180. Leaving the Ashby canal and turning north onto the Coventry 

The telephone pole goes back to the times before STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) and if you wanted to call a number out of your local area, you had to go through the operator. The operator would connect to the line to the area, you wished to call when another operator would connect you to the number you wanted. The number of lines between each town was limited so it could sometimes take quite a while to get through to a distant number which might mean your having to be connected to a number distant exchanges to get to the one you wanted.

🙋‍♀️ Yes please for tiny narrow boat tour. Another relaxing trip on the canal 😊. Have a nice weekend.

Great Star Trek reference.

It's said that telegraph pole you passed is the last of a sea of them once grown on that farm. The poles were harvested and replanted all across England with wires connecting them as fencing to control King James' vast giraffe herds. In fact, the name telegraph was coined because of that farmer, Peter O'Graff. If you needed giraffe fencing, you just had to tell O'Graff. I could be wrong though... The farmers name might not have been Peter.

I don't dance in the streets anymore - the judge was VERY specific about that.

The poles name is Jean, and he is originally french, coming up to good old england back in the time, where there was no work back in france for telegraph poles. He is married to Christine, a candelabra, but she moved out to some nearby village. They have 4 children, all already adult and they moved away. Jean likes spinach tartlets with red wine and every now and then, when nobody is watching, has himself a little shot of absinth. cheerio! PS: be glad about the weather, down here, we actually have around 35°c - hardly bearable... someone turned on the oven...

All these narrowboat videos make me want to move to England... just for the canals.

I was watching this vlog in my study when my wife walked in looking for something. She stayed to watch the last few minutes, and then, when the outro music began playing, commented that it was very "healing." And this is exactly why I love CTC--when life gets me down, I can always get some healing here.

Hey, David? When you go to the store to buy groceries. Could you show a short vlog of what it looks like in the store & inside a pub, of you having a pint & something to eat. Thanks. Love your videos. Keep up the good work.

David, you are simply the best. Of all of the RU-vidrs I’ve watched, you are the most human. Bless you!

The Telegraph Pole? He is called Kevin. He's retired now from full time working but likes to volunteer on the canal and is a Friend of the Canal and River Trust. You will often find him by that stretch of canal. (it's been a long day ...)

Lots of vegetables grown....but none eaten..:-)

I would LOVE to see a small series on tiny boats

Thanks David! A very welcome Friday treat.

The English country is quite beautiful.

@3:45 That utility pole has a unique feature. The lean-to pole supporting it is called a push brace. It's use to support corners when guying isn't a viable option. The cross arms have porcelain or glass insulators that supported iron wire for multi party phone lines and telegraph circuits. Judging by the amount of cross arms on that pole, it must have been busy with service in it's day.

Looking forward to the tiny boat video.

Fireman's pole to the boat? I like that! :) Oh, and I would have to have a similar crane, too! _(and suddenly I'm hearing, "Robin! Quick! To the Batnarrowboat!")_

Oh yes, Please David! I'm dying to see the small narrowboats' interiors.

I live in Nuneaton and many locals appreciate the local canals, a valuable resource and a peaceful spot or two.

Laughed at the Kelvin timeline…since I’m two years behind in my viewing (catching up though) pre-Covid videos often seem to be from an alternate universe.

Ill say an enthusiastic "yes" to a series on mini boats...!!!

I really do love Nuneaton's backyards they're so pretty and pleasant. Some of them could do with a sunbed by the canal edge.

'Dancing in the Streets'? A secret Mamas and Papas fan! Good for you!

I'm particularly fond of this episode's pun title well done

You are about halfway through your 5 year mission of exploring strange new life and new civilizations along the canals. No warp speed though :-)

At 5:50, "Recalcitrant" -- "Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline." I like that! -Phil K. Indianapolis USA

How about a Thunderbirds style chute instead of a fireman's pole. At one point some robotic hands slip your jacket on, at another you get your canal & river trust key handed to you, then your tiller,... before the chute deposits you on the stern of your boat and a voice counts down while the trees outside bend back so you can launch your boat from your hidden mooring spot under your house.

I never tire of your 70s and 80s musical puns

I just got caught up will all (I think all...) of the vlogs. I was very happy to see the email notification come across, that a new vlog was available. My wife and I did our first canal cruise, as a lark, about 4 years ago. We cruised from Market Harborough to the Foxton Locks, then on to Husbands Bosworth, turned around (the canal was going to be closed for maintenance during the slow season) back through the locks, up the Grand Union, towards Leicester and then back to Market Harborough. It took us a week, we weathered a few squalls and, it was one of our most memorable vacations. Only after that trip did I discover your blog, when planning another cruise (completed last May)…and was hooked. Life can be wonderful, at two miles per hour…give or take. Thank you, for your entertaining vlogs and I look forward to the next one (Kelvin timeline…Ha!).

I lived on a sailboat in the US for 10 years. I wouldn't mind retiring to a canal boat and put put around seeing such beautiful views! Thanks mate!

Those houses with gardens backing onto the canal are so lucky - while away a few hours watching the water, lovely

Yet another appreciated Star Trek reference.

So awesome to see the canals. I live in the US and have my own boat that I cruise the rivers of the Pacific Northwest. Beautiful and relaxing for sure. I would love to visit your canals and cruise them for a year or so... Beautiful videos. Thank you for sharing...

I would love to see a video exploring small boats!

Regarding the telegraph pole at 3:50 when I worked on the Railway in the 70s there were still lots of them in use along the line, it was said that you could always tell which direction London was because the cross bearers that carried the wires were always on the side facing London, presumably they were erected starting from London so it was natural to fix the bearers on that side as they progressed outwards, dont know if it was the same for poles along the cut though.

" And we're Rollin,...Rollin,...Rollin down the river." Can't wait for the small boat series!

you are a lucky man

With us in the Netherlands it is called a city garden / allotment garden. And it's always nice when you see an area with all those vegetables and fruit and people who are enjoying themselves

Thank you for all your Blogs always of interest even more so with the "lock down" being at home and not on "AFK" reminds me of our trips on the cut and planning others later this year. The telegraph pole is apparently one of the only ones remaining but they used to run along the ties of the canal as the means of messaging just like in the "Wild West" films. From memory there is also one in the centre upper arch somewhere possible North Oxford or Coventry. I do have photos of both will try and find the bridge one. Stay safe everyone hope to catch up soon.

So that's what Nuneaton looks like... at least from the water. My maternal grandfather's father was born there in 1852, and at the age of 10 emigrated with his family to Petrolia, Ontario, where my grandfather and mother were born. They in turn emigrated to California in the 1920s. I expect I have some fourth cousins still in Nuneaton, but I don't know who they might be.

Hello Dave. First, thank you for vlogging your experiences for us. You are making converts of my wife and I. Re telegraph pole, these were pre/digital lines that used to be seen from railways carriages sweeping their multiple wires as they seemed to rise and fall from the train window. Canal routes often formed routes for these. The digital,age swept them away, since they were paired copper wires and simply couldn’t handle the traffic of modern telephone and internet systems, most of whose cables are routed underground. Fewer breakages when the poles were blown over in storms too.

I live just a few minutes away from the anchor pub and my mum has her narrowboats moored at boot wharf

I liked the look of that tiny narrow boat.

Another relaxing video.... And even more reasons for me to plan for this life

A lovely cruise from The Ashby. Very pleasant - excellent video. Thanks for all the information given as we travel David.

Along with Llama, Alpaca are ruminant members of the Camelid clan who have a nasty habit of spitting their stomach contents at you if you upset them so Beware! I have no idea about anywhere else, but Alpaca are popular in Australia because if you keep a few with a herd of sheep they will protect the flock from the predations of foxes and wayward dogs. When in defensive mode Alpaca can administer punch-like kicks with their front legs that are powerful enough to discourage and even injure the largest dog! Some enterprising farmers even lease them out to other sheep growers particularly during lambing season. I have 'alternate lifestyle' neighbours on an adjoining segment of back fence who have a mated pair of Emus in with their chickens for the same reason! The emus are quite a popular feature with visitors and generally come to the fence to make their peculiar and resonant 'gloomping' noise. If I happen to be down there doing battle with weeds they will often settle down in the corner to watch proceedings and discuss my apparently lacklustre performance. I often toss them a few of their favourite plants such as dandelions and thistles which generally causes a chicken stampede and disgraceful brawl.

I built the green house you see at the Boot warf.

It's always nice to see more coming from your end of the world that doesn't contain London stabbing stats and anything brexit related. Although I'm sure people in your world are getting a fair share of negative news from here too. We should pass a law that says anything negative must be followed by something positive from the same area. Probably just a fantasy though. Thanks for the update, look forward to your new videos.

Hat's the way - I like it. And dancing in the street - there'll be music everywhere. Nice.

I hope you do a vlog on those tiny boats.

5:52 Recalcitrant is also an an amazing name and yes that is a dope looking boat and yes I'm still waiting on your series on tiny narrowboats

Guys, no matter how old never quit wanting a fireman's pole

This video had me slinking back into my armchair in no time at all. Trying to get help from the DVLA at this virus ridden time isn't recommended, but these videos are. Well done David, I think you are keeping me sane.

Love your vlogs Dave. I normally start my day with coffee and toast watching one. Such a calming start to the morning!

Very enjoyable cruise! Love looking at the houses and gardens along the canal.

References to KC and the Sunshine Band, Star Trek, the Mamas and the Papas, AND showing us a pub with the same name as a famous local restaurant here on my side of The Pond? No wonder I like your videos! (BTW, the lady who lives across the street from my parents has an alpaca farm & sells the wool -- it's quite nice to the touch & warm to boot.)

Beautiful video about your tour, greetings from Germany.

2:08 Narrowboat "Pedantic", now there's a vessel after my own heart, I'm tempted to put in a bid. We also have allotments in Germany on the same system (local council) - they're called "Schrebergärten".

Another great and interesting vlog. Thanks and please keep them coming.

Hi.... great

Love your videos very relaxing to watch. Keep up the good work 👍

I found your channel a 2 days ago, new sub, I binged watched all your videos, absolutely loved every one of them, so looking forward to more🤗

Having imbibed some ethanol-based lubricant while watching the vlog, I was absolutely gobsmacked at 8:10 to literally feel the breeze turning those blades. Then I remembered I have a fan running next to me due to all the heat...

I like you site; I often come here to unwind from a stressful patch online or copying links to projects.

I'm looking forward to "Cruising The Cut... The Movie". David is overwhelmed by "pirates" in Birmingham (a place in which he swore never to moor).

A short series about tiny narrow boats. Talk about a perfect fit.

Love the dogs, so cute.

finally a fisherman, thank you

Hi great Vlogs. Happy New Year. On the subject of cruising in tiny boats you might like a book I read "Voyage in a Bowler hat" - "This is an account of a cruise including England, Wales and Ireland. In 1958, Hugh Malet cruised across the British Isles from London to Limerick in an ancient 16ft dory. From the Thames he travelled to the Mersey (with a detour to Llangollen). At Ellesmere Port, his boat was loaded onto a coaster, and thus travelled to Dublin. From Dublin, he cruised most of Ireland's navigable waterways: the Grand Canal, the Shannon and its lakes and the Barrow Navigation, which he descended to the sea at Waterford."

Your videos are the most relaxing that I have seen on youtube. No matter what the stresses of my day may have been , a viewing of your latest video always calm's me right down.

awesome update, so relaxing

Springwood Haven Marina what very nice people, and the resident Victron Energy engineer is brilliant! He diagnosed a problem with our Inverter Isolation Switch and replaced it whilst we waited, service with a smile, I'd almost forgotten it existed!

This was immensely enjoyable! Fun and lovely! I love your commentary!

A cuppa & cruising the cut perfect 👍

Thanks for the mention!

Lovely lovely lovely!

Another lovely cruise. Thank you!!!

we enjoyed your program , lots of bits n bobs to see and watch. we would also be interested in viewing many of the smaller narrowboats too ! cheers : )

Pure relaxed joy. As always, thank you 😊

Great relaxing video, thanks.😊

Brilliant,loved it.😁👍👏👏👏

As usual. A nice one DAVID. Loved the fireman pole idea. The telegraph pole is a SETI antennae in disguise. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺👍👍🥂

A firemans pole down "to the boatcave robin!"

Just love these travels, and you narrate them so well. Grateful to you for this, as I am old and cannot travel. My heart is in England, though my body lives in Vermont.

The pole at 3:45 is for railroad signalling and telegraph lines.

That is a Great Video Really wished you could get a tour of the little Blue boat

must be nice riding boat all day....

Good evening, David, it's always a treat for me to watch your videos

👍👍👍entertaining as ever....thanks for the upload..all the best...

Just subscribed to your vlog. Love watching them. Thanks for posting ..

ahhh lovely! watch a cuppa and drink in the surroundings.... hold on, drink a cuppa and watch the surroundings! lol lovely locations... not much different to last time (ok a few differences!) but still very nice 😊 cant wait for the next vid 😊🍰

Lovely video, thank you. Cheer from Canada.

Good one, David. Thanks.

That tiny narrow boat was really fascinating. Good idea to do a series on these boats. Looking forward to it. Have a great weekend!

Nice countryside. Love the dogs!

That timeline explanation gave me a crick in my neck.

A lovely video...informative, relaxing and interesting.

Another great vlog!

A thoroughly enjoyable vlog as always. I always look forward to a new one coming along x