The weather has been cold and yet after a short but bracing cruise this afternoon as I write, the most beautiful bands of sunlight are pouring themselves in through my windows, dancing tantalising reflections across my ceiling—a sight unseen when blocked in by other boats. I am in awe. I am content. I am lost in the simple pleasures of boating, of movement, and of changing seasons.

There are also sounds that cannot be expressed through pictures: the haunting lone call of a moorhen, the delightful tumbling song of hedgerow birds, the nasally honking of geese, the gentle slow wingbeats that belie a swan’s size. And then there is my thudding heart; bursting with happiness for the springtime that I know will now unfold at double speed before me.

I am here. I am within it. I am glad.

Fox Blog: Why an April Narrowboat Holiday is the Perfect Spring Getaway

Skies seem endless and filled with promise and I ponder the joy of keeping moving, along these watery roads, never returning to where I started. But alas, this year personal commitments mean we can’t venture too far and that’s okay because after many spells afloat throughout these past 16 years, and having travelled much of the network, I know that whatever stretch we find ourselves on, there will still be magic:

Delightful dawn choruses to wake me in the morning, ducklings darting around after mum in a cacophony of continual yet endearing quacking, grasses and wildflowers billowing along the towpath and finally—a feeling of warmth penetrating the windows. As the season progresses I know I will feel myself steadily thawing, my mind drifting to the promise of local cruises in dappled sunlight, working locks in the still silence of lighter evenings.

Fox Blog: Fearful of Locks? How to work one even if you’ve never done it

Winter has felt long this year, but getting back to my narrowboat and clearing out the debris of this coldest season before untying the ropes and flinging the doors open to spring, has felt as magical as it always does. Because wherever I wander, there is nothing quite like the sights and sounds of England’s waterways in springtime.

Alice Elgie is a nature-loving writer who shares words about her wandering lifestyle through hold-in-the-hand letters and recorded reflections. aliceelgie.com

The post First Cruise of the Year appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

passed lock | alice elgie

That winter, with ice cracking around our ears as we slept, we found beauty in simplicity, strength in embracing limited resources, and thrived coming up with ingenious ways to get through, such as ferrying rubbish and waste on our young daughter’s sled down to the nearest towpath facilities station, or working together with neighbours to join up hosepipes so we could each connect to the nearest unfrozen tap. Community is something that always stands out whenever I talk to fellow boaters about life on the water and I can attest that there’s nothing like a harsh winter to bring out the best in people.

Nowadays though I’d like to think I’m a more seasoned winter boater, knowing how to get prepared well in advance for these colder days, how to keep the fire burning through the night, and also how to ensure my boat is safe, especially if it’s being left alone for a cold spell. For a start, you’ll find me stocked up with wood and smokeless coal before there’s even so much as a nip in the air so that when it’s time to bring the coal bucket out of summer storage from the front well-deck, I’m ready to go. Kindling and logs might also be gathered throughout the year and stored on the roof, but be aware that they will need to have dried for approximately one year before you burn them. Wet wood in a small boat does not create the kind of toasty, cosy atmosphere I like to go for in this season!

passing lock in winter | alice elgie

Curious about how warm it is on a narrowboat? https://www.foxboats.co.uk/narrowboats-is-it-cold-in-winter/

It’s also important to remember that the canal freezes so if you’re a continuous cruiser you’ll want to make sure you’re where you’re happy to be for a time—ideally close to a water point and facilities but also with the realisation that water points freeze too so start as you mean to go on with water conservation! I like to channel our industrial past and those bargees who worked historic boats through all conditions, often crammed into a boatman’s cabin with their entire family. You might not agree, but I think there is a romance to sink washes and basic meals cooked on the fire…and if you’re lucky enough to work from your boaty home it can feel like permission to switch off, hunker down and forget about the world ‘out there’.

Mood-boosting tips to beat the winter blues! https://www.foxboats.co.uk/three-foxy-mood-boosting-tips-for-this-winter/

On a practical level, make sure you’ve topped up your engine and heating system with antifreeze otherwise you might end up with a cylinder head cracking or a radiator pipe splitting. Also ensure you’ve paid some attention to any gaps in hatches, portholes and doorframes, and if you’re planning to leave your boat for a time but aren’t confident to winterise it yourself, you could ask a marina to carry out the draining of your water system and radiators and turning off of water pumps to avoid burst pipes and seals.

Whilst my 15 years on the water haven’t been without the odd hiccup, once settled into the rhythm and quirks of boat life you’ll find that winter—whilst sometimes a challenge—can be the thing that sets your life at the helm in stone…although I for one am hoping this winter won’t be quite as bracing as 2010!

Photo credits: Alice Elgie

Alice Elgie is a nature-loving writer who shares words about her wandering lifestyle through hold-in-the-hand letters and recorded reflections. aliceelgie.com

The post Narrowboating Through Winter appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.