The sound of geese wake me up and I groggily open my eyes to look at the clock, whose hands are pointing firmly at an unearthly hour for a Saturday morning…but how can I be upset when I’m gently rocking beneath a canopy of green and, upon giving in and sitting up, look out of my window to spy a gaggle of goslings—yellow and fluffy, small and endearing—being fiercely protected by mum and dad from passing runners? I can’t be angry, of course, so instead I sink back into my cosy bed and feel thankful that I’m back on the water for spring.
melody narrowboat alice elgie
This season is my favourite, and for me, on the canals of England is the only place to be when it begins to take hold. Blackthorn blossom floating like confetti, hawthorn leaves, shiny and green, bursting their buds in quick succession, and goslings, ducklings, baby moorhens (which I like to affectionally call ‘pom poms’!)…there is a sense of life in the air and in my opinion, there really is nowhere like it anywhere else on earth.
goslings – alice elgie
If you’re looking to experience wildlife and nature at its best whilst on your narrowboat holiday on the fens, try Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve which can be accessed from the canal:
wicken fen visitors centre – credit: fox narrowboats
I moved onto my very first narrowboat in the spring of 2010. See more about buying my first narrowboat on this blog. Those weeks spent watching the wintry world come to life through numerous windows, have stayed with me. I thought I’d hit the jackpot to be sharing my daily life with such an abundance of wildlife and as the season unfurled in all her glory, I also found myself spending far more time outside than usual.
Wicken Mill
There’s something about narrowboats being nestled so within nature that you can’t help but be drawn outside. In a house, you never know what the weather is doing and it’s easy to get complacent and comfortable, staying glued to a favourite TV show, or endlessly scrolling on a screen. But nature through a narrowboat window sucks you in—and ultimately out!—like no YouTube show ever can.
Do you long to make time for more walking?
Being on the canals also encourages us to exercise more, with a plethora of opportunities to don your walking boots and go out exploring on relatively flat and easy ground. Even BBC are extolling the benefits of walking (article on BBC website) and if you’re on a narrowboat holiday, you can take the opportunity to let inspiration lead you.
holme fen credit wiki wehh
Whether the sun is shining, or there’s a shower on the horizon, stepping outside never fails to lift the mood, as well as give us a boost of vitamin D. With a number of picturesque places to visit on the Fens—including pubs, restaurants, or perhaps even a gentle stroll to the local shop—there’s no excuse to not indulge.
Looking for Inspiration? Then check out this interactive Fens Waterways Map for Narrowboaters:
So if you’re looking for a boost and need to be reminded of the simple joys in life, or you’re perhaps just craving respite from the busyness, spring on the waterways might be just the ticket—even with those noisy geese!
Alice Elgie is a writer who splits time between a narrowboat on the waterways of England, a cottage in France, and a camper on the open road. She shares words about this life on her blog: slowintotheseasons.substack.com
Credits: Narrowboat – Alice Elgie, Goslings, Wicken Fen Visitors Centre – Fox Wicken Mill, Holme Fen – wiki wehh
