become" - MERCY Vanessa...me thinks your 'youth genes' are aglow! Your moth tracking adventure was a total HOOT - Zephyr added to my giggles;-))). Anyhoo...I noticed my curly leaf parsley was being eaten, looked closely and discovered green and white caterpillars, which turn into Luna moths - I left them to munch away. Interestingly, those caterpillars didn't both my flat leaf parsley. Thanks for the video. Hope you have a great week! Stay safe - be well - many blessings.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Well now, without even trying you have got one of the most spectacular moth caterpillars living with you! What stunning moths they are. Sadly, we don’t have them here, but the Elephant Hawk Moth is one that we do and I would love to see it. Thank you so much for your lovely comment and take care, Ross.

[@ross6343]

@@themindfulnarrowboat Those Luna caterpillars were a first for me; but then, the garden backs into a woodland. After a bit of research, the Luna moth habitat at night centers on woodlands. While I've never seen one in Nature, you are right...the Luna moth is stunningly beautiful! An aside...I believe the presence of those Luna moth caterpillars to be a blessing of sorts from Mother Gaia...an affirmation of my growing understanding of 'my place' - my role - in Nature. Cheers...

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

I think you would do well to try and moth spot in your garden then, as your surrounding habitat sounds perfect. Let me know what else you find.🦋🦋🦋🦋

[@rebeccacook7924]

❤️❤️

[@VidsPhone]

Very professionally done, your vlogs have just the right amount of everything. Your oration projects a career of teaching and/or narration. Have you submitted your vids for consideration by any of the large media channels. Here in the states we have PBS (Public Broadcasting Services) I don't know what you have there in the UK. Since I have been watching your vids on KZbin, I see them in no particular order. Is there a list of them going from earliest to the latest so as to show in the order they were created?

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

That is such a kind comment; thank you so much. I did have a Playlist of all my vlogs in order, so I'll have to see what has happened to that. Have a super rest of the week, take care🌻🦋

[@chrishobbs58]

❤

[@thecanucklehead7351]

I see someone beat me with the top tip Vanessa, shine the light through the sheet and the moths will be attracted to the non light side. I spent 6 months in the Jungle of Northern Sulawesi supporting a Royal Entomological Society expedition Sponsored by the British Natural History Museum, I even have a beetle named after me - unfortunately it was a dung beetle sub species I seem to recall - lol. The expedition was called Project Wallace, Darwin historically beat him to the punch by a matter of months - well worth a research. Stay safe.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Well now, Canucklehead, all this time watching my vlogs and not once have you mentioned this amazing news! I have started reading the research paper from your expedition and it is absolutely fascinating. I shall read the rest this evening. What an exciting year that must have been! Having a creature named after you too, whatever it is, is just brilliant. Is it the Canucklehead Beetle? Thank you so much for such an interesting comment. Have a great week!🦋🌻

[@spencehh]

Hi Venessa. Another great vlog. What map do you use?

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

Hi Spence, thank you for your lovely comment. My map is The Environment Agency River Great Ouse map. It is rather lovely isn’t it, although my map reading skill need some work! I bought it at Northampton Marina. Take care🦋🌻

[@kristinburton4953]

🌿🤎🐛🦋💚🌿

[@johnd7904]

We really would have like seen the outcome of the swan's situation. It was painful to watch.

[@themindfulnarrowboat]

I am so sorry that you found it painful to watch, John but the swan was absolutely fine and I would never have posted the clip if it wasn’t. I watched it swim back, get out onto the bank and shake off its feathers. All feathers looked fine and it looked in good health. I just couldn’t understand why it wanted to walk up the weir like that? Perhaps, I shouldn’t have included it in the edit, or I should have filmed it looking fine at the end. Thank you for your comment, John. Take care🦋🌻