A narrowboat called 'Lillie' on the Lancaster Canal.

What a relaxing trip wildrose. And you had some beautiful scenery to enjoy as you sat cosy & warm in the cabin.

Hallo wildrose. A lovely blog. Although I will never be able to have one....living in the middle of Germany as I do I love narrowboats and I follow a lot of narrowboat blogs on the internet. As a kid I lived in Rutland and not very far away from us were Foxton locks and several of us used to cycle accross there on a sunday......about a 10 mile cycle ride from where we lived, and we used to watch the narrow boats go up and down the locks. I realy envy you for being able to have such a fantastic holiday. If you have any more photo´s please do another blog with them....I will appreciate them....even if nobody else does.

What lovely photos, it looks really good, glad you had such a good time.

That is absolutely beautiful! We once spent 4 days on a boat in the Norfolk Broads and, although it was a fun holiday, it seemed the world and his wife was also there! Relaxing it was NOT! Your holiday looks like the one I hoped to have. Glad you had such a great time.

What a lovely way to spend some time.
Nice scenery, and I liked those bridges ...

Lovely blog Wildrose. Something I have always wanted to do too, and that canal would suit me fine. Thanks.

Lovely!

This is something I have always wanted to do after having two long weekends on the Norfolk Broads off peak which were lovely but as Nariz says, no where near as peaceful as the canals. I have always been fascinated with long boats and that little stove does look really cosy, beautiful photos Wildrose.

Lovely Photos.Thanks.

Snoopdog why is it I have the Avon and Kennett Canals on my doorstep and yet all I have ever done is watch other people on them.
Perhaps next year Me and my Dog, if it broke down could put a rope around the dog and let him pull it from the towpath.lol

Inspirational blog Chris! What beautiful photos - a lovely memory for you, and a thought to inspire the rest of us to try a similar holiday "one day". Thanks :))

What an inspiring Blog, Chris. I've always quite fancied this kind of holiday but OH says it's too expensive...misery guts...Bet you're glad you did it last year and this last September...it would have been quite a different story I fear. Lovely photos too.

A lovely blog and pics,Chris..shame we have so many locks on ours,you could have paid a visit :o)The only one I have ever been on ,is moored on our local canal..as a tearoom ! .,,erm,aren't you supposed to be in Falmouth today? :o)..oh,just seen the date..posted yesterday..sorry LOl.

Have been on several narrowboats over the years, we used to live in Kinver West Midlands not far from the canals, most of them had a huge amount of locks, certainly kept you fit.
You have really captured the scene, some beautiful photography, a joy to read.

Lovely blog

I really enjoyed your blog and felt that I was on the boat with you! wasn't you lucky with the weather Chris! Is it difficult working all the lock gates? I've often fancied doing this but my hubby thinks it would be too difficult for him.I'm pleased you had a lovely restful week. Will you be going again? It was nice to look at this while the weather outside is just awful at the moment. Thanks for sharing.

lovely blog and photos wildrose, we sometimes go for walk along the canal at Lancaster, its lovely around there isnt it, glad you enjoyed your trip :o))

Dear Everyone,

I am so pleased that you enjoyed the canal photos. Our little narrowboat was less expensive than most to hire and was a little bit shabby inside on first sight but I grew fond of 'Lillie' as the days went on and by the end of the week was fond of her, flaws and all!

It was like being removed from real life somehow and really was very, very restful.

We did see some lovely colourful narrow boats and I will print out the pics.

Another favourite place of mine is Scarisbrick Marina near Ormskirk, where many narrow boats are moored. The restaurant there is lovely - full of character and northern humour!

Lovely blog Wildrose, we often visit Foxton Locks the place Rogi has mentioned and have spent many a happy day watching the narrowboats going up and down, they always look grand all painted up, by your photo`s I can tell that you had a lovely time, lots to see on your travels, thankyou for sharing, your photo`s are really good..

Just putting the blog together made me think 'I'd really like to do this again sometime!'

Trying to catch up on blogs ...impossible ....everyone seems to be blogging at the moment. Glad I saw this though, such beautiful scenery and your pics capture the tranquillity so well:-))

I was getting worried about you so I am glad to see your name again.
There have been a lot of blogs so don't worry about commenting on mine - just say 'Hello.'
Love Chris
x

It looks lovely and so relaxing Wildrose ,I live in Norfolk and have seen the other comments about the Norfolk Broads some of the broads are like the M1 motorway very crowded usually where the shopping villages are , there are other places much quieter away from the hub of people ... I'm glad you had enjoyed your holiday our son lives in Lancashire we have walked beside the locks :o)

Hello:-)

Oh BA why was your 'Hello' a surprise?!!!

Actually 'Hello' is nowhere near enough, I like your comments as they always make me smile so come on get creative, say something funny!

Oh eck...all my words have left me:-o

I don't believe that for one minute,Ba ..:o)

Sorry I missed this one Rose! It looks like exactly the kind of holiday I would enjoy....but for the midges etc! I can just imagine how relaxing it would be. :)

I must have missed this last year, Wildrose. My parents lived on a narrowboat for 9 years. Their home mooring was Scarisbrick, though that was before the new marina was built. Their boat was called Colonel Bogie, and we had some nice trips with them. They travelled all over the network from Spring to Autumn, even going south onto the Thames. They were in their late sixties when they started! Eventually, they had to sell up and settle down again, moving to a Park Home where, of course, they had far more space! Mum kept a log every day - it makes fascinating reading.

My Mum and her sisters grew up in Scarisbrick! When we go to visit her, we always take her to the new marina for lunch - she loves it there. She is now 88 and has such happy memories of skipping along the towpath!

What a small world!
xx

Isn't it?

My sister lives at Brown Edge, almost opposite the Crematorium. Mum loves the new marina (she lives just off Turning Lane) - she says it's a great place for a snack. OH and I keep meaning to go there. One day we will! It's only a few miles away. I daresay if it was further we would have already been there!

Ask your mum if she remembers the previous man who ran the marina cafe? He was called John and was such a character with a wonderful northern sense of humour! I think it is his son or nephew who is now in charge. Do go there as it is so nice.

We shall be heading there in a week or so and no doubt we will be calling there ourselves!

I hope you have a lovely time. I showed Mum your blog - she loves pictures of narrowboats on the canal - so many happy memories. She and Dad loved the life although it was very hard. Shopping was quite a logistical problem because there was so little storage space. They made a lot of friends up and down the country.

Mum says she thinks John is based at the Rufford marina and it is his brother at Scarisbrick. It was quite a venture building that!

Yes, she is probably right.

I am so proud to think that your mum has looked at my pics. Please give her my love and I shall keep you informed of any news from the marina!!!

Mum's maiden name was Ellison just in case that rings a bell, they lived at Carr Cross.

xx

Mum and Dad moved to Southport in the 60s and moved to Scarisbrick after giving up the boat. Mum did have a great friend in Marshside, Southport - Elizabeth Ellison - who had kennels. Her husband's name was Tom. Sadly they both died some years ago. The marina is definitely on my to-do list for this year!

I grew up in Southport. My parents had a house in Leyland Road which was one of the roads leading off the promenade. My parents lived there until the early 80's when they moved to Formby. It is still the only town in the country where I know nearly all the street names!!!

Leyland Road is just round the corner from us!

Oh my goodness!!!

Now that IS a coincidence!!!

xx

:-0 !