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Thanks Gerald! Yes, it feels like we are almost there! 😁 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

Hi John - that's great! - yes, actually, she's 40 feet long, not 44, so, nice and compact (though they do make boats much smaller of course). Much of the time I'll be alone, but my partner Janet will be staying on board now and then too. Its ideal for two people, even though the space will obviously be limited! Yeah, as Ive said many times on here - keep everything crossed that the completion is on time!🤞

Hi Robert! Thanks for the comment and for continuing to watch 👍 Are they slow? Well, I have no personal experience of other boat builders, but it is true that I was originally expecting Gladys to be completed last summer. Since then, the main cause of delay was that Aintree was having difficulty obtaining supply of the engines that they install, and so a backlog of boats built up, and mine was behind a number of others. I guess another issue is that maybe Aintree Boats took on too many orders and we all ended up paying the price for that. Having said that - in their defence - its not in Aintree's interest to delay finishing the boats... because unlike some builders, they agree the price at the outset and this remains fixed, no matter how long the delay, and despite the fact that a 40 foot Beetle, if ordered today, would cost a lot more. So myself, Lorna and others, haven't been asked for any additional funds incurred because of the delays. And I only pay the final instalment when the boat is finished - so again, its in their interest to move the boats out so they can get on with the next boat on the list. As with life in general, its very easy to judge others but there are always two sides to the story... I also watch Lorna's channel and have actually seen Foxglove up close where it's presently right next to Gladys - they appear to have done a lovely job on the boat - I hope Lorna will be happy once she finally gets afloat and starts making videos of her adventures again. 🙂

Thanks DC! 👍 Yes, more positive this time - but keep those fingers firmly crossed please! 😁

Hello Adrian and Mags! Thank you for the lovely comment and thanks so much for subscribing 👍 I just saw your video... what a coincidence, as we were on Happy Wren in April 2023, from Blackwater to Llangollen and back - lovely boat and we had a great time. The two aqueducts are simply awesome - but watch out for traffic jams at Trefor Basin! Its worth braving the Narrows to go right into Llangollen. Check out my 3 videos of the trip if you have time. And... enjoy your holiday! 😁 PS - I have subscribed to you too and look forward to seeing your adventures 👍

Hi John! Thanks, yes, we're getting much closer now - and you're right, it is an excellent paint job - just a shame that she was so dusty, which hid the shine quite a bit! It's been a long and frustrating wait - I'm just tempering my enthusiasm a little in case of any last minute hitches - so keep those fingers crossed please! Cheers! Jeff😁

Fingers crossed 😊Always 😊

Thanks John - good lad! 👍

Hi Dave! Yes she is looking good! The oak floor should add a touch of class and, like you, I am keen to see how it all looks... I'll need to look after her and keep everything clean... but not easy when you're traipsing in and out after dirty locks and towpaths ☹️ I am definitely hoping to go through Birmingham - maybe you'll jump on for a cuppa! 👍

Thanks Trevor! yes, very good value, and to be fair to Aintree Boats, the price was fixed at time of contract - so even though the boat is now about a year late, and the list prices have risen noticeably, they are not asking for any additional money - unlike what I have heard some other boat-builders have been doing. Cheers! 😊

@@Gladysthenarrowboat that’s good. Let’s hope you can enjoy Gladys very soon. Look forward to watching as this is something I so want to do.

Thanks Trevor! yes, I think the finishing line is coming into view at last! 🤞 Thanks for watching the channel so far 😁

Thanks Madison! yes, I am starting to believe it's really happening now - but even so, with not wanting to tempt fate... but that said, it certainly looks promising for some nice Autumn canal-videos 👍😁

Thanks Iain! Yes, I had hoped to see more progress inside the boat but I think they've been concentrating on completing the boats which are due to go out this coming week... so hopefully they can now throw everything at Gladys and Bonnie. The guys who work on the boats are highly skilled - everything is made onsite - and often within the boat itself 👍 Yes, she looked very dusty which made a huge difference... but out on the water, I think that she (and also Bonnie and Foxglove), will be real head-turners!

Thanks Annie! Lovely morning here - same with you I hope. Yeah, as I keep saying - don't uncross those fingers until she's actually chugging along on the water... but at the moment, it looks promising that I can spend the Autumn on the canals.👍 Trains are a big part of my life, I love them... if I hadn't gone for buying a narrowboat I'd probably have started a train-travel channel. Glad you liked the train footage! I've an hour's work on my latest holzhausen this morning (before it gets too hot and the bees in nearby beehive mither me too much), but lots of other stuff lined up - I'll try to keep cool. You have a great weekend too Annie! 😁

Hi Barry! yes, definitely feeling happier now - still keeping those fingers crossed though... I'll only really believe it when Gladys is actually sat on a canal somewhere! 👍

Hiya Gerald! Yes, just down the road from you! The restored canal is only a half a mile to a mile long, but a lovely walk and you can park nearby. 👍

Thanks Rudy 👍 I have already looked up the light weight / removable Brompton pedals, but they do seem expensive, so my next purchase is more likely to be a bag / or bags anyway! Cheers 😊

@@Gladysthenarrowboat well, umfortunaltely, the bags are even more expensive 🤡. You should go for some chinese replica.

Yes I know! - Nothing with the Brompton logo on it is cheap! I have seen that Decathlon has a range of bags, so will definitely be shopping around. 👍

​@@Gladysthenarrowboat get a big one, you will thank me later. I used a huge one to carry my laptops, jeans, towels etc just to commute to work daily. Keep it light on the body and let the brompton carry the weight. Keep it stock, Brompton originals suffices, thats what i did, all originals. 3rd party parts ain't worth spending. Btw i'm on 6speed Fire Coral. Cheers and happy Riding.

Thanks Rudy - sounds like good advice. Fire Coral looks like a nice colour - I've not seen one for real but have seen it on websites etc 😊 Yeah, at present I use a rucksack to carry bits and pieces but when it comes to shopping (when I'm away on my boat), I'll definitely need an on-board bag. Thanks again! 👍

That's brilliant Hilary - I just had a look😁 . Many thanks for letting me know! 👍

Hi Madison 😊. Yes, I know what you mean - it's a great place and so much to see. I know that you have cycled the whole canal, but I have only done halfway yet - one of these days I will drive over to Sharpness and explore that end of the canal. I have had those track mitts for... oh 20 years?! Most of my stuff is ancient, other than the Brompton. I got them in Halfords - their Bikehut range, I think it was. 👍

@@Gladysthenarrowboat Its definitely worth a visit, if to see the remaining abutment and pillar of the old Severn Railway Bridge, although you can’t legally get to it via Sharpness Docks end as far as I can see, cycles are not permitted beyond the main entrance (and rightly so with the heavy goods traffic) and an older bridge further on seems to have unauthorised access signs. I accessed the canal at purton lower bridge and went south. It’s a bit grassy along the canal there so you may need to walk the Brompton at some point but it’s not far. Nothing wrong with making cycle gear last years. I still have a lot of old stuff too. ☺️🚴🏻‍♀️

Thanks for the great info Madison 😊 Getting on the canal at Purton sounds like a good plan - thats where the ship-graveyard is isn't it. I'm well used to walking the Brompton by now, so that wouldn't be a problem! I was looking over at that area from the train, on my from Chepstow to Gloucester - looks very interesting. I'll definitely have to visit it before long 👍 Haha! Yes, good kit lasts ages. I still have some Campagnolo Super Record gears which I bought in 1986... and they look immaculate . (Back in the days when racing bikes only had 5 or 6 sprockets, these were the bee's knees) A collector's item now.😁

@@Gladysthenarrowboat Yes that’s right, although the grave yard was very muddy when I went so I didn’t have a proper look at all of it but I was there in the depths of winter. A lot of high quality stuff from back then! I can’t imagine going back to small sprockets though. I need my low first gear these days 🤭

Thanks Madison. Hmm... it's probably too muddy to wade out to the scuttled boats even at the best of times. But maybe I can get a closer look. Hope so. Yeah, when I used to race (another life, and a long time ago...) we used a 53/42 chainset with 12-17 or 13-18 sprockets. But even then, I rarely used top gear and I always needed my 24 tooth biggest sprocket when out climbing the hills near home, such as Llangynidr mountain... I doubt I could manage anything like that today - even with the 26 tooth on my road bike! ☹️

Hi Hilary! Yes I agree - there's nothing worse than overly manicured paths! It was very overgrown at the end of the stretch - I estimate it's half a mile to a mile in length. 🤔

Thanks Dave! Glad you liked it, and I like your 'Carry On' comment (Kenneth Williams)! Yes, the folding/unfolding is amazing. I can do it faster than on the video, but even so, it takes no time, as you saw on the video. Ingenious design from Brompton that has stood the test of time. I can easily imagine myself falling asleep along that towpath too Dave! I think DC used the word 'tranquility' in his comment and he was absolutely right 👍 As I keep saying on these comments about the boat-completion, - please keep your fingers firmly crossed Dave! 😁🤞

Morning Annie! Ha Ha! yes, perhaps not everyone will know of Sid James and the 'Carry On' films, but you obviously do! Just imagine him there in his jungle outfit with his cheeky laugh! Keep your fingers crossed that I get good news on Wednesday at Aintree - I'm trying not to build my hopes up in case of disappointment, but yes, August would be fantastic if it works out! 👍

@@Gladysthenarrowboat Easy to picture him isn't it, the good old days definitely had their moments. No, it's best not to be too optimistic then it'll be a nice surprise if things are better than you expect. Look forward to finding out next weekend anyway, enjoy the rest of the weekend Jeff.

Thanks Annie! Yes, I'm hoping for good news on Wednesday - but there have been so many let-downs already, that I can't allow myself to feel too optimistic - but we'll see, and I'll definitely let you know! Some heavy rain here today on and off, but hoping tomorrow will be better - have a great Sunday Annie 😁

Hi John and thanks as always for commenting! Yes, it was a double whammy - featuring a canal PLUS the Brompton! That stretch reminds me of the Mon & Brec canal in S Wales - very pretty. 😁

Hi DC! Thanks as always for the informative comment! Yeah, one minute I was riding along a dual carriageway and the next I was in the middle of total tranquility! It's such a nice spot on that bit of canal. Thanks for the intel about the other sections of this canal - I'll definitely revisit it soon and feature some of the other restored sections 👍 PS - I always think of the Miss Marple mysteries when I see the name Much Marcle!

Thanks Iain! Yes, it was really pretty and plenty of wildlife! I seem to be lucky with the weather... although I do take note of the forecast of course... but it turned out very well. Only a short ride, but good to get out on the bike again 👍

Thanks! Very glad you liked it!!! 😁

@@Gladysthenarrowboat yep , would love to hop on a plane

Yes, and I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed!👍

Thanks Sally! Well done - yes, Nuthatches are unusual inasmuch as they usually perch upside down on the feeder and eat that way - lovely looking birds 😊 The Goldfinches were a bit shy and wouldn't appear until I came indoors - again, really pretty birds! 😁

Yes, couldn't resist taking a snap of this very rarely seen creature... 😉

Thanks Vini - glad you liked it! 👍 And hello Brazil!

Hi Dave, Thanks for the great comment! Yes, I'm very lucky to have such countryside all around me here - and so many birds. Some days its like piccadilly Circus outside with all sorts of them... including magpies and pigeons here too! I've long been a bird watcher, but even now I sometimes struggle to identify them, as many of them look so alike. Yes its a good camera - albeit quite old by modern standards. I have a newer one (D3500) which cost half as much, is half the weight and can shoot in much darker light - but I usually revert to this D200 when using the big lens. Bald as a coot - yes thats a weird saying, I wonder how it came about? Well, here's the answer! I just looked it up: www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/why-do-we-say-bald-as-a-coot That's great to hear you've gotten out on the bike Dave, I hope you'll soon be able to whizz along the Worcester & Birmingham, or the Mainline, I'm sure you're looking forward to that!😊 Thanks for the congrats - yes its encouraging that I'm edging closer to the 1000 subscribers - although I suspect I wont get there til I'm actually on the water with Gladys. Even so, I am very grateful to yourself and others, who have stuck by me during the saga of the boat-build! Keep those fingers of yours firmly crossed that it does happen as now anticipated! I'm not counting any chickens yet, but will have a better idea after visiting Aintree next week on the 19th 🤞👍

@@Gladysthenarrowboat Thanks for the link Jeff, I can now call my fellow bald friends "as bald as a coot" while knowing it's origins 😂

I hope they'll be suitably impressed Dave! 👍

Thanks Angela! Yes - very firmly crossed!!! 🤞

Hi Madison! 🙂 Yes, its Robbie Cummings and he's been around for some time now - he's on youtube too and I have been inspired by him (amongst a few of the other narrowboat channels I watch👍) . He has a nice, friendly manner and always worth watching! Thanks for asking about him - I'd recommend everyone watch him!👍

Hi I've watched the Canal Diaries with Robbie Comming he's a real nice guy and his Narrowboat Naughty Lass.

Yes, I agree John. And what a great name for a boat! 👍

@@Gladysthenarrowboat I had a feeling you’d already know about it ☺️

Yes - I used to regularly watch several narrowboat vloggers, including Robbie, and they've all inspired me in different ways. Some I don't watch anymore - as they seem to go off on a tangent after a season or two, but I like the more true-to-life ones, like Robbie's, and also there's a channel 'The Amateur Boater', that I watch a lot these days. He's not afraid to show you when he makes mistakes, and I'll do that too! (Show you my mistakes, I mean). I'm hoping that once I get afloat on Gladys, although she'll be a nice shiny clean boat, that I'll film the nitty gritty aspects of boat life - but will weave the Brompton in as much as I can too, as I know the bike is the reason a lot of people have subscribed to the channel 👍 It'll be great to ride along some of the canals that are too far for me to get to at the moment in a day.

Hey thanks John! Photography was a big hobby of mine once - that camera and the lens I used this time, are at least 15 years old now and still going strong. I'd describe them as fairly serious amateur level but pretty out of date these days! Yes, the garden is great - we get all sorts of wildlife - sometimes deer, pheasants, hedgehogs - and lots of different birds. The Goldfinches were very shy that day - hence I photo'd them through the window, but they are gorgeous birds. Hopefully I'll be back on a canal somewhere next time 🙂👍

Thanks Iain! Glad you liked the photos 👍- and the haircut! 😊Please keep those fingers firmly crossed though for Gladys... it won't be over til she's in a canal!

Thanks Annie! Yes, I should be ok for a while now 👍. As I get older, there's less and less of it left to cut these days ☹️ Glad you spotted the very rare squirrel - They can be a pest but I still like them! Yes, I guess the TV shows will inspire some folk - although the best advice they need is to try it out on a hire boat holiday first - its really not as idyllic or romantic as it sometimes looks!

@@Gladysthenarrowboat Haha, hubby has similar problems with follicles. As long as squirrels stay out of the attic I'm happy to see them here, there are lots of them in the immediate area. I'd say boat life is far from idyllic, water, electricity, toilet facilities being just a few considerations plus those buying bargain price old boats thinking it's cheaper than a house rental then finding there's serious corrosion, knackered engine etc & it's not as simple as they think. Having new neighbours in one of the adjoining houses to mine the biggest attraction right now of canal living for me is the ability to sail off away from noisy people! No joke being trapped with grotty neighbours.

Good to know I'm not the only one then! Yes, I know they can be very destructive - and also to trees, which is unfortunate given they are so darned cute. Hmm... yes, you can't choose who decides to come and live in the house next to you... but the joy of canal cruising, is, as you've said Annie, that you can just untie the ropes and slip away to somewhere else! I'm sorry to hear of your noisy problem ☹️

Thanks for the comment! I agree Bromptons aren't greatly comfortable, and the Tern sounds interesting. The Brompton scores on compactness I think, and will be ideal for carrying on my boat.

I'll keep my eye out for a Tern, I've never seen one yet. Thanks again! 👍

Hi George, glad you found it interesting. The historic boats look great 👍

Hi Chris, no problem. I ordered in September 2022, and the build was expected to start in December 22 (which it did), and to be finished in summer of 2023 (which is obviously wasn't). There have been delays - take a look back at my various updates if you have the time and energy! So it's looking like 12 months late. Others have had the same experience as me - but although disappointed with the delay, I just want it completed now - and it is looking very promising. My video on June 8th contains the latest update 🙂

Thanks for the reply.They are quoting me 10 months (yesterday). From order to launch. Your story is actually putting me off parting with a deposit

Well...10 months is more realistic than the 6 months I was quoted Chris. But from the little I've learned, its not unusual for boat builds to go past the projected date with other builders too - although 12 months is obviously too long! It does feel to me as if Aintree Boats has stepped up on production speed recently - but I am still, very much, keeping my fingers firmly crossed that no more delays occur. Something to remember too, is that Aintree's prices are very competitive with other builders - some of whom may be more reliable with their completion dates maybe, but that could come at the cost of quite a bit more money. So, its a dilemma I'm afraid! Good luck, whatever you decide 🙂

@zulkhairizulkhairi201 - Many thanks for the comment! Very good to hear the bike is going so well after 7 years. They certainly feel as if they are built to last a long time! 👍

Thanks DC! Yes, great trip - this canal is such a contrast with the Mon & Brec that we both grew up with! 👍

Yes indeed - thoroughly recommend it! And great towpath on the Main Line Canal out of Birmingham if you do a ride there Madison 👍

That's very helpful Steve - thanks very much! I just looked on BB's website and the superlight costs £70 which compares well with the Brooks and is 279g, apparently 100g lighter than the standard Brompton saddle - so I'll definitely consider it 👍 They also have a carbon version of it at £120 which weighs 205g - so, even lighter again! Saving a KG is impressive - I can appreciate how much difference that makes carrying it around all day. I have long fancied a titanium road frame as I know they are said to be more comfy - so am not surprised the Ti seat post makes a difference. Thanks once again! 👍

@@Gladysthenarrowboat I've also added a Swytch kit which added another Kg so to offset that I added a Ti fork and rear triangle. It was over a thousand pounds for the lot but the bikes 20 years old so about ready for the upgrades ;-)

Wow - you're really into this! I had similar comments from a viewer in Denmark, on my previous Brompton review video (100 mile review) - like yourself, he's shaved off weight here and there with lighter parts... sounds expensive though Steve! 😊

@@Gladysthenarrowboat I think it cost 100 GBP per year all in including bike, Swytch kit upgrades and maintenance over the last 20 years.

Did you try out the schwalbe marathon plus's we spoke about in the 100 mile comments? I've since swapped to continental contact urbans

Hey Dave! Thanks once again for taking time out to write such a nice comment. Yeah, I really like my visits to Birmingham, and West Midlands Railways really are my favourite carrier! I'm off to London on Wednesday for a meeting, so we'll see if GWR can match WMR's performance / punctuality... hmm, we'll see... I can see how the santa cruises would be popular (reminds me of the place called Santa Cruz... features in cowboys films a lot... For a Few Dollars More, for example.) I love the Sergio Leone spaghetti movies. Once Upon a Time In The West is among my top 10 films! Maybe I'll do a video listing my favourite films one day! Enjoy the weekend - looks like a sunny one at the moment 😊

@@Gladysthenarrowboat I love the spaghetti western cowboy movies, which in turn led me to love most Clint Eastwood movies too. However, at the moment I'm watching all the Marvel movies in chronological order.....again.

We have similar tastes Dave! yes, I cant think of any film he's made that I haven't liked. I loved 'Unforgiven' - Eastwood and Gene Hackman together - brilliant film 👍

@@Gladysthenarrowboat I agree, a fantastic film.

👍

Hi Dave, thanks for the comment - as always! Yes, the Americans chose a great place to visit and they certainly seemed to be enjoying it! I am frustrated, you're right! Just hanging on to the thought that it wont be much longer now 🤞. I'm away much of this next week, so have already filmed something for the 8th and it includes a short update on Gladys - things certainly look encouraging - but keep those fingers firmly crossed please! Those cygnets were so cute - nice joke about the cygnet ring by the way - very clever! 😁 Glad you liked the funny bits... I'm never sure whether to do them / include them, as I know that not everyone will 'get' my humour... but I know that you do Dave, and appreciate that! Just between you and me Dave (don't tell anyone else), I am thinking of starting a second TH-cam channel, nothing to do with narrowboats or bikes, - where I can have a bit of fun and say some of the things I don't feel able to on the GladysTN channel - it'd be mostly silly humour. I'll let you know if I go ahead, of course. 👍

@@Gladysthenarrowboat If its silly humour it sounds like a winner. Go for it Jeff 👍

Thanks Dave - yes, it will definitely be silly. Very silly! 😁

Hiya Sally! Yes, he did a super job - and it really contrasts beautifully with the red 👍

Hi Gus and thanks very much for the comment! Yes I agree with you - Brompton could easily fit a kick stand as standard, and as I've said on my videos, the choice of a 50 tooth chainwheel is bonkers - it might be ok for someone who only ever rides around a city but many of us don't - so a 44 or 39 tooth is a necessity. Glad you like Brilliant Bikes - I think Hannah's videos are very well done - and she's entertaining too! If I lived closer to them, I'd definitely go in their shop to say hello. But meanwhile, if I need anything, they are my online shop of choice. Well done for subscribing too Gus! I am very grateful, and hope you'll enjoy the Brompton-adventures I'll have once I get Gladys the Narrowboat finally out onto the canals! (Not long now... fingers crossed! 🤞)

Thanks Gerald, glad you liked it!👍