Is Our Narrowboat Home In Safe Hands? - Living On The Canal In Middlewich

[@AndrewSmith-py3ut]

We screamed out loud when you showed our boat "Mind Like Water" at the start of the video! We remember seeing you moored during our summer 2021 cruise. Strictly speaking "Mind Like Water" is our ex-boat as we upgraded to a longer boat in September but it was great to see her!

[@chuggingalong]

Fantastic! Congrats on the upgrade too 😁 Keep chugging

[@jonbiglowe3664]

Obviously Papa Jon's pictures were better! But you didn't show my best shots ☹️

[@floatybyboaty]

Great feature in this months Waterways World Magazine, well done. You have finally made it to the top. 😂

[@chuggingalong]

Thanks Nobby! We haven't seen it yet. Need to get a copy

[@donnarocchio936]

It was wonderful seeing you make memories with the extended family.

[@chuggingalong]

Thank you very much Donna. Keep chugging :)

[@Lego6980]

Great idea for a vlog. Enjoyed very much and helps me to keep chugging on this downcast day

[@chuggingalong]

Glad we could be of service Lego :) Keep chugging

[@Teesbrough]

Excellent, much enjoyed this one. You know I now can’t wait to see Sam’s family take their turn at the helm. 👍🏻

[@chuggingalong]

Thanks Will! Yes, that will be a fun video :) Keep chugging

[@nilocxoc3488]

Hi Sam and Tim, for me and Heather we saw Love: of family, bravery; letting others helm your boat, humour: throughout 🤣, Pleasure: the cruise, relief: no more damage than normal (LLANGLOLEN washout! Sorry Tim but I remember it 😁🤝)and kindness: you both agreeing that family would be able to borrow you home on the cut. Brilliant thank you . Colin and Heather, Ohio

[@chuggingalong]

Haha! Thank you Colin and Heather. Yes, that knock on the Llangollen was a big one! Keep chugging

[@abbieb2439]

I proper laughed out loud at this video😂 The food at The Big Lock was great. Probably the best chicken pie and mash I’ve ever had! Also how small does Cai look🥺

[@BoatTime]

Amazing episode! We loved watching some newbies have a go, made us feel like we actually know something! 😅 They did so well though! Amy particularly liked Sam’s comment about Tim acting like he does the locks 😂 Our vote goes to #TeamPapaJon!

[@chuggingalong]

Haha! Narrowboating is a very useful life skill 😂

[@nickpolly1527]

Hello guys we are the subscribers in the blue boat. It was good to see you on that hot day, we are also loving our copy of Argy Bargy however I feel our copy may be faulty as polly always wins.

[@chuggingalong]

Hi Nick and Polly! Haha! Henry was flattered that you recognised him. So glad you're enjoying Argy Bargey :) Keep chugging

[@HisnameisRich]

Its a big thing to be able to let someone else effectively not only live in your house but also navigate in it! kudos to you guys for having such a close family :) another great video

[@chuggingalong]

Thank you Rich. Keep chugging :)

[@trishamy6512]

Middlewich also has a Morrisons and high Street of shops better accessed on foot from the middlewich branch before the wardle canal. The Narrowboat pub is popular for its breakfasts and the chippy across the road from kings lock is good too. The pubs are full to bursting in June when it's the FAB festival - Folk And Boat, lots of musicians playing and beer flowing, boats selling and stalls too. Moored there a few times over the years 😊

[@chuggingalong]

Great tips, thank you Trish. We'll check that out next time. Keep chugging :)

[@judithmallinson5178]

Brilliant vlog and looked like you all had a fab time! Team Henry for us, but we did like Team papas as well! Xx

[@stephenbowker824]

Did you miss the shortest canal in the uk. Wardle 👍👍 Really enjoying you filming of a planned cruise. 🖐 NB Fiddlesticks.

[@chuggingalong]

Thank you Stephen. Ah didn't realise that is the shortest one! Keep chugging

[@kingpunter4557]

Another great vlog, lots of great chugging 👌👌👌

[@chuggingalong]

Thank you very much King. Plenty of chugging coming up!

[@fp30e]

(formally fp30e) Hi Sam, Tim. Loved this week's Vlog. What a lovely cruise you had as passengers, it must have felt strange, still Tim was able to roof surf whilst the boat was in motion. I think, if one likes ships and narrow-boats, trains sort are up there too, so I can understand Papa John and Brother Henry liking trains!!! The Big Lock pub looked nice. Thank you. Take Care.

[@chuggingalong]

Thanks FP, yes being on the balcony of the Big Lock pub was a great way to spend an afternoon. Keep chugging :)

[@davidgodfrey1815]

Looks like a nice day out with the family

[@chuggingalong]

Thank you David, it was :) Keep chugging

[@MrCSutton]

Aa always, we love your videos and thanks for keeping us entertained in what have been trying times. I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it, but please check with your insurers and C&RT before lending your boat out. You may find it isn't covered if you're not in charge of it.

[@chuggingalong]

Thank you Coddy, we'll look into it before we do it. Keep chugging 😁👍👍🏾

[@johnharrison6584]

Love to watch u 2, good luck in everything you do. Keep chugging xx

[@chuggingalong]

Thank you very much for watching John :) Keep chugging

[@ladyliberty417]

That was a good test of Tim’s family, I would have been a wee bit nervous myself to turn over the controls but it’s good to have backup in life❗️ you both have mastered this lifestyle nicely and should be right proud🤗💕

[@chuggingalong]

Haha! Thank you Lady! Hope you're well 😁👍👍🏾 Keep chugging

[@thepeanutgallery1699]

Henry definitely looks more serious about the job entrusted to him at the end of the video vs. beginning. 🙂

[@chuggingalong]

Haha!

[@penneynoss9552]

Hi Tim and Sam, making memories with the family can’t beat it. Papa John gets my vote for the photo contest.

[@chuggingalong]

Thanks Penney :) Keep chugging!

[@bryanmitchell1059]

We agree 100 % that Nantwich is the best! We especially enjoyed bell ringing at St. Mary's church on Thursday evenings. Bryan & Donna, Quebec, Canada.

[@chuggingalong]

Fantastic. Really is a great town :) Keep chugging

[@MarcelEling]

One big happy familycruise😃

[@chuggingalong]

Hope you're well Marcel :) Keep chugging

[@ginnybennett9400]

Team Henry, shows the whole transport story.

[@chuggingalong]

Thanks for voting Ginny! Keep chugging :)

[@alicewilson1874]

I am for team "papa John" for the train photos. It was cool seeing the two of you sitting in the front enjoying the ride, but, personally I think Chuggles looked rather frightened lol. Also what's a Lidl?

[@jonbiglowe3664]

Papa Jon here, thanks for your support! Lidl is a chain of budget grocery shops throughout Europe

[@jonbiglowe3664]

I loved the butterfly 🦋 at the beginning, I think that one is called a Comma

[@shierahall2686]

Great vlog! I see Tim is a bit of a control freak hehehe!

[@chuggingalong]

Haha! I just know what it's like steering the boat when you don't have much experience, it's like the trees have huge magnets

[@nancinowlen3043]

That was fun, but you two are the best!

[@chuggingalong]

Thank you Nanci, hope you're well. Keep chugging!

[@julieanneroberts4752]

Another great vlog and we really enjoyed this one, featuring all the Biglowe family 😍 You all did a brilliant job 🙌👏👍 🛶 I felt for Linda having to navigate a bend 🥴 ‘Admiral’ Henry was a pro by the end of the journey (the bit about the chains and only letting loose one end of Mary L at the start was very funny) Baby Cai adorable as always, and now growing up too fast 🥺 Couldn’t decide which photo was best, therefore, a tie from us here in N.Wales 😆🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Keeep chugging x x🛶

[@chuggingalong]

Thanks Julie :) Keeeep chugging!

[@veesimmons2464]

Good for you for trusting others, albeit family, to run MaryL.

[@chuggingalong]

Cheers Vee :) Keep chugging

[@jawngoosen]

Once again a super video It always bothers me that you cast off before starting the engine. Glad to see the family had other ideas. Sure they will be fine with Mary L. Best wishes from Cape Town

[@chuggingalong]

Haha! Thanks Jawn. Yes, they don't have the bad habit like we do. Keep chugging!

[@davidbutler4363]

Brill vlog guys thanks,keep chugging 😁👍👏👏👏

[@chuggingalong]

Thanks David as always. Keep chugging 😁👍👍🏾

[@dorothydotson7154]

I loved that house too. I love the real shutters. Here (US) the shutters are just about always decorative which is sad. What was that red, round thing on that boat? An antenna? Good to know you have someone trustworthy if you do take a trip.

[@alanjameson8664]

The shutters on that house at 8:50 look like they might have been iron. Iron shutters are very common on the backs of commercial buildings of comparable age out here in California. Rather gives the lie to romantic notions of how law abiding people were back then.

[@philroberts7238]

Was the big red round thing a homemade wind generator, perhaps?

[@chrisabbott7458]

A wind generator and you can buy them like that

[@dorothydotson7154]

@@chrisabbott7458 Thanks!

[@Tandan.]

very nice vlog

[@chuggingalong]

Thank you Tandan. Keep chugging :)

[@maobfh]

Henry is terribly funny as he is so competitive. What I want to know is- Did you push your Da off the tiller, Henry? Dad seemed to do just fine, as if he did it for years before you two became a handful. What are the teams called? Team Dad and Team Henry? And my last question (I think, unless I go down a rabbit trail) - How did Baby Kai or Baby Kyle or Baby K____ nap while cruising to Middlewich? That environment would probably be ideal for a tired or colicky baby. In my eyes, anyway. The vibrations of the engine would soothe a tight tummy and the coziness, the engine and the (presumed) lack of brakes/horns/squeaky wheels/screeching brakes would be ideal for a long and hard nap. But what do I know about the feel of a narrowboat OR the noise levels of an English canal? Great video! Sorry Dad had to leave! Who was singing to the baby at the bow earlier in the video? Oops! There WAS another question! Sorry. Zipping my lips

[@chuggingalong]

Hi Rebecca, that was my Mum singing to the baby. Yes, Cai enjoyed slept well because of the engine sounds. Haha! No, Henry wants everyone to have a go at the tiller equally, I'd rather just do it myself

[@johnallen148]

Hi Tim Sam Tim you look like a cat on a hot tin roof lol I know it must be hard when someone else is driving you boat, Henry done a excellent job of turning the boat ,interesting blog when was this taken summer time I guess,till next time take care keep safe, John 👍🦶🙌🥀🥀🌟⭐️🥃🍻🍺🥂

[@chuggingalong]

Hi John yes it was in the summer :) Keep chugging

[@wsatnutter9674]

great stuff

[@chuggingalong]

Thank you! Keep chugging

[@tylersf]

I gotta get a turn!

[@chuggingalong]

Haha! You're always welcome :)

[@chrisabbott7458]

Nantwich will win every time.If you are going down the GU Berkhamsted might come a close third to Market Drayton,one of my favourites.Shame there weren't any steam specials that day.I managed to see Bahamas a LMS Jubilee last year south of Hawkesbury.It liked superb even down to the shining wheel rims.My youngest son is actually better at steering the boat than me and he's never had a boat.

[@chuggingalong]

Hi Chris, yes Market Drayton is nice. Thanks for your comment. Keep chugging :)

[@alanjameson8664]

When you spoke of Dad not being bullied into speeding, it made me wonder (not for the first time) if narrowboats have speedometers of some sort or other. Please advise.

[@chrisabbott7458]

No only rev counters and each boat seems to rev differently.You do get used to judging the speed but there's always a speed App if you want to cheat

[@chuggingalong]

Good idea Chris, we did try that once on the River Thames and it seemed to work well :)

[@amberatkinson4230]

Does Henry or your father watch KZbin videos of trains? During this pandemic I started watching Simply Railway. Also, is Argy Bargey now available in the States?

[@chuggingalong]

Hi Amber, yes my Dad watches Simply Railway, Geoff Marshall and others. Argy Bargey is available in USA, we can send it there, no problem 😁👍👍🏾 Keep chugging

[@fidelio9301]

I’m tugging along to chugging along brev.

[@chuggingalong]

Haha! Oh so you're tug boater?

[@fidelio9301]

@@chuggingalong Well I’m a tugger on a boat if that counts….

[@karljoachimgoll]

I might be wrong - but wasn't Mary L a bit faster 'on the way' than usuallly, when steered by the 'Train Team'?? 🤔

[@chuggingalong]

Haha! I think you're right

[@NorthernNarrowboaters]

Team papa John! Great vlog !

[@chuggingalong]

Thanks guys 😁👍👍🏾 Keep Chugging

[@melbeasley9762]

Team Henry had better exposure in that the sky wasn't completely washed out. I couldn't really see which was focused the best. If you want any photo info. I did gain my Associateship in the Royal Photographic Society when I lived in the UK.

[@chuggingalong]

Thanks Judith, he'll be happy with that :) Keep chugging

[@pauliethetree8129]

Henry's photo had a narrowboat in it sooo... no contest

[@chuggingalong]

Good point!

[@thenewboater5380]

Do you prefer mooring where's there are other boats, or where you are completely alone ?

[@chuggingalong]

We prefer to be on our own but at least walking distance away from a couple of boats for safety

[@thenewboater5380]

@@chuggingalong I always worry about my Dogs , unfortunately Neither Riddick or sherry , get on with other dogs , so if I'm near other boats I worry about that, every time I take them out its stressful , they get on well with people , however any nasty ones ,,,,,,, Lol

[@billyslide7645]

Sam, you’re a better person than me, to trust your (to be) in-laws with your home 😉

[@chuggingalong]

Haha!

[@christopheryoung2892]

I wonder if you can get to 20k subscribers before your 100th vlog

[@chuggingalong]

Challenge accepted! Will be difficult but we'll try our best. Thanks for your comment Christopher. Keep chugging :)

[@frankgh1]

Nice Cruise! Why the low res?

[@chuggingalong]

Hi Frank, takes a while for the HD version to process. It's ready now. Keep chugging :)

[@frankgh1]

@@chuggingalong Super! I normally watch your channel from the comfort of my home in Florida but today I'm passing through Kurdistan and I thought it might have something to do with my location. My wife and I are trying to plan a 4 week narrowboat holiday. We hope to chug by you sometime!

[@Lego6980]

P.S. Do you have a vlog about Argy Bargy?

[@chuggingalong]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2TPYX2Pr9NpsNk

[@chuggingalong]

This is our vlog about Argy Bargey

[@pattysommers3566]

How did you come up with the name for your game?

[@krazykat4349]

So is your brother Henry going to get himself a narrowboat

[@chuggingalong]

Good question Kat. He enjoys visiting Mary L

[@IowaGrandpaTrain]

I vote for Papa John’s Trainspotting photos!

[@chuggingalong]

Thank you IGT :) He definitely got more votes. Keep chugging :)

[@nickevans1698]

Did it feel like letting the Kids loose for a Day 😂😂😂

[@chuggingalong]

Haha! It did!

[@1dkappe]

Is Henry the older or younger brother?

[@chuggingalong]

Older by 2 years

[@ronkordish7887]

I would not let anybody drive my boat unless I was right there but to let it go for any length of time would be a( no!!!!!)..you have a great boat and good luck with That! I advise against but thats just my opinion . I love my family to but my home mmmmmm.

[@chuggingalong]

Haha! It's not relaxing being a passenger on your own boat at all. Thanks for your comment Ron

[@malcolmmarks7374]

In your statistics at the end can you include your fuel consumption where possible.

[@chuggingalong]

Hi Malcolm, it's very difficult to know our fuel consumption because we don't dipstick the tank after every cruise. Thanks for your comment. Keep chugging!

[@malcolmmarks7374]

I don’t mean each day. When you next refuel you can say how much you have used and will know how many miles you have covered. Or how much fuel for the whole trip and how many miles for the whole trip.

[@mv4463]

I'd only do it if I had a tug or shortest narrow boat

[@chuggingalong]

That makes sense. Thanks for your comment. Keep chugging :)

[@mv4463]

@@chuggingalong 20 know my steering limits... your boat is too long for me.. 30 feet my max 20 feet stubby more my style.. but has to be a narrow regardless.

[@KevinRodgersGB]

I so wanted to click like ... but the like counter was on 666!!

[@chuggingalong]

Haha!