Rural Fox narrowboat interior

I think you’ll agree that a season of round-the-clock fires, condensation-laden windows, and just that general sense of having being inside for longer, can leave our boats—and ourselves—a little uninspired so as soon as the weather takes a turn toward the light, I like to have a really good spring clean.

By the end of winter wood ash and coal dust seem to have found their way into every crevice, which means it’s time to fling open the doors, grab a bucket of soapy water and a sponge and set to work on cleaning every wall, window, shelf and cupboard. I also like to wash any fabrics, curtains and cushion covers. Thoroughly clearing out the winter grime feels so good and also offers an opportunity to de-clutter alongside, which frees the mind ready for this season that brings with it new hopes and dreams to be realised.

Ready to enjoy signs of spring in our beautiful surroundings? 

Exploring Cambridgeshire’s Wildlife: Spotting Flora and Fauna with Fox Narrowboats

Making space for new light foods such as uplifting herbal teas and self raising flour for lemon-infused cakes is a good way to move away from the cocoa and spelt flour that kept us full and warm during winter. Go ahead and add inspiring books to your bookshelf too by re-distributing old reads to new homes, and be sure to dig out your waterway map books so you can get to planning some adventures for the coming year. In my opinion there’s nothing like pouring over physical maps to get the excitement bubbling!

river map planning – skylar_tv

With so much to see on the British Waterways in spring, from the first buds and bulbs bursting out, to ducklings and signets and (hopefully!) equally cheery faces on maiden cruises, if you’ve been tucked up in a winter mooring it’s important to untie the ropes and head off exploring. Plus, there’s nothing like the thought of your first stroll down the towpath—or cruise on the back of your boat—in a t-shirt, to motivate that first move following a cocooned winter.

Are you curious about a narrowboat cruise? Why not book onto one of our skippered boat trips!

www.foxboats.co.uk/boat-trips/

skippered boat trip fox narrowboats march

Which brings me to the last—but by no means least—important chore of spring cleaning: the exterior. It can be easy in winter to let the leaves, dirt and chimney dust clog up your roof, not to mention the odd bag of coal chucked up on a cold, dark night or a length of wood gathered on a dog walk and stored only to be forgotten. Having a clear up and then washing and polishing your paintwork will give everything a final lift. You can buy a boat washing shampoo, as well as polish, from any good boat chandlery and a simple vinegar spray will do the trick to sparkle up your windows. If you have canopies, a good brush down and wash using whatever the manufacturers suggest will ensure your narrowboat is spring-ready and with the final touch of a bunch of daffodils, you’re good to go and enjoy this new season!

Photo credits: River map Skyler Smith on Unsplash

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

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John Revell steers his boat Olive Emily through the lock
into the Old Bedford River at the latest attempt made in
November.

In September 2015 Lois and Roy Parker entered the Old Bedford River in their cruiser Marie II via the tidal doors at Salters Lode. They cruised for about a mile before being stopped by a combination of floating reeds and impenetrable cott weed. On that occasion I was unable to get my narrowboat into the Old Bedford “on the level” so another attempt was made in November with David Venn as the “volunteer” crew. We made good progress from the normal lock at Salters Lode into the narrow, shallow and muddy tidal stretch which leads to the tidal doors of the Old Bedford sluice. The Middle Level lock keeper (who operates the sluice on the Environment Agency’s behalf) was there to open the tidal doors which worked well so that once the guillotine gate was open I could enter the Old Bedford “on the level” quite easily. This was apparently the first narrowboat to get into the Old Bedford in 2015. There was enough depth to collect more crew (Jeff Walters and Mike Daines) and we set off hoping to reach the Lamb and Flag at Welney. The next part of the trip was relatively straightforward with about 4 feet depth in the centre of the river. However, after about a mile the river became shallower, the propeller began to collect cott weed and the boat came to a complete standstill. We were able to move forwards a short way clearing the propeller as best we could but it was obvious we would not get much further. We turned round using poles and slowly made our way back to the Old Bedford sluice. By then the tidal river was too high to leave “on the level” so the crew left by car to look at Welches Dam lock (or more likely the Lamb and Flag) while I removed the cott weed from the prop. This short trip showed that it was still possible to get into the Old Bedford in a narrowboat but that it will remain difficult to reach Welney or Welches Dam lock until the Environment Agency takes action to make this river fully navigable again. It is not rocket science. They could increase the depth of water in the river and they could dredge the river and they could remove the cott weed. The Environment Agency may plead poverty but how is it that the Middle Level Commissioners manage their waterways without any income whatsoever from boat licences and boaters?

This article was published in the IWA Peterborough Branch magazine Hereward Winter 2015/16 and is reproduced here with permission of the author John Revell.  An alliance between IWA Peterborough Branch and the East Anglian Waterways Association has set up Project Hereward to campaign for the re opening of this waterway.

The post Old Bedford River John Revell makes further progress appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Finance Director Tracey Baxter said “I am delighted that we raised £529 and gave the people of March a taste of boating whether on a Day trip or a holiday the Waterways of Cambridgeshire are a great place to relax and play.  It is great to show a wider audience how much fun time on a narrowboat boat can be.”  The companies next fundraising Adventure for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices takes place on Saturday 30th May 2015 and will be their annual tea party cruise.  An hour and a half’s trip from the Marina including tea, coffee and freshly baked scones.  Tea Party trips can be booked by contacting the office on 01354 652770 and run from 10am.

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