141. Narrowboat cruise from Weedon Bec to near Gayton Junction on the Grand Union Canal 

I think I'd rather enjoy having a winding hole at the bottom of the garden; I could crouch down behind a bush and observe the narrowboats in their native habitat, and whisper earnestly about the behaviours I was seeing and pretend I was Sir David Attenborough.

I do enjoy your adventures. I usually make myself a cup of tea and some biscuits and enjoy your vlogs. Good job David

Talking about staying next to RR line reminds me of a story my Grandfather used to tell. He at one time lived in a boarding house in downtown Seattle, Washington, (USA), next to a trolley line and every morning, at 3am a trolley would come by and he wouldn't even notice, until one morning he woke up and couldn't figure out why until the trolley, which was running ten minutes late went rattling by, then he went back to sleep.

Nothing better after a crummy day at work than a new cruise through the English countryside. Thanks for posting!

That's the sort of mooring I love. Middle of nowhere, no one else around.

Hi David, Just my pet peeve but I think we should put this turning with the wind to bed. Just from a logical point of view it makes no sense. You could only turn on windy days and then only if the wind was in the right direction? What are the chances? I prefer winding as in windlass which seems distantly related to the German wenden meaning to turn round. Wikipedia has the following to say on the matter: "Another Etymology, however, is the Old English word for turn - "Windan", (pronounced with a short I (as in windlass, a handle for winding (long I) gears))[2]. Old English was in use up to and including the 18th century when the canals where built. Much UK canal terminology comes from spoken rather than written tradition and from bargees who did not read or write." Which I find much more persuasive than the wind theory. Keep up the good work. I love the atmosphere in these Autumn cruises :)

Rather enjoyed the greeting you got from your man at Rugby Boats 6:34 - I had to watch that bit twice.

Whenever I watch your vlog I'm always amazed at the navvies who constructed the canals all those years ago, pure workmanship at its best

You cracked the code for a good life, congrats! 👍🏽

Grumpy Bumpkin won’t do at all, a good G&T is in order here!

We’ve stayed on that caravan site 7:48 many a time and enjoyed watching the boats chug past. That winding hole is actually quite shallow, we’ve seen a few boats try to use it but bump their hull and move on elsewhere

You could sell counselor 'couch' time with your vlog. It is so darned relaxing. Thank you for another fine episode to unwind with.

“It’s all very magical, isn’t it?” Quite the understatement, David.

The boat at 12:00 is named "Corona" lol...i am in Belize, Central America, i have no idea how I came to find this channel but I love watching your videos, I hope one day to visit England and experience narrow boating on the canals and locks...and a Liverpool game as well...lol...I luv Liverpool

I have a friend who lives 24/7 on the cut at Weedon Bec he uses the er 14 day! Rule more like 6 months untill he is told to move on. On several occasions he allowed the honour of steering his 70 footer along the cut from Weedon to Nether Hayford. So I know this run well. A pleasure to re visit, so thank you.

Nice video .these boating vlogs are rather satisfying to watch .

i love your videos and wish i was 20 instead of 73.would love to join with a cuppa tea.

6:31 ha ha you can absolutely see that he has that “I don’t have my glasses on” face. With just a second or two of the “who the flip is that burke” face. But the genuinely joyful smile on his face, once he recognised you was just brilliant. 🙂🐿🌈❤️

After a busy day, nothing compares with taking a short cruise via your videos. So interesting to see the scenery accompanied by, as always, your fine narration skills.

What a treasure you have avaliable. We here in the States had the Erie Canal that ran across New York but it was left to go to ruin. We have the remains of a lock here and you can find the remains of the extension canal that ran from Erie to Pittsburg in various places.

I have watched all your videos in the space of 3-4 weeks. I’m gutted I now have to wait for each new video. I’ve really enjoyed all of them. Keep them coming 👍

You are my favorite channel on RU-vid. I need to catch up on your more recent videos. Will you be spending the winter on your boat? Blessings from Florida. ❤️

perhaps a remote camera on the nose and a video screen aft for those angled blind turns

We used that Winding hole on our first narrowboat holiday, got it wrong the first time and the gentleman who lives in the house came and gave us some much needed advice :-)

We hired our holiday boat from Steve at Weedon Boatyard. Amazing service from Grand Union Narrowboats for a holiday hire boat. Just booked again for 2019 and can’t wait to get back on the water. Great Vlogs by the way. Thanks for sharing your journey.

I like the scences of trains passing by the canal. I have also seen trains in other videos, would it be possible for you to combine those into a "best of trains as seen from a narrowboat" video? That would be great.

Good to see you back cruising the cut, i think making waves could sink some of those old wrecks.

I do love David's blogs but I have to admit this is the first time I've noticed the in-camera narration (as I work my way through the back catalog) and it's not quite the same. There's something about the retrospective light-hearted snark that I really enjoy. Perhaps I will grow to like this new (to me) format but I'm not sure -- I'm not even sure I can put my finger on why I'm not in favor of it (other than my clunky guess above). [And yes, obviously this would be a huge time-saver so I can't be mad at our narrowboat bloke for his pragmatism]

This was the perfect ending to a day in the office - thank you.

Hi David, recently came across your vlog and a have been glued to it ever since - I’m retired! Living in Northamptonshire I recognise a lot of the locations you visit or pass through., and to that end the reason for this comment. During my employment I had cause to visit Weedon Bec, a small industrial finishers - I sold powder coating equipment - and it turned out he was located in the old Military Ordnance Depot that was constructed in approx 1805. Are you aware of this place? There is still a section of canal within the boundary walls with portcullis structures at each end. Truly a site of national heritage and importance, I managed to have a wander and take a few photos. Love your style (photography/narration) I’ll have to go back to the beginning of your vlogs and watch from the start.

one of your better navigation videos,,,windy day,,,lots of colorful boats,,,tight squeezes at times,,,im surprised you managed it as well as you did. Lotsa options to bump against other boats, the canal sides, and docking areas!! You always make it look easier than it is! I saw many different types of boats, and creative paint options,,,,yours always looks the neatest of all. Thanks for working so hard for all of us who will never have the chance to do as you do....regards,

I've been really enjoying binge watching all your series as I've been unwell for the last couple of days, but the thought strikes me with this video regards the tap. You own a screwdriver. You even thought you should fix it. You, more than anyone have a bit of a responsibility to let your decency shine and take a moment of your life to fix the thing. When you see people on a tropical trail cutting growth with a machete as they walk along, they are not blazing a trail, they are simply maintaining it. A few casual swings to take out something that's grown over the track, and it makes it just that little bit better for the next person. It does nothing for them whatsoever. If you travel one of the outback tracks in Australia, you will see things like bushes put in front of any huge holes in the road to stop the next guy crashing into the ditch like the guy that put the bush there did. Please never pass up the opportunity to fix something if you can. It's not as if you're in a hurry or anything. I'm sure you wouldn't think twice about giving someone in need a tow. Give the canal workers a cup of tea. Give the tap a screwdriver if it needs one. Please dont take this the wrong way, and thanks for all the content :)

I was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford as an Airman in the USAF, it has changed so much and I wish I paid more attention to the canals when I was there 1990-1993

Brill journey,brill vid. This stretch has been very enjoyable to watch along side you so thanks for posting (cos I know making videos are not a 5 min job to produce.) When you did the van I missed the boat but just for a 20 second of to at the beginning I missed the van lol. Anyhoo great vid and here's to many many more😃😃

Next time you pass through Nether Heyford, keep an eye out for NB Reckless. It’s the boat Guy Martin did up in his tv program.

I look forward to watching your videos I couldn't wait to get home and watch your video on my Big TV . You are living my dream I want to live on a Narrow boat so bad .thanks for sharing your experience. Have a awesome weekend

I read that the term winding hole comes from the phrase to wind like a clock

Went and Googled the Village at War event, it is quite a thing! Boats, land vehicles, aircraft, dancing, WW2 displays. Found this, www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk/vaw-2018/4594099174

Another great vlog as usual - please don't ever change your intro music, it is instantly calming and matches the whole tone of the video.

Good episode, “A Day in the Life of David”. As always, thanks for taking us along.

Very enjoyable, due in large part to your excellent commentary. Richard (U.S).

While watching you motor past some of these marinas and other groups of boats, I can't help wonder if there is a little "length snobbery" among narrow boat owners. Do the 60+ foot owners look down on the 45' owners for example?

Its been 19 years since I left the UK and one of the things that is different watching your wonderful videos is how much more traffic there seems to be, so many more cars and lorries, much more than when I grew up and lived in Devon. I watch a wild camp channel as well, Wiltshire Man and no matter where he is one can hear traffic noise in the distance no matter where he is except for the lakes or mountains of Wales where traffic is replaced by masses of people. I don’t think I would go to the welsh mountains in search of peace! I now live in Austria and it’s much more like the UK was in the seventies in terms of pace of life and traffic noise.

That was a pleasant 15 minutes, beautiful

I at once started thinking of population density within, say, a half mile of the cuts. Realizing the full immensity of the system, as well as the diversity would make that an impossible question. Instead I focused on the couple of semi-permanent campers in the field, and I wondered what land they are on. Being another terribly difficult question for a passerby, I finally concluded to ask the number of dogs, and the ratio of owner-non-owner. Plenty of time to think out there David. It is lovely!

OMG, at 6:10 it looks like the unmistakeable livery of Narrow Waters, currently on offer by Rugby Boats.

Thanks for your inspirational vlog, David, from an avid fan and name-sake. Please keep the videos coming as I never tire of watching them. I am endeavouring to follow in your footsteps and move on to a boat in the very near future. I'm just doing the research at the moment and weighing things up on the financial side. I live near the Grand Union in the Northampton area and it would be great to catch up with you if you were passing by. - p.s. > Remember seeing you on Meridian TV a few years ago...

That's what I love about autumn here in New England, the aroma of wood burning stoves in people's homes when I walk or drive around. I just love catching a whiff of that! It's one of my favorite things about fall and winter. Autumn to me is the best time of year. Not too hot, not too cold, smells great and the colors in the trees are gorgeous!

Seriously contemplating buying a canal barge. Are they safe enough to lock up and leave. I know it all depends upon what security measures you have in place and areas to appease. I will have travel to work and leave it for 8 hours a day. I just love the Canal life so relaxing.

5:16 --- Taps like that just need the smaller nut underneath to be tightened gently to get the gland to squash around the shaft.

You're a good man sir, in considering the fixing of public amenities. A simple, ez ,yet most valuable contribution to the canal lifestyle ,I imagine. I enjoy your vlogs greatly, thank you. Make waves and keep your spirit salty!

Shame you're a week early!!, returning to the cut for a short break from Gayton on 1st October, will be first cruising for more years than should have been allowed ;) would have been nice to say hello, but guess you'll be away south by then. If you get a chance when you reach Bletchley, take the time to visit Bletchley Park, very well worth the time imho. Still playing catch up with the rest of your Vlogs, but great stuff all.

I really like watching your videos after a hard day at work. They are so relaxing! Keep it up!

Beautiful scenery,David. Safe runnings.👍

That's not a winding hole by the campsite just after Rugby Boats, I thought that when we camped there a couple of weeks ago, just before our short break out of Gayton, I actually commented that it was rude someone was moored opposite, but on close inspection It's just a water hole for livestock, (or was), if you tried to turn you'd very soon bump into the piling that it just below the surface following the normal bank line ;)

On the hose bib, the nut just below the handle is a packing gland. Just a small turn should stop the leak if there is any packing left in the gland. The screw you were trying to turn just holds the handle on the shaft. It works like the packing on your prop shaft but without the grease.

Me and my two long haired doxies would just love this.............I'm jealous cheers

Here in the States, canals are few and far between, most boats are either sail or 'GRP' types. While there are speed limits in narrower channels and past moorings, the lure of speed has enticed many with too much money and too little concern for the comforts of others to get into 'Power Boating'. And if it's one thing they can't tolerate, it's being told to motor slowly! The local Police Marine Division spends most of it's time pulling over speeders and drunken 'boaters'. The clamor for licensing, similar to motor cars, is being fought mightily by the boat manufactures and salesmen who want to sell to anyone with money, not caring a whit for their experience or rectitude. It has spoilt the experience for many in the more congested areas close to larger cities. I suppose that's the reason I enjoy your leisurely chugs down mostly calm and empty canals. And, perhaps, why I now live alongside the Erie Canal and it's, to you, miserly 35 locks...

Another wonderful video! Thank you! Oh - is the horn working yet? (Edit: er, nevermind)

My heart aches for that tantalizing peace and serenity. The encroaching modernity. The fresh, yet, uneventful drama at each new turn. The Englishman in his castle and but always on the run. The breeze, the green, the secure waters and the constant echoes of the past are delightful. Thank you.

Very true, saturation point, and the need for a cupper, usually will end my day or have me protesting to the skipper, of his duty warranting my break...

Not sure if you've been told yet, but the area at the bottom of the camp site at Stow was not a winding hole. The winding hole there Is just after the bridge next to the camp site. The area you pointed out at the bottom of the camp site is full of sludge and i have seen a few boats get stuck in the mire there.

Typically wonderful vlog, however I do wonder if the title may attract a whole new tranche of subscribers for all the slightly wrong reasons? Or is this the plan? (We should be told)...

Hi David! So interesting. At the same time that you filmed this, we were 'accidentally' staying at 'The Narrowboat' at Weedon and then remembered we had friends on the GU whom we hadn't seen for fifteen years. We got in touch and they were moored at Nether Heyford. After a great couple of days with them we ended up, a few weeks later, purchasing a Narrowboat they owned on the same mooring. It seems, we worked out, to be exactly the same time you were passing by. Crazy coincidence! We have been loving binge-watching your vlogs together before bedtime! Look out for an old green Norseman 40' called 'Zion' next year!

We used to live in Weedon, literally 50 meters down the road from the bridge at 01:11 on the video. Used to walk my husky cross dog along the tow path - a lovely walk and he loved it! Worth noting that there is also a small super market in the middle of the village which is much better on price.

Great vlog David as per usual. Nice to see you getting about again look forward to more informative vlogs. Cheers Pal, take care...

I looked in your Q&A but for naught. Do you filter your water when you fill up or on board?

Weedon is an interesting place at the junction of rail canal and two major roads (The A45 east/West Saxon road and the A5 Roman Watling Street. www.blisworth.org.uk/images/Canal/rumbold.htm

12:38 - 'Man struggling with umbrella ahead'.

That was really lovely. Such beautiful scenery. It’s so relaxing watching your vlogs. Thank you

I really like your vlog.. I also watch another person's clog on the canal boats.. she had a WWII gun bunker next to the canal.. can't comment on her vlog so maybe ask you if you seen many or have some on your vlogs..

If I could I’d join the lifestyle but bills still need covering before the pension kicks in. Wifey is not keen on a floating submarine as she thinks of them. Great video, really chill inspiring.

Railways were deliberately built alongside canals to steal their trade. Many railway companies bought up canals and neglected them.

Another marvellous Canal Tour. You have a natural instinct of what is important to the viewers. Thanks ever so Much!!

Hi from Queensland. Why don't you collect rain water on your narrow boat ?

Lovely to see the "canal view" of the area in which I live. If I'd known you were coming, I'd have put the kettle on. Cheers

I saw Rugby boats video with narrowboat with the Union Jack on it. Least I am assuming it was same. Not sure that a common design to put your boat.

You’ve mentioned 48 hour moorings and now 14 day moorings. Does someone come along and check or is it by the honor system?

Hi David, I’ve compressed the last three years of your life into about three weeks worth of viewing. It’s been a very satisfying and relaxing way to spend the time in your company. I’ve enjoyed it so much my partner and I are going to book a narrow boat holiday next year! All the best, Simon.

It looks like a blast . hello from Nevada USA

Lovely vlog David, at first I thought the boat at 12.00 had a camera shy owner then I saw the tow line, that is some impressive skills towing the Butty like that, amazing timing to get them at that narrow point. 💯

i need the Narrow Boat life!

you grumpy David never? good to see you out and about

I always like the bit where you moor up and decide that's enough for one day and take a lovely break. Of course I imagine the stove would be glowing gently and heating the boat. In fact I wouldn't need the boat just the stove I think.

"Magical" indeed. I so want to do this when I have the money. I see why you wanted to make it your full-time life.

We live next to a railway and somethings wonder if the trains are going today ? We don’t hear them anymore......

I've started going in to winding holes, reversing up to the bank after doing the initial turn and then using the rope on the stern for everything else, more pleasant for sure.

Your trains are so much quieter than the trains in the United States. Our trains are required to honk at every intersection and the tracks go right through town at ground level.

I have to admire your piloting skills through the twisty parts.

David please work towards producing your series for dvd CTC belongs on TV you are the water based Rick Steves. I look forward to every episode and your production is always top notch. Keep up the great work!

This vlog is one of my favorites.

Still watch and enjoying each blog trying to catch up every day to your current one. Believe your blog with the scenery actually lowers my Blood Pressure....lol Most boats that I have seen all over the world have names. Customarily they are Christened bye owner when first purchased. Do you ever plan on naming her? My suggestion "Happy Wanderer".

Another nice video. Have you thought about getting a wired or wireless camera to put on the front of the boat to make navigation easier?

Take away the roads and trains. It is another World.🇦🇺👍🍷

correct me I am wrong but it appear most other long boat owners just ignore you when you pass them, but you wave and say good morning. Here in Australia when you pass close to other boats the people on board always yell out hello and or wave.. Great video just the same

Resort to watching old cruisingthecutvideos, where is David and new videos.

You post your videos ... during my normal 9-5 work day in California. My phone's e-mail tells me that there is a video available--but, while at work ... I can't watch videos. So, I spent ALL DAY knowing that there was one of your wonderful videos waiting for me at home. It was VERY frustrating. When I got home, your video was well worth the wait. Thank you for posting. Don't change a thing. Delightful.

What beautiful scenery, thank you for sharing it with the world.

The gentle pace of your videos have helped me to get into the practice of stopping periodically and actually see the beauty around me. Birmingham and its environs are well-forested; indeed the whole state of Alabama. It's easy to get busy and just glance around and miss what's in front of my eyes. Thank you!

Be cool to see a map outlining your travel segments. City to City maybe depicting the canal twists and turns. 108 thru 150 watched today