274. Narrowboat cruising on the Grand Union Canal

A long-standing viewer of this channel was kind enough to offer me a day trip on her boat as she came along the Grand Union canal from Gayton to Weedon, so of course I jumped at the chance.
For the (almost) uninterrupted bow-camera video, all three hours of it, see • 274A Not a Vlog - real...
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Theme music: "Vespers" by Topher Mohr and Alex Alena, from the KZbin music library
#narrowboat #canal #cruisingthecut #rivers #offgrid #liveaboard

[@emmachonofsky7587]

It was lovely having you on board! Thanks for coming :)

[@tinplategeektoo]

Thank you for letting us share your pride and joy. Hope you have many happy years cruising the cut.

[@robertadams2857]

Congrats on your narrow boat. Happy cruising.

[@danielueblacker9118]

Please consider starting a KZbin Channel.

[@stephencoster9532]

Hiya Emma, a lovely boat, thank you for sharing her with us. One point, if I may? Anything shading the panels on the roof will kill most of the power from that one, yes even that tiny bit of line will stop it from producing volts. I'm an ex-electrician. Stay safe, Steve...

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

Happy cruising, Emma. Here's hoping you are never going to run out of space to stow just that one more book ;-) I can't think of anything more enjoyable on a cold winter-evening than sitting back in front of a fired stove with a good book in my hands and a cup of tea to go along with it. Well, except maybe for some pleasant company to share that moment with. Have you considered taking on a cat? Edit: Also, nice choice of name. I knew I had read it somewhere years ago, but it took me a bit of digging until i remembered who he was. Just make sure not to get anyone named Sven aboard - lest history repeat itself ;-)

[@sehfisch2350]

"headless doll named marie antoinette" this is the best named toy ever

[@slicklandy7819]

The young generation full-time narrowboating...love it. Well done, Emma.

[@CruisingTheCut]

People sometimes ask in the comments “where are the young narrowboaters?” so I shall point them to this video

[@shardlake]

Emma has a lovely home, and has now had NB Royalty onboard, a story she can tell for years, and we got to see a cruise, what is not to love :)

[@charlesxix]

I must say that your vlogs since selling your boat have not disappointing. Thanks.

[@fionaparks8691]

So pleased you did this vlog with Emma. We first met her the day after she bought the boat & we did the Stoke Bruerne locks with her. One of the first things she told us was that you were her inspiration for living the narrowboat life 😊 We've kept in touch, she's such an amazing, kind, independent young woman.

[@stephenpegum9776]

Aha - I see your clever master plan in action David ! Sell up your own boat & then use your extensive CTC contacts to get regular trips on other people's boats. Very clever !! 😎

[@CruisingTheCut]

Yup!

[@kathyjohnson2043]

And no maintenance, unless someone ropes you in to helping

[@Martin-se3ij]

NICE! With "Cruising the Cut" "The Narrowboat Experience" and "Foxes Afloat" all throwing their towels in when it comes to living on a narrow boat - I look forward to Emma starting a vlog.

[@billyslide7645]

What a pleasant VLOG. David you are a gentleman, both in your original answer to her query, and accepting her invitation. Truly. I most also say, I admire your executive management style, taking on top jobs as eating biscuits and entertaining the commodore so others are unencumbered with distractions while performing other tasks 😊

[@CruisingTheCut]

It’s a tough job 🤣🤣

[@karlmoles6530]

Ah to be young again, I would 100% emigrate to England and live on a Narrowboat. What a lovely life to lead.

[@CruisingTheCut]

😀

[@darrenwilson8042]

Good to see Emma knew what she wanted and achieved her goal - very good luck to her

[@CruisingTheCut]

Absolutely!

[@sidneybowerman558]

The videos you produce on the canals and narrowboats David should be sponsored by the NHS. I feel much more relaxed after having watched them.

[@michaelXXLF]

A headless toy doll called Marie Antoinette! Good thing I sat on the veranda when I just spit out my drink from laughing so hard! 🤣

[@BadMonkeyTouring]

Love seeing you back on the cut David. It's nice to see a younger person taking interest in narrowboating. I fear that unless more young folks do so, this lifestyle will die off in the coming years.

[@rogerwoodhouse7945]

Not while the 'midlife crises' syndrome exists.It can only continue!

[@mid-niteryders5523]

Here's wishing Emma all the best. Thanks David, always love the ride.

[@carolinebutcher8160]

That was such a lovely vlog! Great to see such an empowered young woman managing her life and career on a narrow boat, and lovely to see you on the water taking the tiller! Great photography too. Will definitely watch the silent version from the bowcam. Thanks David....really enjoyable x

[@gregdixon5848]

You haven't lost your touch at the tiller or camera David. Brings back some great memories. Can we stay tuned for Emma and David on The Wash or Scarecastle next?

[@joenke9]

the commentating was top notch as usual. all the puns keeps us the wievers happiness in a high altitude.

[@lelandbradley1076]

Very nice! Great to do a little cruising the cut again with David. You have not lost any of your ability to put together a cruising video. You could probably spend a season cruising from one boat to the next with every owner pleased to have you aboard.

[@rebeccamackey4878]

Mary Antoinette we love this kiddo 🥰

[@rebeccamackey4878]

@Jonathan kwabquack Or maybe they are just two interesting ppl with are shared love of narrowboats as they portray themselves not everything has to evolve into a physical relationship and its none of our business if that did happen..

[@paulhoughton5266]

Great to see a youngster giving canal boat living a go, big thumbs up

[@lellymills]

A very enjoyable watch, David and Emma! Lovely to see some younger people, especially women, taking to canal life. 👍❤️

[@leswallace2426]

What a very, very kind thing for Emma to invite you, I bet you really enjoyed your wee spell back on the tiller.. This was so much like your earlier videos, but with an added little twist so extra enjoyable. Thanks.

[@englishmaninfrance661]

Ethel the Unready , love it :) Well done Emma , AND for providing Digestifs :)

[@stanleybaker6989]

Lovely boat and owner. Glad to see a fresh new face on the canal. However, as a retired automotive technician, I would recommend the drive couplings and prop shaft be checked for excess clearances based on the mechanical rattle from the drivetrain. Great vlog as usual....Cheers!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Ah, cheers, the boat’s about to be attended to in that regard as it happens

[@emmachonofsky7587]

Don't worry, I'm on it! I have a lovely new prop going on next week :)

[@TheoneandonlyJobis]

Emma and Ethel are both beautiful. As a disabled Iraq war veteran with way too much time on my hands this is my dream.

[@evelynsutton4411]

l love this young lady's sense of humour! All best wishes to her.

[@ralfsstuff]

Thank you. I found these videos randomly and I just can't stop watching them. I absolutely love the tranquility of these canals and your relaxed way of presenting. Really makes me want to go on Holiday before University kicks of. Even just sitting there, staring at the water will do. Love and my greatest respect from western Germany. You're certainly living the good life.😁👍

[@rkeith4442]

Emma is a sweetheart, you can tell she loves narrow boating !🇺🇸😃

[@detroitredneckdetroitredne6674]

Hello from Detroit Michigan USA 94/275 thank you for taking us on your adventure

[@darter216]

Detroit also just north of It…..

[@NeverlandSystemZor]

I LOVE to see the younger generation taking up the lifestyle and helping keep that fascinating history!

[@LawrenceBroussard]

A person will be surprised when a kindness will be remembered years later.

[@thejerseylady1]

Love the name of this narrow boat. I love how you find ways to take us out on the water even though you're not a boat owner at the present time. Thanks for taking us along on this little adventure. Gloria 🐂

[@lawrenberghanson4401]

That was sweet of you David. I am sure when you started this channel, you didn't think much of it but you have inspired people. Thanks for making Cruising the Cut!

[@jennyjansen754]

Another narrow boat girl named Emma! Wonderful!

[@rswpt]

Thank you David for the wonderful video and for sharing with us the peace of the Canals, i was very happy to see a younger person having interest in the narrowboat lifestyle, we need a whole new generation of Emma's to keep this UK's national treasure on

[@Margaret_J]

Lovely to see this Great name for this lovely boat But hey no cheese sandwich!! 🥪 😊 Good to meet Emma here Thanks David

[@TheRealBelisariusCawl]

You’re a good man Charlie Brown. If we don’t help the next generation we can’t very well complain if they turn out sour. Good on ya for assisting this kid. 👍👍

[@rareairvideos3070]

Very cool to see her cranking it out there. Wonderfully happy video. Love the brass plate bit.

[@pauln2141]

Pure gentleman David, thats why you were invited. Thank you both.

[@davidhornbek3356]

David, you've inspired the next generation, bravo! Emma, your love of reading really shines through...you are so well-spoken, quite bright, and interesting...reminds me of another narrowboater/vandemoniumer (is that a word?). Happy cruising!

[@rogercarroll8764]

It's nice to see new being added to the narrowboat gang. Highty ho from USA. 😊

[@danielueblacker9118]

Emma a wonderful person, maybe the future is not all gloom and doom.

[@jeffebdy]

What a wonderful hit of nostalgia! The only thing missing was the cheese sandwich Edit: I admire Emma for doing something I'm still weighing up... and you managed to throw in The Commodore!!

[@davidjones8680]

This was a delightful watch David, its made me realise just how much I miss seeing you on your boat. David in Dudley.

[@macmcelroy6165]

Emma loves the same things about narrowboating that you once loved David

[@CruisingTheCut]

I still love the peace and tranquility of the canals

[@kevanhollidge164]

@@CruisingTheCut , my outlook on narrow boating was formed many years ago, l hired a medium sized boat at foxton locks. My wife had sadly passed away the previous year, so this was a opportunity to get away from the humdrum of modern day living. I took my two youngest children and my sisters son, all where under 10 years old, it was a fabulous experience. I'd never done boating before, so navigating up those many locks at foxton was heavenly 😊 Then cruising under the M1 with vehicles going at 80 mph in the fast lane world, then us chugging along peacefully at 4 mph in the slow lane of canel tranquility, truly blissful.

[@MrSheckstr]

What a clever way to have double the useable solar at an optimal angle on the Dover

[@CruisingTheCut]

Yes!

[@jasonreynolds6643]

That was a great video! It is cool to see young people enjoying narrow boating!

[@okbanlon]

A very nice little outing with Emma! Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@howardwhitney9314]

Good for you David and good for Emma. We don’t do Facebook or Instagram. But kudos for trying something new.

[@jamesellsworth9673]

SOMEONE is getting a good bit of cruising this season without having to OWN a boat!😊

[@hughcarson6837]

Well done Emma and you David another great vlog.

[@JeghedderThomas]

A pleasant outing with a pleasant person.

[@davidcadden9478]

Wow...You passed my purple boat at Gayton. 😀

[@reneedaniel2881]

Absolutely love watching your videos ❤️

[@stewedwards3122]

David…I found your channel by accident and have never left. I am working my way through your back catalogue and find it all strangely addictive. I have absolutely no experience of narrow boating but marvel at the victorian masterpiece that you navigate. Have the narrowboat community adopted “what three words”, the app that can fix your location to within 3sqM, excellent for medical emergencies and also if friends, family or maintenance/supply/breakdown services need to locate you accurately. Kind regards Stew

[@CruisingTheCut]

Yes, some people use it

[@KarlKarsnark]

This is one of my all-time favorite video titles on KZbin. The punnier, the better, I say. Cheers from FL, USA.

[@TheJimcrooks800]

What a lovely gesture of thanks to you David. And what a lovely ambition for Emma to have fulfilled. Always a relaxing pleasure to join you on the waterways for a wee while.

[@JonBrazelton]

I love the fact that KZbin’s Transcript feature reports the engine noise as [Music].

[@CruisingTheCut]

🤣 And I went to all the bother of uploading subtitles etc. Sigh.

[@stevedavey26]

It was good to see you on the cut steering the boat .back where you belong

[@JH-qv3xv]

Another fun ride. Thanks

[@robtheplod]

Excellent, I love it when different people buy and live on boats... often wander about the back story!

[@andyb1237]

Nice one. Great to meet you the other day on your borrowed boat. I hope you enjoyed your windy cruise. Andy from nb Eleanor.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Likewise! 👍

[@wendywax2282]

What a lovely beautiful woman and the scenery was a delight! We love you Emma!

[@AuntieSullivan]

We can tell you and Emma are really important, as Commodore Bumble came to greet you so enthusiastically!

[@dorothydotson7154]

Good to see you back on a narrowboat! That's a lovely stretch of canal so I'm sure it was very enjoyable. Oh, my! You met Bumble! The Westie was gorgeous too.

[@dexteralexander2437]

Ms. Emma’s story is a fascinating slice of life. Your videos are calming, illuminating, and very much appreciated.

[@yvonnetomenga5726]

Ahhh! Just when I needed it, David takes me on a trip with fluffy clouds, birds chirping, and a charming new acquaintance. Such a great way to travel without the hassle of paying, packing, 'plane-ing, etc. It was a restful trip for me and, I hope, all the viewers. 👍

[@bishwatntl]

When you said you were calling at Rugby Boats, I wondered if the Commodore would be there - and the next moment, up pops Bumble. :)

[@paulbetka2966]

. Always a pleasure to cruise with you ✌️👍🏻🙏🏻🥰

[@jonathan5354]

The finding of your channel opened up a whole new world for me I didn't know existed. Best greetings from Germany.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Welcome along!

[@AlisonAZ]

Thank you both for a nice cruise.

[@detroitredneckdetroitredne6674]

Very cool especially like the frog on the tiller arm

[@pamcullen537]

Hi David. Had a chuckle at your meeting boats at bridges as it reminded me of Paul waiting for 5 boats to come through while hovering by a wasp 🐝 nest, he was greatly relieved when able to move on 😂. If I had known you were so near would have come down to say hello as only on the River Nene. All the very best to Emma I hope she has many years of fun on the waterways. Hugs 💕🦆

[@CruisingTheCut]

Ah, and I’m currently at the other end of the Nene now as well! (sort of). Hope you’re OK

[@paulhaynes8045]

Lovely. Reminded me why I started watching your channel. Also made me realise how subtly skilled you are. Anyone can make a canal video (as a quick glance at YT will demonstrate!), but it takes something special to produce something like this, which seems so effortless, but is such a superb example of filming and editing.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you

[@paulhaynes8045]

@@CruisingTheCut it must have been all that practicing at TVS!

[@layalabi1667]

Great trip!! (Especially the chocolate digestives!!!)

[@arniestuboud]

David, another GREAT video. It is lovely that you took the time to reply to Emma' letter of years past and now you get a bit of lovely karma. Please tell Emma that it may or may not be true that placing ANY thing on even a small portion of some types of solar panels could significantly decrease the amount of energy processed. She should check this out. The blue centerline to port and maybe the boathook to starboard were two possible culprits. You GO Emma!!

[@BarneyLeith]

Another lovely video; many thanks, David. Glad that Emma likes the live-aboard life!

[@carolleenkelmann4751]

So glad you can keep doing a bit of Narrowboating on the Canals. This is so peaceful and tranquil and to my mind, so English. I'm sure I've seen that Guard Dog before - in another of your videos.

[@Revenant_Knight]

I’m not sure why but I would love to see David do a fish-out-of-water episode where he spends a day sailing in the Atlantic with a racing team.

[@andrewmills744]

Maybe on Time Bandit crabbing in the Bearing sea.... just kidding

[@ghost307]

Or a crossover episode with Sailing Uma?

[@CruisingTheCut]

I’d spend the entire episode vomiting 🤮

[@Revenant_Knight]

@@CruisingTheCut David! We need you to climb the mast and unfurl the sail. If you feel like you're going to fall, aim for the netting!

[@sparkybluefox]

Thank you David for such a fun video of cruising on a friends narrowboat ! Very Nice ! SBF

[@randynovick7972]

What a charming little trip. As much as it's all good to see the parades & fancy locks and all that, I do like it when you offer up these little cruises where we meet a couple interesting people. Nice introduction to Emm and her vessel. I hope we get to see her when she's in fresh paint - the boat, I mean. ;)

[@carycoombe3380]

Nice of her to let "the old guy" have a go at driving her boat. I would have laughed my trousers off if she had brought you a cheese sandwich for lunch. 🤣😉

[@sandihandi7831]

Good to see you at the tiller again David. Take care out there.

[@JCF072344]

I hope you're invited to do more of these "guest appearances."

[@oldsteam3618]

Ah for a wee while I was dreaming. Thanks Sir David.

[@vicmiller7191]

Looked like a really nice trip indeed...thanks for sharing

[@johnmcmillen8263]

Congratulations Emma on your beautiful new home on the water! What a fun adventure!

[@johnfitzpatrick2469]

G,day David from Sydney Australia. Well you've inspired Emma to narrow boat and experience life as part of the channel and River trust network. The changes in scenery when crusing is priceless. 🌏🇦🇺

[@CruisingTheCut]

👍

[@Wildmutationblu]

A lovelt video. I hope it all continues to go well for Emma.

[@TheYancydog]

It's nice to see another who has been caught by the mystery and beauty of the cut. Congrats to Emma and her new boat!

[@TEdwards3161]

She's living the dream. Another great story.

[@jayjames7502]

How lovely! I am a lady sailor with my own yacht , such freedom solo sailing is wonderful, well done Emma, I'd love to explore canals one day.

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Still got the “touch” David. 👏👏👍😀

[@ghost307]

I quite like the hinged mounting of the solar panels on Dover.

[@mattevans-koch9353]

Very nice video David. Another generation finding the joy of narrow boating. Thank you Emma for sharing this trip with us.

[@mrben6573]

It's good to see eccentricity is alive and well in the younger generations.

[@Wkmor]

True. So many wonderful things have been discovered by eccentrics. The original thinkers these days are all the same. And if we are all addicted to narrow boat videos, we have discovered one delightful thing at least. Long live the eccentric.

[@jeffram1094]

Another wonderful piece of work a credit to all involved. Heart warming story.

[@tobolulo]

Nice trip. It helps when there are no locks to slow you down. If you don't have your own narrow boat, this will do.

[@grayfool]

Feeling a little homesick now, what a lovely day. Thanks for letting us visit your boat Emma. Thank you for sharing David.