147. Cruising through Leighton Buzzard on my canal narrowboat

[@RVgeeks]

It was so wonderful to see your passage through Grove Lock. We departed the Grove Lock Marina and Caravan Park this morning, turned in our motorhome, and arrived in London filled with memories of the English Countryside we will cherish always. The absolute highlight, by a long shot, was our time spent with you, David. We are more determined than ever to come back and rent a narrowboat next time rather than an RV. Thank you for turning us on to such an amazing experience.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers chaps! What a great pleasure it was to have you aboard and to re-enjoy the canals through your eyes as we went along. Glad you had a roaring time in the UK. Come back soon!

[@mommahil4323]

Yes a lot of folk have commented how relaxing it is to watch your cruising videos and I was just thinking it would probably help lower my husband's blood pressure to get him to watch now and then!

[@alanbower1193]

I do't know why, but I always seem to find your videos very relaxing. Thank you.

[@lyndarichardson4744]

I love your videos, so interesting & such beautiful scenery. Glad you found somewhere to moor !

[@pootle2768]

Your vlogs are good for the soul. Such beautiful scenery. Your view at the end is gorgeous! Thank you

[@snappyfish]

Exactly how I imagine narrow boating at the start of this vlog, not you waffling on camera, but the quiet countryside and amazing views :)

[@TheMikemedia]

Another feature I find comforting about your channel is the fact that you've taken your mother's instruction to heart, and when you can't say something nice, you say nothing at all. Some would berate those whose boats are maintained in a less than a pristine manner. [Kindness is a duty. Politeness is an art.]

[@granskare]

Thank you from Rock Island, Illinois USA

[@robertdonnelly434]

Having been only a recent "follower", may I offer my thanks: for taking us along on your wonder-filled journey, usually exemplary camera work, spare when necessary commentary, and your added-later so they are clear and well-understood voice-overs. Cheers from Canada, near Georgian Bay, Ontario

[@steveslearning2535]

I do so love your program! Wish the wife and I could take a vacation for 30 days or so and try it. oh well Kentucky isn't to bad! Keep up the great work!

[@barryroach1980]

Yours and the rental boat were very close in the 3 locks, lets hope it doesn't work like it does with snails or you'll be expecting a little dingy in a few weeks!!!!! p.s Another great vlog, thanks!!!!

[@jdjeep98]

"...including lots of cheese." LOL A man after my own heart! :)

[@lizardman69sc]

Truly love your vlog. I'm in the states but i've watched every episode.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you!

[@WildeFyre69]

Well, David, I"m at the end of the series and frankly, I'm a bit disappointed that I'll have to wait for you to post new ones. I have really, really enjoyed your series and I want to be a narrowboat operator as well. Cheers from Canada!

[@WildeFyre69]

Ah ha! Now I am going to be watching your camper van videos!

[@philmacgregor1374]

David great memories growing up on the water in the summer as a kid on west coast of Canada 50 years latter I can appreciate travelling through scenic countryside and watching the wildlife , You come and cruise my part of the world some time in beautiful British Columbia

[@Blomm11]

Absolutely fantastic scenery! The canal side pubs look lovely too! :D

[@marianillingworth4403]

Feeling really relaxed after watching your vlog.

[@jonseaver9644]

Thanks for the history too .

[@MichaelsMustang]

A lovely cruise David , thank you.

[@tsuchang1]

Another fine video. thanks

[@sylviapage8572]

As they say, goof things come to those that wait! I do find looking for a mooring stressful. I think next time we’re on the boat we’ll set off early and tie up by 2pm so I can then relax and enjoy the day. Thanks always for a great video. I loved the shot of the boat with the smoking chimney.

[@jkatkat7950]

OMG!! Last year on holiday from Canada we hired a boat from the hire yard in this video!! Neadless to say it was our first/only experience on a narrow boat so far but we loved it and there were a few aquaducts near that were great - Off the plane and onto a narrow boat to quickly slow down and enjoy ourselves!

[@ceeceety2320]

This is something my wife and I are longing to do! It sounds like you had a wonderful experience. Do you mind sharing what your expenses were and how long you stayed, and if you felt you were ready to leave when the trip was finished? Don't mean to be nosey but I'm guessing you can give me some good first hand knowledge? I would surely appreciate it! We live in the U.S. btw. Happy for you to have had such a wonderful holiday!

[@jkatkat7950]

@@ceeceety2320 Don't know if I still have the final #'s but we did a mid-week 4 day on a 46ft boat from Leighton Buzzard to Stoke Buerne i think for just under $1000 pounds - only 7 locks, nothing to tough - my son was 11 at the time! We got off the plane - got a pre-arranged taxi and went to the boat. It was the best way to quickly slow down into holiday mode - especially as people are jogging past you on the paths - lol!!!. Lovely country side, lots of wild life as well as all manner of farm animal and a few nice pubs along the way. Our engine did have one small issue but staff from the hire company were there within an hour and seemed to know the issue - just a few minutes and no issues for the remainder. We chose Leighton Buzzard as it was close to our next stop -Warwick Castle! Where we stayed on site for midieval fun!

[@hans2406]

A pleasure again, Sir. The vistas from the water are just grand. Thanks.

[@TheDenisedrake]

Ahhhh a hot beverage and a 14 minute CruisingTheCut video. I can now conquer the day. :D

[@CruisingTheCut]

Hahaha!!

[@paulcollins9397]

You’ve left the Shire, on a grand adventure! Gandalf would be proud of you!

[@courierdog1941]

David: You still manage to make Narrowboat life look idyllic even with the warts. Cheers

[@xorxzorz6995]

Your best video yet. I'm really enjoying this scenery, and a beautiful autumn day to be out cruising the cut with you.

[@Yoeshi]

Everytime I see your vlog its a moment of relax for me .... :)

[@for.tax.reasons]

13:58 it is so splendid that if you haven't already you might wanna consider putting a print up in your merch shop

[@pattyfarghaly1821]

Beautiful ❤❤👍👍

[@dennix01]

Wonderful trip again. Thanks for the sped up 'lock action' :-)

[@nikghoskin2302]

Great vlog. I love the stretch south of the 3 locks where the valley opens out. And it's really nice south of Leighton buzzard all the way to Marsworth

[@johnfineberg2112]

Thank you David very enjoyable vlog and it's good to see when things don't quite go as planned but you were OK in the end. Best wishes Jo

[@Tj-co2ww]

It would be really cool to have these canals in America. David u r one lucky fellow look at that view.

[@paulcollins9397]

Tj Google this... The Great Loop.

[@leedavies3629]

Nice one Dave you got a good mooring in the end and great views.

[@johnsharman7614]

Great vlog 👍😁👀

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you 😁

[@brianscoffield584]

“It’s so wonderful to see your passage...”. Lovely that you pinned that. But your vids are very relaxing and a lovely reminder of my time on boats. I can’t imagine how bad the life is of the 20 or so people who decided to give you a thumbs down. I don’t generally pray. But I’ll pray for them. Thanks. Xx

[@KerrikkiLurgan]

I was watching an earlier blog and you sated how surprised you were about the number of subscribers you have. I find your voice good for the sound. That is why I am a subscriber.

[@rachelmisc]

Splendid view is right. Lovely ~ 💕👍

[@JMVideos7676]

I highly recommend watching this on a big screen HD TV. The scenery is gorgeous.

[@tiggasmum]

You find some lovely places to moor up :)

[@jugglerjim01]

Nice view from the lucky mooring 😊

[@thecorbies]

Hi. Relatively new (9mths) to your channel, but have to say what a delightful video this was. Thanks you for sharing. I can't wait for more. Regards Mark in the UK (actually not too far from Leighton Buzzard)

[@derekmills5394]

Lovely spot you found in the end. Would almost make you want to break out the watercolors!

[@kevgermany]

Hard life, but someone's got to do it. You lucky so and so!

[@contrafax]

I was thinking that I was enjoying the variety of boats just before you mentioned it. Cheers.

[@mattevans-koch9353]

The view at the end of the vlog was well worth the extra effort to get there. A splendid view to sit and observe with a cup of tea and some biscuits. Perfect dinner view. Thank you David.

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

To me, those wide beams almost always look like two narrow boats have melted together. Or they are the conjoined twins of the canal boat world . I’d be very tempted to paint either just a dotted line down the entire centre length, or paint each half like a different boat. Gawd, I’m too tired to be typing these very random comments. 🙂🐿🌈❤️

[@LUNATIC75]

Good to see you had some nice weather while passing through my part of the world.

[@sarahaugustine4185]

Great cruise. I loved the horses, so beautiful. Thanks for taking us along.

[@urbanrider7981]

I said before i grew up in the lock house at barrow upon soar,my family lived at the lock house at pillings lock before we they moved to Barrow,towards loughborough,we always called it shallow lock after Barrow deep lock.Your vlogs bring back so many memories.

[@kernowpete339]

Really enjoying your videos, so well made and relaxing to watch. Thank you :)

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

I’ve often wondered about how Leighton Buzzard got its name. I’ve read a few different stories about this, none of which are particularly satisfying. From reading, I understand that many many moons ago, it became necessary to differentiate between two places called Leighton. The idea that buzzard was originally something like Broussard kind of works. I can see how Broussard would eventually morph into Buzzard. Perhaps it’s as simple as there being a lot of actual buzzards flying about the place. I don’t know. Does anyone from the area have the answer. Wonderful video. Thank you. 🙂🐿🌈❤️

[@andypandytangerine3044]

Hi there, brilliant to see this very stretch in this episode, hired a boat last two years and went from Leighton Buzzard up to the Blisworth tunnel and back, both times in April, I can almost remember every curve, and a nice pint ( or two!) in the three locks

[@andypandytangerine3044]

Hi again David, great vlog, ah the Wyvern shippping company, we’ve twice hired a boat from there and headed north up to the Blisworth tunnel and back, boats well equipped, but pricey to hire, nevertheless great time had by all, p.s. we stopped and moored up at the three locks for a meal and refreshments, we were just tucking into our meal when a woman ran into the pub and announced (like the proverbial foghorn) who has “Jasmine “ she’s slipped her moorings!! , we were moored 200 yards north and Jasmine was indeed astray, but was soon captured and securely moored, think some pesky kids were having a chuckle, or was it our poor attempt at mooring, great fun though

[@steveratliff40]

Thank you for your efforts. Love being able to join you on your adventures

[@goldwing4221]

Nice one on Thames & up thru M K Leighton buzzard etc etc most enjoyable keep up the good vlogs great quality camera work

[@thewebtutorguy]

Well I didn’t fall asleep and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and your comments. Thank you David.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Haha thank you ;-)

[@Catonkey1]

Haha, when you said you were hoping for a spot, I knew you would have a bit of a struggle until you got further down towards Slaptop lock. I walk/fish this section of the GUC a lot lol.

[@mischef18]

Yes a lovely spot to tie up at the end. Great video right through bro.All the best

[@ncplantdoctor]

The contour lines on a topographic map may look like spaghetti or not, but when a canal is following one of them, it makes for a rather twisty journey at times. Still it was a good day for some boating. Thanks for bringing us along. I enjoyed the ride.

[@Droodog127]

My Uncle Ron was the Parish Priest in Leighton Buzzard in the mid 70's . it was a nice quiet village back in the day....

[@andrewkitchenuk]

Certainly isn't now. Thousands of new houses every year. 😕

[@colinracheljustpootling7468]

We hired from Wyvern and I have to say they are fantastic. This stretch is a joy to cruise. I can’t wait to do it again hopefully the next time we will be on our own narrowboat! Fingers crossed

[@ariadams3290]

Such beautiful landscapes and scenery along the canals... Glad to see you in a much better frame of mind too 😊

[@CruisingTheCut]

Huh?

[@jezlanejl]

Another Great Video David. Its good to see the Sun was still shining and relatively warm in the vlog. Unfortunately its neither one of those now where i live. Still, keeps life exciting, gales and floods galore.

[@whorayful9361]

To someone in Australia where our main lifeblood River Murray is in places not much wider than one of your wide canals the idea of having all that water laying around is just so foreign. It gets so dry here that in Alice Springs they have a boat race on the Todd River each year where they cut out the bottom out of the boats and the crew run on the river bed carrying the boat.

[@CruisingTheCut]

That's brilliant!!

[@bessie2275]

Another great Vlog, good weather down there

[@nabooster]

Greetings from Greece. Another great Vlog David, keep up the good work.

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Thanks for another relaxing video. I might follow in your wake next year!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Yes, it's been pleasant enough although (as you'll soon see) I balked at all the locks at Berkhamstead ;-)

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Just looked at my Collins Guide and can see why. Didn't help that one of the pages is numbered incorrectly!

[@tonybirdwell2917]

Thanks fo the feedback. Very interesting.

[@tbw357]

Another wonderful Vlog. Missed not seeing them this summer.

[@tracyfun6918]

nice vid david, have you ever done a vlog on what books etc that are good to have, and guides for canals. would be interesting to see how you work out where you can moor up etc. not sure how they work and how you plan your trips and things x

[@CruisingTheCut]

I haven't actually so maybe this winter I'll do one about the guidebooks and also the websites and apps that are useful too.

[@jamessd7677]

You're coming/heading south David old son, good, bout time you hit the southern canals and navigations. You're a bit late in doing so but better late than never as they say, well done old son, I'll look out for you and your boat on the canals and rivers down here from now on...

[@leedesigner1977]

Another lovely video. Thanks David.

[@markwalker2373]

And so here I am I find myself after watching your vlogs back to back for the last week and a bit at the last one for now eagerly awaiting with much anticipation for the next vlog too come along. In the mean time, time to start watching your vandemonium vlogs. Also just want to say I really enjoyed the how it’s made type vlogs you’ve done recently and hope there maybe more to come

[@Merseysiderful]

Very enjoyable to watch. 8:00 probably some of Tesco’s trollies end up in the bottom of the Canal at that mooring.

[@andrewkitchenuk]

Not so, it's a surprisingly civilised spot & very unusual to get any trouble there.

[@ShannonGraceM]

The views you got here were fantastic! I am so glad you're having fun!

[@DonaldSimsProduction]

Very pastoral. Thank you for sharing.

[@kairon156]

I think I'm all caught up to your videos now. I'm quite envous of your weather. It's been very rainy and chilly this month.

[@phill2383]

Another fantastic vlog, Safe Journeys - make sure you head up the Llangollen Canal to Ellesmere, Supermarket right on the wharf :-)

[@billroberts4910]

A lovely adventure. Thumbs up on the cap.

[@bornfreefreedom4900]

Very nice to watch best wishes 🌟👍😊

[@lesleycouch6557]

Very nice, you (eventually) found a mooring spot with a great view. That hire fleet took up plenty of room though!

[@rvertv]

...beautiful scenery... i am playing catch up on your videos....

[@terrystephens1102]

Thanks David, entertaining as usual 😃👍👏👏

[@karlfair]

Most enjoyable, David. I really think a set spuds would make your life much easier. No place to moor, just pull off to the side and drop them.

[@mikearpowell]

What lovely autumn weather! You could be tempted to just keep going south. What a pity the Aylesbury Arm isn't a full canal to Oxford?

[@tompinnef6331]

I agree with you, rather be out in the countryside then in the 'big cities'. Our 25 square mile county only has 53,000 people living in it. Mainly farms once you get out of the largest city here. Rather enjoy the small town living then when back living outside of Chicago. Just wish we had canals like you do. Take care - be safe

[@smaviation9171]

Another amazing video ( as always)

[@michaelpilling9659]

Nice place to stop for the night. Sorry to hear of the shortage of water beyond the next lock (Slapton Lock?). A wonderful video and commentary again David. Thank you

[@petersmith5199]

Another nice relaxing video before bedtime. Ta.

[@chuffer3d564]

So relaxing to watch. My local towpath is closed for resurfacing and I am dearly missing my walks along the cut. Thank you for the video. Seems you ended up in a belter of a location...looks nice and quiet and that view is splendid.

[@terrysullivan2412]

resurfacinr or tarmac for loony cyclists? crt policy!!!

[@chuffer3d564]

They seem to be tarmacking huge swathes of towpath on the old mainline from Birmingham to Wolverhampton. Here's a pic from summer of what new surfaces look like..drive.google.com/open?id=1JcckO2M334QmkK6pKTdl82fnUOzoLMWl Also bonus pic of the same location about 6 months earlier when they drained the canal to repair the walls drive.google.com/open?id=1fgHUFOz2YfCcxhvLShala6xR_7rIAQey

[@Dubsyolla]

Great vlog as usual. Good presentation, keep up the good work...

[@urbanrider7981]

Excellent vlog David,you found a nice spot to moor up.chris.

[@JasperJanssen]

If you had one of those under-floor, among-ballast cold storage lockers, you could put Edams in there instead of wine!

[@jordangipson1125]

Great video, David. Cheers.

[@jonnyjones5201]

Well it's taken about a week but I've watched every vlog from start to current & have to say rather enjoyed it. The only ones I haven't watched is the there that are 1hr+. I loved the mini series of classic engine boats but also tours of other people's boats. Having been holidaying on the broads for over twenty years since I was a nipper I love rivers & all types or craft forward steer cruisers centre cockpits dual steer aka fly bridge cruisers. But never took an interest in the canals even when my nan & grandad live less than five feet away. But I did take interest in canal boats & marina watching boats cruiser by & yard staff working on boats.... I look forward to watching more from yourself... Jonny

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers Jonny

[@stilcrazychris]

Oh another relaxing ride David. Yes, let's hope no hoodlums come around to bother you. Have you got to try camping in your van yet? Would love to see how that would come out on your other channel. Maybe soon, sure hope so. Well carry on safely my friend, Chris from Missouri

[@CruisingTheCut]

Still haven't slept in the van, it's waiting for me when I return :-)

[@-UrbanSurvivor]

Well youve moored up in worse places at the end of a day than that, beautiful spot, great video

[@jamesrussels2126]

A lot widebeams this episode. I wish pull a bit Harry Potter magic and have a Narrowboat outside with Widebeam inside. Don't get me wrong. Narrowboat is def cozy and I love them.