⚡️Battering my way down the Cheshire locks

[@superyachtchef]

Yo - Florida calling, I should be watching the super bowl but instead I'm watching your adventure 🎖

[@walterfoott5105]

Stuff the bowl

[@daleguenther5826]

You didn't miss much...

[@ericfoster3636]

I love the sound of moving water. That was one of the strangest sounds I've ever heard water make...almost "alien" like. That would creep me out if I stumbled upon that at night! LOL Thanks for showing me your Country! I really enjoy seeing your vlogs.

[@davidwright7923]

I am going through a tough period of anxiety at the moment and find your videos relaxing and chilling.I first saw your videos on BBC 4 then found them on KZbin I will now join your crank it crew as thanks keep on cranking!

[@dairyfarmerdan]

One of your best vids yet. Your editing ,music, production and narration is getting better and better 👏👏

[@RobbieCumming]

Thank you!🤓👍

[@EnyawYorlig]

Yes getting better. Nearly ad good as TV!😆

[@RobbieCumming]

Just need a bit of drone footage right 😂👍

[@EnyawYorlig]

@@RobbieCumming And maybe a train or two.

[@1258-Eckhart]

We're still on "full" lockdown (the offices are open, but the gvt. is leaning heavily on employers to use home office) here: These videos make such a good antidote, they're the only way I get to see real countryside.

[@walterfoott5105]

hope you come out of the plandemic soon, dont get jabbed Marcom

[@kerriesowka6666]

Think i need to stop watching these vlogs so late , that hot 🧀 and tomato 🍅 baguette 🥖 made me hungry....but its given me an idea for my lunch tomorrow 👌🏻Thanks for a lovely, relaxing film , perfect to watch while Storm Dudley rages outside 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@paultelegdi2360]

This is the third time I have watched this episode. It gets better each time. I’ve grown to love the canals. The shade of trees reaching over to shake hands with the trees on the other side. The sexy throb of the engine, rebounding from moss covered retaining walls. And once you leave the settled area, the countryside opens up to vista of pastures and distant tree lines. And, of course, I have been revisiting older videos, especially the summer ones for a lift of sunshine.

[@RobbieCumming]

Ah cheers Paul! New one on the way hopefully very soon.

[@robtebay1]

A friend used to moor his ex-working boat in the Malkins arm, and another friend still does!

[@rodnelson2651]

These videos are helping to retain my sanity during lockdown. Great to see, thanks Robbie!

[@lakelady57]

Hey Robbie I found this on one of the CRT sites for the area "The Cheshire Locks, the long flight of locks which drops the canal down from Stoke-on-Trent to the Cheshire Plain, have been mischievously renamed 'Heartbreak Hill' by generations of leisure boaters. This is because the locks are close enough for the lock crew to stay on the towpath, rather than getting back on board... but far enough apart to make serious inroads on your shoe leather. Think of it as a character-building experience." Thanks for sharing and glad you got the batteries sorted although now you are broke :(

[@pedoublewe]

Awesome swishing sound that absolutely lends itself to incorporating into your music. An opportunity not to be missed!!

[@RobbieCumming]

I have made a track based on it… cumming soon!!!

[@stephencb9234]

Agree totally with you Robbie, 'Heartbreak Hill' locks are my most favourite set of locks🤩 I have been up and down them numerous times, not recently, but they look the same since we last visited. The most interesting lock was Thurlwood Steel Lock which I saw still in existence (but not in use) back in the early 1980's when I first started canal cruising - it looked huge and everything was exposed to see how a lock works like the pipes between the paddles and the lock bottom! Shame it got demolished in 1988☹

[@robertyboberty7495]

Just finished watching your BBC Canal boat diaries, really enjoyed it. Loveable natural talent and rapport with the audience. BBC know a good thing.

[@RobbieCumming]

Thanks Rob!

[@judithbarnett2966]

That water/wind is such a strange sound; very cool though. You are clever! Beautiful locks too. It turns out I'm quite the KZbin gongoozler (I love that word)

[@sprintertospain1673]

Just caught on to this brilliant channel. Its the best narrow boat vlog on KZbin. Its real honest and not the usual posh nosh. Brilliant editing and sound. Great to see real life and its simply brilliant. Well done

[@RobbieCumming]

Thank you Kenny I’m so glad you enjoy it 🤓👍

[@sprintertospain1673]

@@RobbieCumming Well Robbie, im currently in Portugal in my truck waiting for monday so i can deliver my cat food!! Im stuck in services at Aveiro and watching your brilliant videos. When i return on the 18th we are viewing a 60ft semi trad in Manchester that's a bit of a project. All goes well on the day, we are going to buy papillon and make a start on her amd our new way of life. Your vlogs are by far the most interesting and real life we have seen and our hats go off to you. We would like to keep in touch and let you know how we are progressing from the 18th ok. Thank you for the reply and keep cranking!!

[@RobbieCumming]

Nice one kenny - have a safe journey back - and hey maybe start your own vlog?!

[@ceeceety2320]

Out of all the narrowboat channels I've seen, yours is the first to show me the cascading old locks. Not sure if I'm saying that correctly. Also, wanted to tell you about a channel that is all about solar energy and wiring, etc... This young man is so knowledgeable it's mind blowing. Just look up Will Prowse the next time you're having an issue. I'm glad you got it all sorted out, but that had to cost a pretty penny as we say here in the states. Thanks for sharing all of that amazing scenery with the beautiful, and your editing is excellent!

[@RobbieCumming]

Cheers appreciate that, thanks for watching!

[@OldNickHindle]

Loved the sound of Hawkwind coming from the lock drain!

[@malcolmelliott1876]

i fear not many will remember them.. unless you mention Lemmy and Ginger

[@flossey100]

Lovely video Robbie and enjoying the eerie atmospheric ghosting echoes from traditional canal workers...xxxx

[@Tinhare]

Great pair of batteries there Robbie, you'll enjoy having the extra capacity. Don't forget to keep the water up to them though. That arm at Malkin Bank used to be for the Works that were there. Whitehall Works (salt) went between the two locks (63 & 64) below the arm. From the arm stretching up past the previous two locks (62 & 61) was Malkin's Works (salt) and then above that between 61 & 60 was Wheelock Works (salt) which also had a couple of arms. Beyond Malkin's Works there was a Chemical Works and beyond all of these Works was a huge goods yard serving them. It was part of the NSR Sandbach Branch. All gone now and replaced by the golf course. Wonder no more. Thanks for the vlog.

[@RobbieCumming]

He he cheers man yeah I remember calling you whilst checking the levels 🤦‍♂️ I think I learned this time. So many salt works in this part of the country will have to say something about that in the next vlog! Cheers mate!!

[@cozypowell1679]

About malkins bank, the area of what's known as makins bank used to be a industrial area in the times when there was salt production ,it's now a council run golf club ,the canal used to pass just behind the hut where we drank tea , Sandbach is famous for truck building ERFs and fodens now sadly both gone

[@stilcrazychris]

Yeah, all new power congratulations. My problem is I hate buying batteries. My fish & ski boat takes 3 large deep cell batteries & @ $100.00 a pop sucks. Glad your all set for a few years now. Better be more then a few years on those puppies. GREAT video. Happy boating & crank on by friend from across the pond, Chris from Missouri P.S. that green wood is not going to burn very well & not put of any heat for you. You need to let it season about a year to get all the moisture out of them. They will be better next year to burn forsure. It will gunk up your chimley to & catch on fire if your not careful & burn your boat down & I'm sure you don't want that to happen. I've been burning wood for 45 years & our neighbor burnt some green wood & burnt his house down. It was bad. Be careful hun.......

[@RobbieCumming]

Don’t worry chris I’m not burning that wood until it’s ready

[@roydavies7010]

Shame the Commercial pub wasn't open in Wheelock Robbie, had some good sessions in there. Original fittings at the bar, a real character pub, it als has a connection to the canals.

[@michaelpilling9659]

Another superb video Robbie - thank you. I agree with you; that downward journey through The Cheshire Locks was very enjoyable. Your photography and film work made the video even more enjoyable to watch.

[@philcowdall9399]

I know you care about the environment Robbie so when you see freshly cut logs (Beech I think) like that be sure to season them before burning, which may well take 1 yr! - prob why they were left! - if you burn them green, not only are you releasing various particulates into the atmosphere (which may well be illegal in certain places), it will smoke more and green wood produces creosote when burnt so if you regularly burn green wood in your log burner, the lining of you chimney will get coated with creosote which can knacker it up. Try to burn seasoned wood with less than 20% moisture content. A moisture meter is useful and cheap (

[@Riddlestar01]

Robbie, at 13:40:: The small harbor at Malkin was formerly a wharf for Malkin Bank Works (salt works) and Chemical Works left and right from the branch. There were a lot of tracks there too. From then 5 branches, nowadays only the one you showed is left. Today there is a golf course on it.

[@RobbieCumming]

Interesting thank you Juergen

[@grahamcarter5363]

Hi Robbie. I have just watched your video of the Cheshire canals and in particular whilst you were at Malkins bank side arm. My grandfather was born on a canal barge at malkins bank in the 1890's...... Having watched your video I assume in the side arm so thank you for showing it..

[@lisabethastell4704]

Loved the base imitating the engine at 15.0

[@LYarma]

'Nother great vid, Robbie -- got me thinking about soundwaves and physics, this one! Equalising the pressure on the gate so it would open reminded me of that rule they tell you for if yer car goes off the road into water -- if you don't have a slidey sunroof or whatnot, you have to let the water into the car, otherwise good luck opening the door (with air on one side) against the pressure of water from the other.

[@Boodangle]

Eagerly awaits the Robbie Cumming sci-fi prog rock double LP gatefold sleeve release . . .

[@Boating_David]

Ed is brilliant I'd recommend him too he repaired my diesel stove last summer and it's still going perfectly ! 👏👏👏

[@grahamlewis6062]

Hey Robbie not only great to see the last of the November green. But your capture of the water sound was amazing Thanks Joan

[@davewright3088]

Thanks for this one, always makes Monday at the computer a little easier to take..! 5 years on flooded lead-acid deep cycle is about par, still the best dollars-per-watthour-year if you don't have to go weeks off-charge. The funny sound on the weir is the drain pipe acting as a tuned filter to the wind noise. As water waves go down the pipe they change the tuning, high to low. Look at it on spectrogram with waterfall. Anyway, off to see the M/V Kitty Hawk and get ready for the freezeup here on the Ohio River. Cheers..!

[@Rose-Willow]

Interesting noise from the bypass weir. Nice to be going under the m6 rather than driving on it!

[@sylviapage8572]

Great to catch up with your travels. Your new battery set up looks good.

[@RobbieCumming]

Thanks Sylvia yes i just have to take good care of it now!

[@DCCNAT]

Great video. Love this one, recognising many of the places. I never fail to be amazed by the variation in locks, bypasses, basins, etc. I find it fascinating. In non-covid times I'm lucky enough to join friends for a week each year on the canals.

[@craigelliott4338]

Robbie, if you see this, hit me up. I cannot believe this has happened!!! It must be an act of God. Your batteries going and their subsequent replacement and more importantly the installation of a 12v socket... I cant say too much in public, however, I’ve invented something awesome, specifically with narrowboaters in mind. I must have finished it as your battery went south...Im still testing it but so far so good. Id love for you to be the 1st person to try it out mate. If it goes well, you can keep it for free and I promise it will improve your cranking for ever... im so excited! I nearly messaged the Silver Fox Boys instead but I thought I need to ask Robbie if he has a 12v socket first. Lol I chose the right video to comment on by the looks of it...

[@RobbieCumming]

He he sounds exciting Craig yeah send me an email if you can (should find it in about section) - look forward to hearing more!

[@craigelliott4338]

I cant seem to find it, can you find me on Facebook. Same face, no top on...🙈🙈🙈

[@RobbieCumming]

Sorry Craig no shirt no die man! Ha ha er how about Twitter I’m not on Facebook!

[@craigelliott4338]

@@RobbieCumming im now on twitter, I take it you have to follow me to receive inbox? Its CraigEl18625467 (me without a beard and a clue in the bio.)

[@bdh3949]

Nice one here Robbie. I've watched all of your recent ones and I am going back to warch the older ones (about half-way done). I'm crankinit.

[@RobbieCumming]

Nice one so glad to hear #keepcrankingit

[@MB-rp2qg]

Brilliant Robbie as always. Waking up in Eastern Canada today to more snow. Stay safe. Always encouraged to see your videos and hear your voice.

[@bigKDL]

Hi another good vlog just thought I might say that when I first started narrowboating we kept hearing about this flight of locks called heartbreak hill and thought we must try and do them to see how bad they were when we found out where they were we realised we had already done them several times so we have no idea why they are called that as they are one of the best and easiest flights on the cut to do up or down always a pleasure

[@RustyManisduckman]

Very well done vlog. Robbie your editing has become so much better from when I first started watching 3 years ago or so. Not an iPhone user(more of an android guy), but can't believe all you use is the iPhone. It does have a great camera they say. Looking so forward to your next vlog. Cheers Rusty

[@RobbieCumming]

Cheers Rusty!

[@DeanPorterEsq]

Another great video Robbie, I love your videos & hope you are well. I categorised your video's as essential viewing buddy.

[@malkauczok66]

Another great video Robbie, i look forward to your next instalment, stay warm and safe, PS, that cheese and tomato melt looks delish...

[@rigbyUnbound]

that sound from the weir was awesome.. i thought you were pulling our leg at first.. who needs a theremin when you have mysterious meteorological forces at your door! maybe use it in a song? but how strange.. you toast your cheese under the tomato ;) great post as always cheers

[@RobbieCumming]

Awesome isn’t. Doesn’t really work as a sample but I’ve given it a go! Ahh damn I knew I’d something wrong with it🧀 🍅

[@andyb9555]

That timelapse was mesmerising! And that sound from the bywash, straight out of a Prog record, haha! Ace video!

[@RobbieCumming]

Thanks Andy!🤓👍

[@mommahil4323]

Gorgeous footage Robbie - you catch us up in your enthusiasm - and the sound of that overflow - weird. Sorry - I laughed out loud at the water going down your chimney - conspiracy or what??

[@stecosgrove3779]

Another brilliant video, Robbie 👍

[@araneus1]

Thank you for taking us along with you.

[@livinglifeinthenorth8512]

Open faced cheese and tomato how delicious!! We love it!

[@davidsedlickas8222]

Ouch ! Robbie Still, your good to go now ! It's peace of mind cast away in a sea of tranquility albeit on a canal for the time being. It's happy hour when you post or should I say 20 minutes or so. Keep safe,dry, warm and virus free. Waiting for the next crank it crew !

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

You will like those T145 batteries. Good choice. I get 8-10 years out of them IF I look after their electrolyte levels once a month. Thanks for the video.

[@RobbieCumming]

I think that’s how i killed the first ones - not topping them up regularly enough!😂

[@leemarsh4473]

I called Ed only last week, a friend gave me his details as my Hurricane boiler was playing up. He couldn’t help but put me in touch with a chap that could, after pulling my hair out, frustrated that the problem persisted even after spending a lot of money on parts that I didn’t need. Great videos as always, many thanks.

[@carolynabramo7108]

22.8k Robbie!!! Congrats. Lovely vlog. So good to see you.

[@ade9685]

Brilliant that Rob loads of great content and some good tunes as normal. Keep um coming. Cheers Ade

[@ianofsjkartwork]

That was a interesting vlog Robbie.........that Sandwich looked delicious..........roll on the next vlog..........stay safe......thanks for sharing

[@stephenbibby8650]

Great video as always Robbie. Love the accompanying music. Can’t wait to get back on the canals myself 👍

[@JMS98989]

Loving the toasted sandwich 🥪 🥰😅

[@walterfoott5105]

Cool good to see you, and the naughty lass obviously out of lockdown and on the crawl, i mean cranking it again Robbie ! hey there is a book by the name *The Bishops Wife* oh i just spotted the date Nov2020. Just dont take the jab Robbie if you research you will see why not, stay safe hope to see you cranking it soon. Wal (-;

[@MrCptjohn]

Nice one Robbie,hope you are keeping well mate,take care and be safe.👩‍✈️👌👍

[@wsatnutter9674]

good to see you going strong

[@dereklonewolf9011]

Got my coffee n Robbie crankin it on. It's too cool for outside work almost minus - 50 c 🇨🇦 71+ Yorkshire expat

[@dereklonewolf9011]

Keep warm kid 🔥 pirate wood is always the warmest 🍁😅

[@laknox88]

Hey, Robbie. Great to see a new video! Hope you're staying sane and getting to see "your girls" once in a while!

[@dr_gimpy]

Hi Robbie. I've been following your videos for a couple of weeks. I'm fascinated with your videos and narrowboating.i enjoy the style of your videos. We don't get to see narrowboats here on Canada's west coast which is very mountainous.

[@kitwest61]

Another lovely bit of filming Robbie. Thanks I went up the locks late last Spring, and each one had a small trophy cup placed at the mid pointy bit of the lock as you leave them (going up) I guess they'd all gone by the autumn?

[@RobbieCumming]

Wow wonder why?!

[@kitwest61]

@@RobbieCumming I wondered why as well. They were all different styles and shapes. I kind of thought they might have been in homage to the NHS...but no one I spoke to knew. It was interesting and thought provoking though

[@nathanberry4339]

hi mate glad to see you sorted your batteries out and your safe and well and keeping warm

[@martinrose241]

When I was getting an engine for my boat I went over the locks at Hassal Green, I didn't know where or what canal at the time, but decided that moment I had to take the boat under the M6. I'm counting down the days now till May.

[@stevescet]

That butty looks better than some of the Subway ones I've had 😁👍

[@davidsedlickas8222]

It's me again Robbie I didn't get to the end of the vlog before hearing you mention canal water ! Alan Denman " life on a Narrow Boat decided to use canal water for his needs. In one of his vlogs he demonstrated the water filtration system. NOT CHEAP £2k + but it works.

[@RobbieCumming]

Great thank you david!

[@prevvies1743]

Great vlog thanks.

[@dulciebarnes6228]

Ed fitted our solar panels and did a brilliant job. 👍

[@joepineapples7774]

Capt Paranoia always kicks in with me, every time I see the long camera shots of Naughty Lass with Robbie onboard. 🤔 'Someone's going to nick that camera'

[@RobbieCumming]

And there I was trying to create videos to alleviate anxiety 🙈

[@johnmac6202]

Hi Robbie, Yep I enjoyed your trip, but come to the conclusion I don"t see many of your guests helping you these days. I am still bogged down in New Zealand, but as soon as restrictions are lifted I will be on my way, I reckon later this year .My first boat trip will be to Nottingham my home town. My goal is to get there and have a drink of real ale and get to meet a few bloggers, and at that time who knows where you might be. Blessings John, Kiaora mi

[@socklesslad]

Most if not all of the locks on that section were double at one time. When walking along that section if I come across a place where only one lock is in use I've enjoyed trying to figure out what's happened to the other. Sometimes it's obvious (like when the lock is just fenced off out of use) but it's not always so easy!

[@bernardgraves3609]

Great video - my last journey (before present lockdown) was through these very same set of locks, can't wait to get cruising again. Good luck.

[@sheryld1957]

Glad you got your batteries all sorted out. Seems like cars, boats, houses, all seem to know if you have 2 cents to your name. Hopefully no more repairs for a while

[@anitablades6033]

Extra money is what you have just before you transport breaks down. True no matter which side of the pond your on.

[@dave64340]

Yeah I’m digging your music .

[@user-fz3sz2dj4r]

I always crack a beer to drink for pub of the week haha. This week in Vancouver , Red truck beer - New England hazy IPA. Cheers !

[@RobbieCumming]

🤓🍺

[@rontanser9369]

Thanks that was an interesting video you certainly don’t need to go to a gym all the work you had to put in to open and close all those locks

[@RetroRatz]

Nice vlog, enjoyed watching. Many thanks 👍

[@d.o8616]

That weird and wonderful accidental sound effect reminded me of a ray gun sound from a 50s or 60s sci fi movie. I was a kid again hoping the 21st Century would be like the Jetsons. More like Bladerunner meets The Omega Man the more it goes on 🤣 Another enjoyable vlog, Robbie. Best wishes, David O' ✊🍻

[@Tandan.]

very nice vlog

[@simonrashbrook7316]

Have been over those locks so many times in the M6 so envious of the people on the canal. Envious of the slower pace of life

[@RonHei]

Ha ha! “Battering your way”. I’m sorry the cost battered you. Another great video tho. I can’t wait for the next one.

[@RobbieCumming]

Cheers Ron!🤓👍

[@nilo70]

Cheers from California Robbie !

[@Soothing_SoundsASMR]

Hi Robbie, Malkins Bank side arm is Malkins Bank Canal Services, boat builders and repairs, I would have given you hand down that stretch of the cut my part of the world👍

[@RobbieCumming]

Ah brill cheers Mark much appreciated 🤓👍

[@Soothing_SoundsASMR]

You’re very welcome Robbie, when you’re passing Wheelock again moor up and head to Sandbach, plenty of pubs, and a Aldi you could catch a bus near to where the Cheshire Cheese pub is, Stay safe and thank you for the great vlogs🍺👍

[@julesbe3552]

I'm impressed how, after so many vlogs, you still find new angles to film from and details to pay attention to. Love the part about the sound and the making-of. Couldn't it also be the sound a swirl makes, like when you empty a sink? The water did run into a smaller hole, didn't it?

[@DavidGCroft]

Really enjoyed it Robbie.

[@terryrigden4860]

Rob. Don't believe the percentage charged display, it will mislead you into under charging your new batteries. Instead monitor the voltage and current during charging, you can consider them charged when the voltage is above 14.2V and the current has dropped to less than 1.5% of the capacity. I've got the same monitor and have turned off the TTG and %charged display

[@Stipperstone]

I hope that you will feel able to make another BBC "Canal Boat Diaries" series. The first two were excellent.

[@RobbieCumming]

Cheers Alan, I’m definitely up for it, it’s hard work but a dream job. It’s up to the BBC now, hopefully ratings will be good enough to secure another series

[@WingingItBoatingonaBudget]

The water going down the chimney almost gave you a free sauna!

[@RobbieCumming]

Oh yes could do with one of them!

[@paulayala4816]

I bet you can turn the sound from the water flowing through the weir into some background music. I have heard that same sound coming from the pipe works at the wastewater plant where I work and it too was just downstream from a weir.

[@iainbrooks6558]

Ed is AMAZING! So are you, obvs...

[@imranzazai7404]

Nice place.

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

I hope you're able to watch BBC4 right now - lovely canal documentary on :-)

[@lizjones8984]

You could use that noise the side wash made as a backdrop to some of your music? 👍

[@jules9303]

Top video 😊

[@NarrowboatWill]

I managed to buy 4 6v deep cycle batteries for £160 I was nieve and thought I was being ripped off until I found what they cost new. The guy said he bought them for his beach hut but never really used them. Still good two years later. Bargain but I do have to top them up alot with distilled water.

[@ericgoodall7089]

I hope your tucked up somewhere cosy robbie cos the weather is turning drastically now.

[@anitablades6033]

Are you getting something like the Northern we're getting here in the States???

[@ericgoodall7089]

@@anitablades6033 Well we dont get extreme weather like you do in the northern states and canada, we generally just get crappy pissy wet weather all year round, but today we have snow and with the windchill its prob about -6 or 7c outside

[@junco477]

Ah Robbie, you do a proper job. Thanks.

[@davidapp3730]

Enjoyed the cruise. The time you were off the boat earlier in the year probable did not help your batteries. Best to know when you need professional help especially with electrical work. You don't want to let the smoke out. Is going up the locks harder than down. Would seem to be the same as you have to do the sluices, open and close the gates either way.

[@RobbieCumming]

Bear in mind the solar panels keep the batteries topped up, however even when I was onboard I had let the water levels drop too low

[@danpoxon2425]

Old batteries are worth about £5-6 for normal size car batteries but leisure batteries being bigger should be worth more at your local scrap yard always worth scraping them puts a few quid back in the back pocket

[@RobbieCumming]

They are worth more yes but I decided to donate to Ed to help cover his costs (drove out to me twice and helped order/took delivery of the new batteries)