84. Travelling by narrowboat from Braunston to Crick on the Grand Union canal

[@willwilkes6885]

Hello. Your channel has really helped me get through a tough time. I am a heroin addict and I have been clean for 8 days now. I made the decision to get clean, (which isn't an easy thing to do) and to help me keep my mind off of drugs, have been watching all of your videos. I love the outdoors and dream one-day of owning a narrowboat to go up and down the country. Thank you very much for your help getting me through this tough time :)

[@CruisingTheCut]

Hello. Firstly, congratulations on making the decision to go clean, and on doing so. The first week must be impossibly tough, though I cannot imagine it in any realistic way. I am glad the videos have helped and I do wish you the very best in continuing to show the mental and physical strength to continue your path. Cheers

[@robertblake1032]

Your story is very inspirational Will. Many of us come here and use David’s videos as a sort of tonic, a coping tonic as I see it. Things have been a bit more desperate this past year. I too have dreams of narrow boating along the canals of Great Britton. It looks so very nice and inviting. Good luck Will, I’m guessing that you have a support system set up for your situation. I’m in a methadone program here in the states and find it very beneficial. Cheers !

[@niky7197]

well done friend ..

[@andrewodell7395]

Hi there David, Andy here from ACT Boat Moving Services. Lovely video as always, we were chuffed to meet our star of the silver screen on Braunston Locks and even more chuffed to view the advert you so kindly put out there for us on this latest video. Thank you most kindly from us and a big lick and waggy tail from Bosun. Looking forward to bumping into you again. (Not literally of course!) keep up the good work.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks for all the locking!! Give Bosun a pat from me :-)

[@984francis]

Don't forget to secure the anchor chain to the boat before you throw it in the river😬😀

[@roarmaus]

Sped-up lock sequences were great. Hooray for teeny waterfalls whilst the locks were filling.

[@CruisingTheCut]

I wish they were that quick to do in real life...

[@UndergroundOverground]

Just a quick tip that you probably don't need on this occasion, but you may find of use in the future, it's the 'Sheep shank' knot, it's a way of bypassing a piece of damaged rope without untying it, plus it doesn't lose much strength. One day you may find this handy. Thank you for the video :)

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks for that, cheers

[@jamesmills9240]

This is so much fun.........with you doing all the work.

[@simplefoodsimplelife9632]

So lovely I watched it twice. You are looking fit, healthy and happy and might I say younger. Narrow boating agrees with you.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Haha, really? I feel older!!

[@brendahole9575]

We had a scary moment in a tunnel - about halfway through a fairly long one, pitch black & there was a massive bang from the prop. The engine spluttered but kept going thank goodness. We limped the rest of the way through & as soon as we’d come out, we stopped to check the prop. There was an old rubber fender & rope wrapped around it, which could have easily stopped the engine. We were never so pleased to see daylight, it’s scary enough with two folk let alone being on your own!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Yikes, that would be worrying

[@rvertv]

The True Meaning of Tunnel Vision?? beautiful scenery and waterways

[@CruisingTheCut]

Haha, it gets even more beautiful in the next video(s)...

[@ncplantdoctor]

I loved the cruising scenery in this video, so beautiful and relaxing and devoid of spray paint. The time lapse locks were also fun to see. I like the fact that you say where you are for that allows me to follow along on my maps of the English canals, waterexplorer and the CRT site. I guess you could say that I can lock-ate your position. Speaking of which, your chandlery visit to replace the port line begs me to say that I, too, would have been afraid of the frayed line. Enough.

[@CruisingTheCut]

"Lock-ate"! Love it :-)

[@crazyjay7676]

Tip of the day. Always remember to tie the anchors' rope to the boat before you sling it over the side. There will be more top tips like this to follow 😎

[@CruisingTheCut]

Haha, that is indeed very sound advice!

[@shaneanderson1036]

We Aussie’s call those Sand Anchors . The bigger and wider they are the more the anchor can hold . A tip is to use plumbers Teflon tape in the threads of the bow shackles you will use to anchor the chain and recovery ring to it . This will prevent the threads locking up with grit so you can remove the shackles if needed .

[@BrandonDKirkwood]

If it weren't for your channel this American would never even know this existed! been watching for sometime but rarely comment, keep up the great work.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks for watching, glad you like it :-)

[@RobThijssen]

David Johns is to narrowboating what James Bond is to international espionage. Each rivetting adventure leaves me dying to give up my boring sedentary life of motorcycle touring southern Europe's topless beaches in pursuit of the ultimate adventure that is rural England bordering the canal. I aspire to one day follow his exemplary lead.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Shall we swap? :-)

[@for.tax.reasons]

I love your little lock montage it was really cool to watch them all fill up and empty out. Please do more of those if it's not inconvenient.

[@johnbrookes2196]

David that danforth anchor is something I would use in a sailing yacht I did not think you would need one that big for a narrowboat but then again in an emergency with all that weight best to be cautious. I do love your vlogs when your on the move fantastic.

[@CruisingTheCut]

There's lots of debate about anchors on the forums but 15+ tons of steel being pulled towards a weir ... I reckon the bigger the better!

[@Teddy-mj9wd]

I love tunnels,i could go in and out of them all day long😊

[@ShabbyShambles]

You've bought back fond memories of the time we collected our boat from Crick and took it on to the K&A.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Good! Still down there?

[@bsperka]

I've been watching your series and this episode is the best overview of narrowboating so far. Great job! I have many happy memories of narrowboating holiday style between Falkirk and Edinburgh with my family.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you, glad you liked it.

[@SamSitar]

London Boat Girl should watch this episode.

[@RetroTech100]

Great video as always. I love the sped up lock footage.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Good! Cheers

[@atlas7521]

Great video! Keep up the great work!

[@CruisingTheCut]

I hope to!

[@richardoram9271]

going thru the locks at triple speed is kind of neat to watch

[@CruisingTheCut]

I wish I could do them that fast in real life.

[@tootz1950]

That was so pretty. Even the 20 minute tunnel was cool.

[@CruisingTheCut]

And it was, literally, cool inside too :-)

[@edtomassetti1651]

Ahh! Through 84 of your Vlogs, this ancient American has been allowed a vicarious view of life on the UK canals. Thank you so much….. As for the leakage you mentioned, as long as your knees are still dry, there’s always tomorrow to address the situation.

[@CruisingTheCut]

That's canal time for you :-)

[@IanSmith-ge7bo]

Thank you for the most enjoyable No.84 It has brightened our Easter significantly - especially seeing daffodils so late on in the year. My Dorset ones died about six weeks ago. No wonder your solar panels were not as lively as mine were at that time.It's surprising what a little latitude an longitude can do. Your picture quality always amazes me - as does your superb access to broadband.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Hi Ian. That was about a fortnight ago but still plenty about here. That little Sony cam does a great job; broadband is location-specific but I happen to be near a city today :-)

[@pelhamhall9099]

Thanks very much for your Vlogs. I find them so informative, and am sure this is as close as you can get to being out there, in here! I'm in the process of selling my house, and with the equity purchasing a narrowboat. I lost my heart to narrow boating when I was about 10, when I went on board one at Braunston back in the 70s - it belonged to my brother's friend's family. My kids have both grown and left home, and my mother will shortly be going into a care home as I can't provide the care she now needs - so this is the beginning of the rest of my life! Your vlogs have helped with all the homework I've been doing and I've watched them several times over just to make notes! Please keep up the good work (and information vlogs). Maybe one day we might pass each other, I'd like to thank you in person for imparting all your experiences!

[@CruisingTheCut]

I am so pleased you're enjoying the videos and finding them useful. Good luck with your purchase!

[@rolandwolf1327]

Good to see you moving again and it seems a nice way to see the countryside. Might be a bit slow to my taste but when your home travells with you who cares. The time-lapse parts were a welcome novelty. Keep it up please.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Slow is what it's all about! Cheers

[@SamSitar]

looks like a fun canal.

[@annettefournier9655]

Three cheers for Locke Keepers! Hooray, Hip Hip, Hazzar!! Making life a bit easier! Ultimately drier and a whole lot less sore😋😋

[@CruisingTheCut]

Excellent!

[@andynightingale7335]

Nice work, good to be out on the canals with you again. Enjoyed it 👍

[@CruisingTheCut]

:-)

[@megcallea3986]

You made my Friday, which unlike many is my Monday... off to the airport to fly to start my work week... Thanks again!!!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Safe travels :-)

[@blasterstumps7318]

We are excited to see you crusing again. We'll stay tuned. Haven't watched this episode yet but will this evening. Thanks for posting. Mike

[@CruisingTheCut]

Great, cheers

[@0HARE]

Quite the adventure. Thanks for taking us along. Cheers

[@CruisingTheCut]

:-)

[@matthewnickerson3991]

Came across you're channel 3 weeks ago from watching " Country House Gent". I've been binge watching ever since. Keep up the great work.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you!

[@Boating_David]

Loved the timelapse bits!

[@CruisingTheCut]

:-)

[@damnjustassignmeone]

Thanks for posting. I never miss one of your vlogs. Very enjoyable to watch.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers for tuning in

[@user-lx6bl2wd8g]

Another great video and as usual, very informative.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks

[@edenbreckhouse]

I wanted to thank you for your series of videos. Informative and presented with humour and a complete absence of pomposity. I recall walking this route when a couple of years ago I walked the canal network from London to Lancaster for charity. I am now looking into getting a narrowboat and this vlog is incredibly useful. Many thanks.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you. Good luck with your search!

[@lknanml]

Next April you really need to go through the tunnels with a suit of armor and a joust as boats pass by.

[@CruisingTheCut]

:-)

[@alangriffiths7542]

When you do the speeded up sequences, and especially when there are people in shot running around really fast you should have the "Benny Hill" music playing ! Another great video, well done again.

[@CruisingTheCut]

I would get a copyright strike from KZbin and they would "de-monetise" my channel, so not something I'll do!! Cheers

[@randylinn502]

@@CruisingTheCut Bummer!!!!

[@zapfanzapfan]

Just open "Benny Hill" in another window and play it while you watch kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3yZhYuDqNuah8k

[@danonthecut2351]

Another classic CTC. Watched a couple of times and noticed many interesting boats your passing.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers

[@aapp7932]

Great video as usual. I was the cyclist that wouldn't stop talking to you today! Keep up the good work!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Hello Andrew! I was genuinely delighted to chat, thank you for stopping to say hi. Cheers

[@CruisingTheCut]

Oh, and I got a quick glimpse of you on my front-facing camcorder as well so you may even make a brief appearance in a forthcoming vlog... ;-)

[@aapp7932]

I look forward to potentially 5 seconds of fame!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Hmm, maybe not that many. Cheers!

[@garydunlap1733]

Very enjoyable as usual. However, your commentary is what brings me back. Cheers to you!!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you!

[@terrystephens1102]

Loved the music with the sped-up locks segment, thanks David.👍👏👏👏

[@JensChrStrandos]

So great to follow your channel :-)

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks for watching!

[@toms4123]

thank you David, I enjoy your videos immensely

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers Tom

[@timosullivan1]

Another very good and interesting video thanks

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers Tim

[@robprideaux3279]

lovely vlog thanks David

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers Rob

[@HeiwaPaz2000]

From my sofa at home in Alicante and with an awful flu' I have enjoyed your vídeo very much! Gracias!

[@CruisingTheCut]

I hope you get well soon!

[@blaisemarion]

Great episode! Love the fast views of the locks! We want more of these! Keep it up!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Will see what I can do. Next up is a lock-free stretch for a bit.

[@steveseiler8782]

I always enjoy watching you travel the cut cheers

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks

[@judytaylor5400]

What a beautiful episode with all of the blossoms. You are getting really good at steering around those bends!

[@CruisingTheCut]

I am, if I say so myself :-)

[@Etherintoxicated]

CruisingTheCut, And you say so!

[@thomasrb2953]

i find these videos to be quite relaxing! i'm fascinated by living on canals, the coast is too expensive but canals are with in reach and your doing a good job of documenting it, in a tree surgeon and gamekeeper, if your ever in the wiltshire area and need wood for fuel, or some venison steaks for supper, let me know! keep up the cut!!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Wha a splendid offer, thank you! Glad you like the videos.

[@campbellmj9405]

Glad to see you finally figured out adding a valve at the business end of your potable water hose.

[@squidgyquijabo2422]

Your videos always get Full Screen privilege on my pc.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Haha, that's a lovely compliment, thank you

[@MrRobertcoe]

Nice to have you back on the river.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Not quite on the river yet but very, very soon...

[@noodlesmason]

Good to see how much more confident you are with the boat, excellent vid as usual.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers :-)

[@Andrewc87563]

The high speed bit is really good. should do more often.

[@CruisingTheCut]

I will when it seems right!!

[@hikurukutai]

Ran into this channel now I'm hooked started to binge-watching now superman speed is awesome

[@ThorpRJ]

I like the way you went past Braunston marina entrance then past the stop house, a truly remarkable feat considering you were going towards the locks. :-) At 3 mins 55 secs in.

[@SandraNelson063]

It is LAVISHLY beautiful along that canal! Spring certainly puts on quite a splashy show for you. Coming out of those tunnels must be a relief. Happy Easter to you, I hope you have a nice dinner planned.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you. It gets even more lovely in the next vlog :-)

[@flatusinteruptus]

Enjoying your travels , thank you for posting , and do be careful.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Trying my best!!

[@prasantpatel7131]

Great video I enjoyed it well worth watching loved the locks and all so love the fact that you take your time to reply to every one so good of you .

[@CruisingTheCut]

Mostly ;-) cheers!

[@jdknbw]

i loved how you speeded up the video on the locks. dont know if i would enjoy seeing that every time, but it does give you some idea on how many locks you are going thru. nice!!

[@Zeemike1]

Another interesting video.,,love the superman speed up of the lock passage....and the daffodils of spring. It;s going to be a good year for Cruising the Cut.

[@CruisingTheCut]

I hope so!

[@francescosturla1375]

the quality of your reports is improving all the times. this one I really enjoyed especially the "high speed" locks because gave me the feeling of what is a sequence of locks one behind the other. many thanks !

[@CruisingTheCut]

Glad you liked it :-)

[@AwakeLazarus]

I really do enjoy your blog, thank you for posting.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks for watching

[@markjohn4647]

Perfect, thanks for this and all previous vids which I have watched and enjoyed.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Nice one, ta for watching :-)

[@glennyoung1820]

Watching your vlogs is getting me really excited for crick and my own narrowboat journey! I'm 6'2 so hoping I can stand up in one!

[@CruisingTheCut]

It will depend very much on the particular narrowboat fit-out but some will fit you for sure!

[@leemansell8201]

Reference the low voltage light on a 12v fridge... They are VERY susceptible to voltage drop due to wire of insufficient gauge. If you look on a lot do the camper van forums about wiring in compressor fridges you’ll find the issue discussed in detail. The secret, when calculating wire gauge required based on length of cable, is to include the distance of the negative run back to the battery not just to a nearby earth point. The diagnosis is that the fridge shows a low voltage warning (prob at about 11.9v) but the voltage at battery will still be healthy (12.5v or more). If there is a difference it is the wire that is casing the drop out (along with any fuses / switches in the way - albeit clearly a fuse is a necessity).

[@ciaobella8963]

Very cool to see how the locks work from the inside, at Superman speed. Haha.

[@CruisingTheCut]

:-)

[@alanbower1193]

Hi David. Glad to see you started your Grand Tour. I must say that tunnel looked kind of spooky. I'm looking forward to your upcoming videos. Good work.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks Alan

[@glenslater6568]

So far so good, you've now had your boat a year, well done, really enjoying the vlogs and keeping up with your adventures.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks :-)

[@nanpritchard9487]

I so enjoy your adventures...superman speed lock portage and music was fun and meeting the other boat in the Crick tunnel was my first!! I live very near Lake Ontario in New York State, USA, so narrow boating is not something I can do here but thanks for taking me along with you...

[@CruisingTheCut]

I've another "boat in a tunnel" in an upcoming vlog, maybe better filmed. Thanks for watching.

[@DamanCross]

Very good to see you on the move again! Great vid as usual. I look forward to viewing more of them. Cheers!!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks Daman!

[@sylviapage8572]

Another great video with lots of helpful information. We're hiring a boat last week in April and now I can't wait!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Have fun!

[@moondancer5115]

the scenery is so pretty

[@CruisingTheCut]

Oh, just wait..

[@anthonylee6322]

Grappling anchors are for Rocky bottoms . The diamond shaped as you call it is a danford style . Used for mud, sand and such. Always great watching your videos. Cheers.

[@CaptainBee100]

I wish I could do locks that fast 😀

[@CruisingTheCut]

Me too!

[@zapfanzapfan]

3:28 Very pretty bridge. Reminds me slightly of a bridge where my mother grew up, popularly called the "wavy bridge" for obvious reasons.

[@customer7903]

Hi David, many thanks for your very good vlogs. Good point regarding the weed hatch - also having spent many years working at sea I agree with you regarding the danforth anchor - better safe than sorry!!! Looking forward to your next volgs.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Ah good, thanks for the reassurance! Cheers

[@SimonPain]

Love the new well deck camera. :D

[@debbierohde6264]

So pretty when you come out of the tunnels.

[@HMunro1975]

Great video. That trip through the locks was fun although I preferred the music in the first series! Thanks for keeping us posted.

[@CruisingTheCut]

The series music hasn't changed... that was just incidental tunes for the speeded up bits.

[@HMunro1975]

Ah. I meant series of locks. The music from the first set of locks had me tapping my toe but the second bit was a little off.

[@woychck4]

Safe sailing for your journey.

[@rogerbrown5558]

Nice camera positioning for those time lapse shots. Another pleasurable watch.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks. I've taken to sticking my old camera in the well deck, peering through the cratch window (with a MASSIVE battery on it!!) for each trip.

[@annwagner5779]

I love the contrasting lock music. Lovely video!

[@4k8t]

Nicely done. Always enjoy your vlog adventures.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks

[@karlfair]

David, that was fun. I really enjoyed the locking through parts. A word of caution about Danforth anchors. If you're moving when trying to set them, they tend to skip over the bottom. A plow type or a delta set better when moving. If you have to use the Danforth on the run, pay out a good bit of road before you snub the anchor. You should practice this before needing to do it in an emergency. Happy boating.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Good tip and much appreciated though I suspect in the panic of a real emergency I'll end up chucking it over and screaming...

[@MichaelsMustang]

Another enjoyable vlog very educational, the tunnels are a bit of a shock I had no idea some were so long

[@TheRealSmithFamily]

Danforth brand anchors are the best IMO. The imitations aren’t nearly as strong. We used to bend imitations but the real thing never bent. Life on the Mississippi with 7 30+ foot boats on one anchor! 🤫

[@tangerinealarm]

That grey triangular shaped boat looked intriguing and also taller than a lot of others.

[@lynneevans4265]

Hi, I've been binge watching your vlogs, and I have found them very interesting and very watchable, Look forward to your travels around the cut. Can't wait to buy a narrow boat of our own but we are about 2 years away, looking forward to your travels. Happy boating x

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers Lynne!

[@kimclayden3129]

absolutely gutted we missed you! we just bought our boat from braunston a few weeks ago and did the locks and tunnel too!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Dang it! Perhaps our paths will cross some other time :-)

[@christophermumford4694]

thankyou David. really nice to meet you having watched you vlog before .Chris of ACID boat moving services

[@CruisingTheCut]

"ACID"?? Dammit did I get it wrong??

[@christophermumford4694]

CruisingTheCut typo act not acid !!love the footage very well done

[@CruisingTheCut]

Ah, good! Was good to meet you all too. Cheers.

[@leloodallasmultipass]

13:55 ... That is a spooky moment! She's judging you! This was a great video.

[@CruisingTheCut]

:-)

[@TheOompahRoundabout]

Great vid! Those locks would be a pain! But a great lifestyle all the same. ✌🏻👏🏻👍🏻🇦🇺😃

[@CruisingTheCut]

It's all part of the joy :-)

[@Fuzzy1563]

I think all of the lock work would put me off the cruising life-glad that you are having fun!

[@CruisingTheCut]

It can be hard but it's also good exercise and quite satisfying if you take it at a measured pace. Cheers

[@jimfritz8983]

Another great video. Thanks!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Ta

[@1258-Eckhart]

I find your "tunnel-terror" amazingly sympathetic, I have to chuckle, sorry. I'll make an exception for Harecastle, though.

[@CruisingTheCut]

It's more anxiety than terror, if that qualification makes a difference!

[@JoelHudson]

CruisingTheCut anxiety like microterror?

[@AdrianJeens]

Wow what a lot of locks, weed hatch now more extra work, never mind as you said least you have found the problem, two tunnels scary stuff rather you than me lol nice vlog thank you for your time.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers

[@AdrianJeens]

I am surprised the weed hatch was not held down with locking bolts or wing nuts etc.

[@CruisingTheCut]

There's that large metal plank thing which is held in place by a single substantial bolt.