The "gusts of wind" in the weather forecast were so loud, they woke me up. Roaring.

Also, waves slapping the hull and dishes clinking as the boat moves.

I fear for my chimney and its rain hat. (I know what it's actually called, but since I assume that term has a racist derivation, rain hat it is.)

EDIT: chimney cowl. Thanks @mike

#CanalLife #canal #boating #boat #weather #UK #Midlands #storm #chimney
@ukwaterways

I read that using groups is more effective than hashtags for wider circulation in the fediverse.

A new FediGroup is now live. It's for any toots concerning the UK's navigable waterways, whether #canals or #rivers managed by the #Canal and #River #Trust, the #Environment #Agency, the #Broads #Authority or other body.

If anyone mentions the address:
@ukwaterways
in a post, it will be boosted to everyone who follows the Group.

You can follow the group at:
https://fedigroups.social/@ukwaterways

Public posts and replies are boosted. Private messages to the Group are rejected.

Please boost!

#boat #boatlife #boating #boatsthattoot #canallife #ukcanals #norfolkbroads #broads #sailing #yacht #cruiser #narrowboat #widebeam

There's an old-fashioned Vacant/Occupied dial on the boat's toilet door. This door is angular to fit the cabin wall's inward slant, or tumble, as it swings open.

The shower is in a walk-through room. Its wood doors don't lock. In an emergency, I want people able to move through in a hurry, not blocked by a locked door for fear of exposed naked bits.

(There've been no emergencies or nonconsenting nudity.)

@hmallett

#CanalLife #canal #boating #boat #safety #EmergencyExit #lock #door #exit #UK

For the stern hatch, I bought much larger, sturdier, brass sliding bolts.

Oak is hard wood, so it took a chisel and mallet, drill, hacksaw, and screwdriver to mount them. But it wasn't difficult.

Opening the hatch takes only 2 seconds—faster than I imagine it takes to open an airplane's emergency exit. It's satisfying to have a decent locking mechanism on the hatch that doesn't block emergency egress.🔥

#CanalLife #canal #boating #boat #narrowboat #safety #security #lock #bolt #FireExit #hatch

I've been thinking about security. I need some bigger, stronger latches.

I think the culprit must have been interrupted by a passer-by.

Nothing was stolen but I can't think of another reason why I found the current latches broken.

#CanalLife #canal #UK #boating #boat #security #PropertyCrime #CRT

In England, canal companies preceded railway companies. Canals were dug along a level route. Later tracks were often laid alongside and overtop of canals.

I managed to get a photo of the Oxford North canal near Hillmorton, just as an oncoming train pushed into the frame. It's all high speed, and amazing that the canal itself is in focus.

In contrast to the trains, boats on the canal travel at 3 miles per hour.

#Canal #CanalLife #train #rail #railway #boating #narrowboat #boat #speed #velocity

I'm scheduling people to join the boat next week. We'll fare well along a stretch of tree-lined canal that has a few locks to operate.

They'll be relaxing days of enjoying the sights, the waterway, and the wildlife (ducks, coots, moor hens, geese, and swans). Oh, and there will be stimulating intermissions from all that relaxation: winding lock paddles up and down, filling and draining lock chambers, and pushing lock gates open and closed.

#canal #CanalLife #lock #boating #narrowboat #boat

It is time to prepare the boat for boating. After all, it's not only a home and a (slow) mode of transportation, it's also a boat—a source of entertainment.

#canal #CanalLife #boating #narrowboat #boat #UK

This #windowFriday take a moment to sit with me in this wonderful bookshop. Get comfortable in a deep chair, inhale the heady smell of incense and browse through something that looks intriguing.... while a duck paddles by, above your head

#wordonthewater #London #bookshop #fensterFreitag #canallife