Thank you for making such an well produced, accurate depiction of the job. You've really captured what it's all about! It's so impressive to see it reach over a million views and such an interest from all over the world! We're still continually recognized as 'the fuel boat from cruising the cut'!
Cheers Andrew. I knew it would be a popular video but I had no inkling it would take off as it has - my most popular video by far. Also, thank you for chipping in with answers to some of the comments, really appreciated.
@@CruisingTheCut Just found your channel and subscribed - Can I make suggestion - for those of us in the US - can you point out on a map where you are occasionally - I do like to find places where you are on google maps. If there is a photo sphere or a blue walk like - I like to take a virtual walk around where you are at. I just find it fascinating
Here in the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands there are people living on old cargo ships. Although there is more than plenty of modern-life stuff on board, they still need to get diesel fuel, wood for the heater, and LPG for the furnace. Especially getting the LPG is a bit tricky.. but it works! It's a nice and fun lifestyle!
I live just opposite one of this canals in London , regents canal , yup there are around 15 residential old boats just outside , yup , but when live near theme it just become normal , we don’t event notice theme , it just like any other house near by 😊😊😊,
Ha! It so makes me chuckle to see our lives shown on my screen. I’ve been on the cut for 20 years and I’ll probably be here till my end. Im lying in bed freezing right now but i wouldnt swap it for anything. 🥳
As an American who has not yet had the pleasure of seeing the UK in person, this seems like a perfect life. The canals are so beautiful and calming. You, sir, have a new subscriber. Thank you for these videos!
It blew me away how trusting people are across the 'pond.' The wife and I went to Ireland a few years back and stopped at a remote cafe. They only accepted cash and we only had cards. The owner said to no worry about it and to just stop at the next town up and leave them cash at the post office to pick up!
Speaking as a Brit, I'm a bit out of touch so I can't give specifics, but I can still say it very much depends where you go. In very general terms, the folk in quiet villages are likely to be nicer, but it will vary. If the village is a tourist trap there's a chance they'll be sharper, but not always. In towns, it honestly may depend on the neighborhood, and you can't really go by how the neighborhood looks. Speaking of neighborhoods, did you notice where the video said the people "along this stretch of the canal" pay reliably? That implies some boaters don't, and perhaps wouldn't be trusted so much.
One of your nicest. I think you really liked them. You truly captured an emotion, a reason, an essence and a sense of heritage and purpose. An object lesson in good broadcast journalism.
I truly hope one day you’ll be able to pop over here and have a go, my boat is always ready for you! C’mon, you can’t let the RV Geeks have all the fun 😂
Simon Phillips 2 weeks ago Richard and Jules have now indeed retired and their run has been taken over by Nick and Mary, so the answer is yes the beautiful working boats continue to serve us boaters regularly
Wow This blew me away. Back in the early to mid 70's I worked on narrowboat Towcester. Back then she was owned by Tam and Di Murrell based at Bulls Bridge in Hayes. Back then she was teamed up with the butty Bude and we were carrying barrels of lime juice pulp from Brentord dock to Boxmoor near Hemel Hempstead on the Grand Union. I remember that we did 2 trips a week delivering around 100 tons. It took around 12.5 hours to go up loaded and then around 10 hours back down empty to Brentord. Loading and unlading at each end took around 2.5 hours as I remember it. I worked with Tam and his son Jason. I beleive I am correct that Tam and Di live in France but I dont know about Jason. Thank you for tha amazing trip down memory lane.
Fascinating. Call me strange but I liked the sound of their engine chug chugging. The drone shots are outstanding, what a pretty picture. Thanks David, well done.
Nothing strange, I’m sure 99% of narrow boaters wish they had it. The main issue with it is it can be annoying to maintain as well as annoying little things such as hand cranks like this
This is youtube at its best: informational, entertaining, relaxing and well produced. If you also happen to like boats, history, and their combination - and are also interested in these canals from afar, this kind of video - and really this video in particular - is one of the best things you can come across on this medium!
I’ve watched many of your videos (quietly in the background) and this is by far the best, no flamboyance or fanfare. Just an honest person reporting about honest people going about their daily lives on the cut, well done it was a pleasure to watch.
Beautifully done, David! It brought tears to my eyes several times, especially the starting of the vintage engine, the brief scene where Jules and her partner are sharing a smile and conversation at the back of the boats. They so clearly like one another and work smoothly, with pride and care, having done this work for years. I'm so impressed with how detailed you filmed and captured a way of life that means so much to so many on the canals too. Lastly, the drone footage was marvelously important for giving a wholely rounded view of the piece. Kudos to you, Sir. Very well done!
I agree. The attention to detail in this video is wonderful and the drone shots give a perspective as to the boat handling skills that are necessary. Well done.
Great repotage episode again! This is truly what puts your channel a notch above the other canal/narrowboat channels, David; Your background in regional news TV. You have a flair for production that does shine through on your regular vlogs, but on repotage pieces like this, you're downright untouchable. This would have been a great piece on the BBC, that's how good it is. Thumbs up duly given!
For the Americans watching and wondering what in the world Jules meant by "driving an artic", she meant an articulated truck. What we call a semi. Took me awhile to google that one.....
Thank You David. This was a little jewel of a video! For me this was one of your best. Leave it to you to come up with a different angle on narrowboating.I think you covered all the aspects of what a fuel boat is all about. Stem to stern as it were. Such hardworking, genuinely nice people. Everything is big business nowadays. It was nostalgic to see a small family operation still going. Thank you again David.
In Dutch we call this a "parlevinker". Where I come from (Breukelen Provincie Utrecht NL) there was also a parlevinker selling oil, shoes,, boots, brushes etc to other cargoships passing by through the Amsterdamrijnkanaal. I am familiar with the sound of the engine. You could hear this sound day and night. Nowadays there are no parlevinkers anymore. In Beneden Leeuwen there was a waterboot /waterboat.
I stumbled on this video about 2weeks ago. Now I'm hooked!! I've been watching every night for hours now I'm on episode 208. You do an amazing job and just want to thankyou. I'm from u s a and never knew these boats or the canals existed. I'm 49 and now have told my wife instead of buying an RV to live in in a few years we are coming over and buying a narrow boat!!! Thankyou again.
David! You have outdone yourself what a lovely insight to people making a living along the canals. With cinematic shots to accompany the wel edited story. Thank you, Jules and Richard, for letting David document this unique lifestyle! Cheers from Holland
Thanks for the video, I would say everytime I feel a tad stressed with life I will be replying this video, it was an absolute bloody joy watching this 👍💥
I watched the full thing before I realised you actually live and travel on a canal boat yourself and this is your blog I genuinely thought this had to be a documentary by Channel 4, it's all incredibly professional, and you're an amazing narrator
David, I just love when you do videos like this. Life on the canals, we here in New England have no idea what that would be like. I wish more people would keep those types of traditions alive. Well done my friend, have a great weekend.
Beautifully done! A simple but pleasing story, delightfully filmed and you got the subjects to tell their own story. The aerial shots were icing on the cake. Never before have dirty bags of coal been so interesting...
Watching from rural northern Nevada in the US. 22 minutes on the internet well spent. This was a window into a world and a way of life that I did not even know existed. Thankyou so much for the job well done on this video.
Fascinating and well made vlog. SUBSCRIBED! Both my wife of 30+ years and I have lived almost our entire lives within a few miles of New York State's Erie Canal. The past 25 years, less than a mile. We looked at buying a canal-side home that had been an inn, including a "muleskinners'' lodge. Mule stables on the ground floor with bunk rooms above. A shallow "wide waters" is nearby where boats would winter over when the canal is drained. Many stories of canal folks being a rowdy lot. My mother-in-laws' grandfather was the canal lock master in Macedon who loaded her aboard a stranger's packet boat for transport to the Lockport locks, where her father worked and retrieved her. About 90 miles. My wife still has relatives in both the Macedon and Lockport regions. The Erie Canal, with the Great Lakes, provides vessel traffic from the interior of the US, even the Gulf of Mexico, to NY City harbor and beyond. The Erie Canal opened up the US interior for expansion, it made NY the "Empire State" and NYC the metropolis it is. There is still some commercial traffic and large structures moved on the canal. Canal boats are available for day trips and long term rentals. Locks and lift bridges are manned. Happy boating folks. Sorta dirty side note: Our newest elementary school is named "Canal View". On opening day some wiseguy had covered the letter C with a black plastic bag.
Good Afternoon David. I have been watching your channel since you started it and I have to say that of all of the piece videos you have done, this is the best one yet. I really enjoyed watching it and learned also. What a win win. Thank you and safe travels.
This narrator is absolutely excellent. Such vivid descriptions and then just out of no where refences. The dude literally makes a detaching the saucer Star Trek reference.
This was a delightful watch. The overwhelming focus these days are on narrowboats used for leisure/residence so it's great to see them used as work boats like in 'the old days.' Thanks for sharing!
Being a commercial fisherman in south Louisiana in American its amazing to see the way things are done in totally different way on my boat I run q 225hp Honda on a 24ft Carolina skiff to hear the engine on yal boats is amazing
Beautiful, beautiful video! You have an amazing talent for detail and DEDICATION for capturing the details and feel! everything is top notch, from camera work to narration! can't even explain how much i enjoy it! many thanks and greetings from a Croat in Netherlands!
This was an amazing story about an amazing couple. I truly enjoyed traveling along with you and them to see how they live their lives. I thank them and you for the opportunity to see them doing what they surly love doing for life.
Beautiful story and a very loving couple. The scene here is so peaceful and natural. The life here seems unspoilt. Hope this loving couple will have a long way to go. All the best to them and peace be with them.
I’m fascinated with this being your most viewed video. I kind of understand. I’m just so glad that you have captured this business on video. This is one of those videos that people will show in 50 - 100 years to show the continuing working history of canals in the UK. It’s just a great video all around. Fascinating, well researched and with brilliant narration. It’s narration that can make or break a video. The camera work could be the best you’ve ever seen, but If the narration is all over the place , it’s painful to watch. You sir have it ALL worked out. Simply wonderful.
I never searched for this, I never asked for it, It's not even something I would think of watching. It just popped up after another video, but man I am so glad it did. What a fascinating video. Very informative and entertaining. I guess this is another subject I will be watching, googling and reading on now :)
Fantastic video, big thumbs up 👍 Great insight to how those of us that live on the canal get our supplies, and that boats do indeed still work. We are indebted to the service the fuel boats provide up and down the canal system. Life for us would be difficult without them.
My Dad was a diesel fitter who built the Lister engines you hear and see in this film. I live next to the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes where this excellent film was made. Whenever I hear the sound of a Lister I think of my Dad. He would have been proud that his work was still performing as well as when he finished it. Thanks for such an evocative film. I am always pleased to see the Jules Fuel boats when cycling and walking alongside the canal to remind me of a time when the canals were full of narrow boats such as these playing a vital part in transporting goods to the nation. Their contribution to the war effort was as vital as those at the front and, yes, they too had casualties.
The sound reminds me a bit of the old single cylinder stationary gas engines a mainstay of farms here in the US in the time between only steam power ,and gas/fuel tractors and electricity .. the little ones ,there were some monster big versions made ..
@@richardsolberg4047 They existed in the UK also (pump water, milking machine, etc.) There's people who still collect/renovate them. At vintage vehicle events there's often groups of men turn up with their well polished little machines which still run. Can't really see the attraction of something that just sits there and goes 'phttt' every 5 seconds.
I can't begin to tell you how many times we've watched this particular video, but something about it is so interesting as if it calls to me for a simpler life. Not sure how else to describe it. I so hope we get to live on a narrowboat at some point in the future. 7 yrs. to retirement!
This is my favorite video and I have watched it a lot too. I am retired to the countryside in Thailand, it makes canal life look stressful by comparison, lol. A lot warmer too, no winters.
This was randomly suggested to me and i must say i thoroughly enjoyed it! Great documentary style video and very informative on something i never even knew existed. This is proper youtube content, keep it up 👍🏻
It’s wonderful to follow you on your trips adding knowledge, good feelings, seeing how nicely and respectfully you treat the people on the canals. Thank you!🙏
Thanks David, I really enjoy all your videos but this especially. A good insight into a working boaters life and nice to see the customers having a word too.
Though I doubt that I will develop a prolonged interest in narrowboating I must say that I much appreciate the work that must have gone in presenting this tradition in such a polished way. From the clean audio of the narration and ambient sounds, to the clear visuals and lovely drone views it's been a pleasure to enjoy this look at a totally different lifestyle.
That was super-interesting. Reminds me of auditorium in elementary school where Tuesday afternoons we would see educational films. How shoes are made, how bananas get to your grocer - things like that. But, you are the King of presentations with your skilled, refrained narration and drone piloting.
I always told my friends and family that I was born in the wrong decade, seeing as how I love the cars of the 60's. After watching your videos, I am beginning to think I was also born in the wrong country. Your boats and canals are so intriguing to me. Working a job like this would be amazing.
As an American, i love classic British culture. grew up watching top gear and i genuinely do like the quaintness of river boating and the classic countryside feel to alot of things over there. i still find it hard to wrap my mind around just how many people are on those islands. loved the video though, gave me that classic top gear feeling of the old top gear with Tiff Needell, Clarkson and Vicki. pleasant and relaxing to watch. 👍
On the 15th of April TH-cam saw fit to offer me this video in the presentation of things I might be interested in, so I watched it, and found it delightful. I then set about watching them all, from #1 to #211 (so far). As others have said, they are somewhat addictive and offered a pleasant diversion in these troubled times. The production values are superb, and I very much enjoyed taking them in over the past 12 days or so. Thank you so much, and stay well, from Arizona.
A fascinating film and just draws the viewer in. So impressive to see the skill, dedication and quiet dignity of the people providing this vital service day in, day out.
I must admit that since discovering your channel, I’ve become much more relaxed. Something about watching a channel dedicated to the bucolic lifestyle of British canal boat ownership...
I was in West Yorkshire in the 1970s and there was canal that ran through Hebden Bridge where I was staying. It was in disrepair and there was talk of filling in the "eye saw". I visited again some 30 years later and these canals had been renovated, put back into service. There was a busy dry dock at Hebden Bridge for repairs and maintenance and they seemed to have plenty of work on. I was really impressed and with there rich history, what a tourist attraction they had become. It would have been sad to see them gone.
What a life. As someone that lives in America, and grew up partially on the Mighty Mississippi, which is about as wide as that canal is long (exaggeration, just a bit), I love this calm, small boat life I get to see in your videos.
Beautiful example of things that are built to last. I loved looking at not only the boats but the canal itself. Both things that were built long ago to last to as close to forever as possible. Much nicer than todays planned obsolescence based garbage. Compared to that these bits of history should be preserved as functional art if nothing else. The lifestyle is very appealing in its quiet simplicity. Today life has become so noisy and complex with its so-called improvements that, knowing these lifestyles still exist is not only heart warming but relaxing, and smile inducing to peek in on. Thanks for your video. Cheers!
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Thank you for making such an well produced, accurate depiction of the job. You've really captured what it's all about! It's so impressive to see it reach over a million views and such an interest from all over the world! We're still continually recognized as 'the fuel boat from cruising the cut'!
Cheers Andrew. I knew it would be a popular video but I had no inkling it would take off as it has - my most popular video by far. Also, thank you for chipping in with answers to some of the comments, really appreciated.
It's a really lovely presentation of the life they have, and the heritage they are preserving by doing it this way. It deserves every single view!
Quite a video.. The one thing I noticed is the sign of "om".. sign by hindu religion.
Fantastic video!
@@CruisingTheCut Just found your channel and subscribed - Can I make suggestion - for those of us in the US - can you point out on a map where you are occasionally - I do like to find places where you are on google maps. If there is a photo sphere or a blue walk like - I like to take a virtual walk around where you are at. I just find it fascinating
I had no idea a lifestyle like this even existed. It's fascinating
Here in the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands there are people living on old cargo ships. Although there is more than plenty of modern-life stuff on board, they still need to get diesel fuel, wood for the heater, and LPG for the furnace. Especially getting the LPG is a bit tricky.. but it works! It's a nice and fun lifestyle!
Right? I found this guy a few years ago and I absolutely love the idea of living on the canals! I’m in the US though so it’s a pipe dream really.
Sebastian Thor people live on a space station.... what’s your point
I live just opposite one of this canals in London , regents canal , yup there are around 15 residential old boats just outside , yup , but when live near theme it just become normal , we don’t event notice theme , it just like any other house near by 😊😊😊,
@@mcgoo721 ummm.. you can live on a narrow boat in the US too if you want 👍👍😁😁
Ha! It so makes me chuckle to see our lives shown on my screen. I’ve been on the cut for 20 years and I’ll probably be here till my end. Im lying in bed freezing right now but i wouldnt swap it for anything. 🥳
that additive he put in the diesel is Good Customer Service.
As an American who has not yet had the pleasure of seeing the UK in person, this seems like a perfect life. The canals are so beautiful and calming. You, sir, have a new subscriber. Thank you for these videos!
It blew me away how trusting people are across the 'pond.' The wife and I went to Ireland a few years back and stopped at a remote cafe. They only accepted cash and we only had cards. The owner said to no worry about it and to just stop at the next town up and leave them cash at the post office to pick up!
Latin America is the same what you describe is called fiar in spanish.
Hill country in the US is the same way. When I say hill country I mean Ouachitas mountains, Ozarks, Appalachia.
You kidding me? My experience in the UK was everything is designed as if everyone is a criminal, and people are very weary. Yes I only visited cities.
Speaking as a Brit, I'm a bit out of touch so I can't give specifics, but I can still say it very much depends where you go. In very general terms, the folk in quiet villages are likely to be nicer, but it will vary. If the village is a tourist trap there's a chance they'll be sharper, but not always. In towns, it honestly may depend on the neighborhood, and you can't really go by how the neighborhood looks. Speaking of neighborhoods, did you notice where the video said the people "along this stretch of the canal" pay reliably? That implies some boaters don't, and perhaps wouldn't be trusted so much.
This does not happen in cities anywhere only out in the country sides
One of your nicest. I think you really liked them. You truly captured an emotion, a reason, an essence and a sense of heritage and purpose. An object lesson in good broadcast journalism.
Hear! Hear! very well put.
Such a different world from ours! Interesting look into an alternative live/work style. Thanks for the great story.
I truly hope one day you’ll be able to pop over here and have a go, my boat is always ready for you! C’mon, you can’t let the RV Geeks have all the fun 😂
Simon Phillips
2 weeks ago
Richard and Jules have now indeed retired and their run has been taken over by Nick and Mary, so the answer is yes the beautiful working boats continue to serve us boaters regularly
Wow This blew me away. Back in the early to mid 70's I worked on narrowboat Towcester. Back then she was owned by Tam and Di Murrell based at Bulls Bridge in Hayes. Back then she was teamed up with the butty Bude and we were carrying barrels of lime juice pulp from Brentord dock to Boxmoor near Hemel Hempstead on the Grand Union. I remember that we did 2 trips a week delivering around 100 tons. It took around 12.5 hours to go up loaded and then around 10 hours back down empty to Brentord. Loading and unlading at each end took around 2.5 hours as I remember it. I worked with Tam and his son Jason. I beleive I am correct that Tam and Di live in France but I dont know about Jason. Thank you for tha amazing trip down memory lane.
THANKS FOR SHARING THIS INFORMATION. I've read the classic working narrowboat books (the best known ones, anyway.) Glad to collect your recollections!
Wow! What a great tale. Thank you for commenting :-)
@@jamesellsworth9673 Thanks James. It still feels like yesterday
Fascinating. Call me strange but I liked the sound of their engine chug chugging. The drone shots are outstanding, what a pretty picture. Thanks David, well done.
Not strange at all!
Nothing strange, I’m sure 99% of narrow boaters wish they had it. The main issue with it is it can be annoying to maintain as well as annoying little things such as hand cranks like this
That is the best boat motor sound there is. I think there are a few single cylinder boats still running.
This is youtube at its best: informational, entertaining, relaxing and well produced.
If you also happen to like boats, history, and their combination - and are also interested in these canals from afar, this kind of video - and really this video in particular - is one of the best things you can come across on this medium!
This could have been on an episode of TLC or something!
I, worked for many years with a Phoenix Firefighter with the same last name, his name was Ken Pfalzgraf.
I’ve watched many of your videos (quietly in the background) and this is by far the best, no flamboyance or fanfare. Just an honest person reporting about honest people going about their daily lives on the cut, well done it was a pleasure to watch.
I'm in Canada, and it just boggles my mind, that people would thumb down an honest, informative video about life in another part of the world.
The drone shots really give the video a professional look, and look amazing.
Beautifully done, David! It brought tears to my eyes several times, especially the starting of the vintage engine, the brief scene where Jules and her partner are sharing a smile and conversation at the back of the boats. They so clearly like one another and work smoothly, with pride and care, having done this work for years. I'm so impressed with how detailed you filmed and captured a way of life that means so much to so many on the canals too. Lastly, the drone footage was marvelously important for giving a wholely rounded view of the piece. Kudos to you, Sir. Very well done!
I agree. The attention to detail in this video is wonderful and the drone shots give a perspective as to the boat handling skills that are necessary. Well done.
I just love the sound of the Lister engine. That will never be repeated in the history books. Just to old fashion for a many young minds. VF
just brilliant this is what a vlog should be , one of your best episodes shows true life on the cut , bloody well done
Great repotage episode again! This is truly what puts your channel a notch above the other canal/narrowboat channels, David; Your background in regional news TV. You have a flair for production that does shine through on your regular vlogs, but on repotage pieces like this, you're downright untouchable. This would have been a great piece on the BBC, that's how good it is. Thumbs up duly given!
I agree. Noone could gave said it better! Thanks for saying my thoughts!!
For the Americans watching and wondering what in the world Jules meant by "driving an artic", she meant an articulated truck. What we call a semi. Took me awhile to google that one.....
nice! I forgot that I didn't understand what she said, and then you answered a question I didn't even know I was asking. You rock:}
Thank You David. This was a little jewel of a video! For me this was one of your best. Leave it to you to come up with a different angle on narrowboating.I think you covered all the aspects of what a fuel boat is all about. Stem to stern as it were. Such hardworking, genuinely nice people. Everything is big business nowadays. It was nostalgic to see a small family operation still going. Thank you again David.
Great video, David. I enjoy seeing the "nuts & bolts" of life on the canal and would encourage you to do more 'informational' videos of this ilk.
Cheers, I do them when I can!
This is one of the best vlogs you have done. Beautifully filmed, and what an admirable pair of good people!
I was born in the 1950s and as a child we lived on a converted butty on this same canal. We moored at Lady Capel's Wharf.
This is the most British thing I've ever seen, thank you TH-cam.
I had typed that exact comment up till i saw yours mate.
There is so much peace and romance in this kind of lifestyle.
What a team. Great. The way they steer their boats is just art. Beautifully filmed.
In Dutch we call this a "parlevinker". Where I come from (Breukelen Provincie Utrecht NL) there was also a parlevinker selling oil, shoes,, boots, brushes etc to other cargoships passing by through the Amsterdamrijnkanaal. I am familiar with the sound of the engine. You could hear this sound day and night. Nowadays there are no parlevinkers anymore. In Beneden Leeuwen there was a waterboot /waterboat.
I stumbled on this video about 2weeks ago. Now I'm hooked!! I've been watching every night for hours now I'm on episode 208. You do an amazing job and just want to thankyou. I'm from u s a and never knew these boats or the canals existed. I'm 49 and now have told my wife instead of buying an RV to live in in a few years we are coming over and buying a narrow boat!!! Thankyou again.
David! You have outdone yourself what a lovely insight to people making a living along the canals. With cinematic shots to accompany the wel edited story. Thank you, Jules and Richard, for letting David document this unique lifestyle! Cheers from Holland
What a great episode !
Thanks for the video, I would say everytime I feel a tad stressed with life I will be replying this video, it was an absolute bloody joy watching this 👍💥
😀😀
I watched the full thing before I realised you actually live and travel on a canal boat yourself and this is your blog
I genuinely thought this had to be a documentary by Channel 4, it's all incredibly professional, and you're an amazing narrator
Thank you :-)
If I’m not mistaken that’s not far off from what his career was back on dry land
@@MrSheckstr Yup. Regional news for ITV. Down in Kent, if memory serves.
David, I just love when you do videos like this. Life on the canals, we here in New England have no idea what that would be like. I wish more people would keep those types of traditions alive. Well done my friend, have a great weekend.
Beautifully done! A simple but pleasing story, delightfully filmed and you got the subjects to tell their own story. The aerial shots were icing on the cake. Never before have dirty bags of coal been so interesting...
I love the dialogue. Relaxing and interesting. I also think the old boats are super cool and I'm glad Ms. Jules kept them moving.
All they need is music like ice cream trucks have so boats know they are in the area and can hail them down to get supplies
This is an exceptionally beautiful film and a wonderful story. Well done indeed. A lot of hard work, good editing and skilled flying involved!
Really one of your best. Thank you for opening up a whole new world for me.
I wholeheartedly agree. Good length that keeps the pace moving, but enough commentary to bring the uninitiated along for the ride.
Love the sound of the old diesel engine ticking over, something peaceful about that. Thankyou for this, Bob New Zealand.
The fact that the YT algorithm has seen fit offer up such a fascinating vid and channel in times like this is a tender mercy
Watching from rural northern Nevada in the US. 22 minutes on the internet well spent. This was a window into a world and a way of life that I did not even know existed. Thankyou so much for the job well done on this video.
Thanks for watching!
Awesome video. I can imagine this film being used 100 years in the future to teach kids about life on the canals. This channel is so relaxing.
Peter Dunlop I fully agree! David did such a superb job with this video.
That has been the best 22 minutes of my week. may they thrive in these troubled times. Fantastic.
Fascinating and well made vlog. SUBSCRIBED!
Both my wife of 30+ years and I have lived almost our entire lives within a few miles of New York State's Erie Canal. The past 25 years, less than a mile.
We looked at buying a canal-side home that had been an inn, including a "muleskinners'' lodge. Mule stables on the ground floor with bunk rooms above.
A shallow "wide waters" is nearby where boats would winter over when the canal is drained.
Many stories of canal folks being a rowdy lot.
My mother-in-laws' grandfather was the canal lock master in Macedon who loaded her aboard a stranger's packet boat for transport to the Lockport locks, where her father worked and retrieved her. About 90 miles. My wife still has relatives in both the Macedon and Lockport regions.
The Erie Canal, with the Great Lakes, provides vessel traffic from the interior of the US, even the Gulf of Mexico, to NY City harbor and beyond. The Erie Canal opened up the US interior for expansion, it made NY the "Empire State" and NYC the metropolis it is. There is still some commercial traffic and large structures moved on the canal.
Canal boats are available for day trips and long term rentals. Locks and lift bridges are manned.
Happy boating folks.
Sorta dirty side note: Our newest elementary school is named "Canal View". On opening day some wiseguy had covered the letter C with a black plastic bag.
Thank you for showing us a different way of life.
Good Afternoon David. I have been watching your channel since you started it and I have to say that of all of the piece videos you have done, this is the best one yet. I really enjoyed watching it and learned also. What a win win. Thank you and safe travels.
I agree. This is a terrific one, and I bet it brought back memories of your ITV days. You really have a talent for short-form video.
This narrator is absolutely excellent. Such vivid descriptions and then just out of no where refences. The dude literally makes a detaching the saucer Star Trek reference.
Thank you 😀👍
This was a delightful watch. The overwhelming focus these days are on narrowboats used for leisure/residence so it's great to see them used as work boats like in 'the old days.' Thanks for sharing!
'Tranquility' is what comes to mind when watching this calming glimpse into how an old (but still functional) bit of British infrastructure is used.
Being a commercial fisherman in south Louisiana in American its amazing to see the way things are done in totally different way on my boat I run q 225hp Honda on a 24ft Carolina skiff to hear the engine on yal boats is amazing
Hi Joel I play Cajun music and live on a pair of canal boats. About as perfect a life as is possible.
Notice how Carefully the Additive and the Fuel are Poured into the Buddy, Over the waterway just Brilliant
Beautiful, beautiful video! You have an amazing talent for detail and DEDICATION for capturing the details and feel! everything is top notch, from camera work to narration! can't even explain how much i enjoy it! many thanks and greetings from a Croat in Netherlands!
This was an amazing story about an amazing couple. I truly enjoyed traveling along with you and them to see how they live their lives. I thank them and you for the opportunity to see them doing what they surly love doing for life.
I eagerly await your sequels "Boatraker," "For Your Mooring Only," and "Cruise Another Day."
And The Man With The Golden Gunwale?
I had no intentions of watching this, yet couldn't turn it off - absolutely beautiful. Credit to everybody involved.
I like to watch this one over and over. It is so England in the cold, beautiful and historic and perfect fireside weather.
Beautiful story and a very loving couple. The scene here is so peaceful and natural. The life here seems unspoilt. Hope this loving couple will have a long way to go. All the best to them and peace be with them.
I’m fascinated with this being your most viewed video.
I kind of understand.
I’m just so glad that you have captured this business on video.
This is one of those videos that people will show in 50 - 100 years to show the continuing working history of canals in the UK.
It’s just a great video all around. Fascinating, well researched and with brilliant narration.
It’s narration that can make or break a video. The camera work could be the best you’ve ever seen, but If the narration is all over the place , it’s painful to watch. You sir have it ALL worked out.
Simply wonderful.
Thank you 😊
I never searched for this, I never asked for it, It's not even something I would think of watching. It just popped up after another video, but man I am so glad it did. What a fascinating video. Very informative and entertaining. I guess this is another subject I will be watching, googling and reading on now :)
Thank you, plenty more on this channel 😀
Fantastic video, big thumbs up 👍 Great insight to how those of us that live on the canal get our supplies, and that boats do indeed still work.
We are indebted to the service the fuel boats provide up and down the canal system. Life for us would be difficult without them.
My Dad was a diesel fitter who built the Lister engines you hear and see in this film. I live next to the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes where this excellent film was made. Whenever I hear the sound of a Lister I think of my Dad. He would have been proud that his work was still performing as well as when he finished it. Thanks for such an evocative film. I am always pleased to see the Jules Fuel boats when cycling and walking alongside the canal to remind me of a time when the canals were full of narrow boats such as these playing a vital part in transporting goods to the nation. Their contribution to the war effort was as vital as those at the front and, yes, they too had casualties.
The sound reminds me a bit of the old single cylinder stationary gas engines a mainstay of farms here in the US in the time between only steam power ,and gas/fuel tractors and electricity .. the little ones ,there were some monster big versions made ..
@@richardsolberg4047 What did they typically run?
@@richardsolberg4047 They existed in the UK also (pump water, milking machine, etc.) There's people who still collect/renovate them. At vintage vehicle events there's often groups of men turn up with their well polished little machines which still run. Can't really see the attraction of something that just sits there and goes 'phttt' every 5 seconds.
@@nevillemason6791
As long as both the engines and the men keep going "Futt"....
that's all we can ask....
I can't begin to tell you how many times we've watched this particular video, but something about it is so interesting as if it calls to me for a simpler life. Not sure how else to describe it. I so hope we get to live on a narrowboat at some point in the future. 7 yrs. to retirement!
This is my favorite video and I have watched it a lot too. I am retired to the countryside in Thailand, it makes canal life look stressful by comparison, lol. A lot warmer too, no winters.
I actually forgot I was watching a youtube video and thought it was a BBC program, so well made, and so interesting, thank you...
Richard is very strong and sure footed! I'm envious of both their skills.
Wonderful.These vlogs should be prescribed on the NHS to lower high blood pressure.so relaxing.
this brings back those cozy uk documentary memories.
Can't even describe how ... therapeutic? ... this was to watch. Really enjoyed seeing this side of life!
This may be the most British thing I’ve seen on TH-cam
No: the tea has not been consumed. 😆
Why did the dude say cheerios ?
@@gaming0rhino It's a common British farewell. There's no S. When I was little, I was really puzzled by the cereal brand. 😉
A life on the river is life lived at nature's pace. What a life.
This was randomly suggested to me and i must say i thoroughly enjoyed it! Great documentary style video and very informative on something i never even knew existed. This is proper youtube content, keep it up 👍🏻
I hope this tradition continues
It’s wonderful to follow you on your trips adding knowledge, good feelings, seeing how nicely and respectfully you treat the people on the canals. Thank you!🙏
Thanks David, I really enjoy all your videos but this especially. A good insight into a working boaters life and nice to see the customers having a word too.
WOW that couple are in unison with each other ,what a great team brillant.
Though I doubt that I will develop a prolonged interest in narrowboating I must say that I much appreciate the work that must have gone in presenting this tradition in such a polished way. From the clean audio of the narration and ambient sounds, to the clear visuals and lovely drone views it's been a pleasure to enjoy this look at a totally different lifestyle.
Thank you
I’m not even sure why I enjoyed that so much. That was really nicely put together...
So pleased folk are continuing to keep this going. So pleased that it isn't me! They really earn their money... X
That was super-interesting. Reminds me of auditorium in elementary school where Tuesday afternoons we would see educational films. How shoes are made, how bananas get to your grocer - things like that. But, you are the King of presentations with your skilled, refrained narration and drone piloting.
I always told my friends and family that I was born in the wrong decade, seeing as how I love the cars of the 60's. After watching your videos, I am beginning to think I was also born in the wrong country. Your boats and canals are so intriguing to me. Working a job like this would be amazing.
David, of all of your excellent videos, this is my absolute favorite. 💙
Glad you enjoy it!
As an American, i love classic British culture. grew up watching top gear and i genuinely do like the quaintness of river boating and the classic countryside feel to alot of things over there. i still find it hard to wrap my mind around just how many people are on those islands. loved the video though, gave me that classic top gear feeling of the old top gear with Tiff Needell, Clarkson and Vicki. pleasant and relaxing to watch. 👍
On the 15th of April TH-cam saw fit to offer me this video in the presentation of things I might be interested in, so I watched it, and found it delightful. I then set about watching them all, from #1 to #211 (so far). As others have said, they are somewhat addictive and offered a pleasant diversion in these troubled times. The production values are superb, and I very much enjoyed taking them in over the past 12 days or so. Thank you so much, and stay well, from Arizona.
Thank you so much! Glad you like them.
A fascinating film and just draws the viewer in. So impressive to see the skill, dedication and quiet dignity of the people providing this vital service day in, day out.
I must admit that since discovering your channel, I’ve become much more relaxed. Something about watching a channel dedicated to the bucolic lifestyle of British canal boat ownership...
Thank you David another excellent video and one of your best, if I may say so.
I was in West Yorkshire in the 1970s and there was canal that ran through Hebden Bridge where I was staying. It was in disrepair and there was talk of filling in the "eye saw".
I visited again some 30 years later and these canals had been renovated, put back into service.
There was a busy dry dock at Hebden Bridge for repairs and maintenance and they seemed to have plenty of work on. I was really impressed and with there rich history, what a tourist attraction they had become. It would have been sad to see them gone.
I think you mean "eye sore"
I absolutely loved this vlog, what a cracking hard working couple, lovely to see old ways of working still exist . 👏🥰
With all the stuff going on in the world, it's peaceful to watch the quiet life of a canal working boat and crew. Seems like a nice life.
Physically demanding, but satisfying and serene.
Fascinating video, I could have watched another 30 minutes! Thanks for this.
Was hooked from start to the end, great video
What a life. As someone that lives in America, and grew up partially on the Mighty Mississippi, which is about as wide as that canal is long (exaggeration, just a bit), I love this calm, small boat life I get to see in your videos.
There are approx 4,700 miles of canals in the UK.
This was so peaceful to watch
Beautiful example of things that are built to last. I loved looking at not only the boats but the canal itself. Both things that were built long ago to last to as close to forever as possible. Much nicer than todays planned obsolescence based garbage. Compared to that these bits of history should be preserved as functional art if nothing else.
The lifestyle is very appealing in its quiet simplicity. Today life has become so noisy and complex with its so-called improvements that, knowing these lifestyles still exist is not only heart warming but relaxing, and smile inducing to peek in on. Thanks for your video. Cheers!
I've no clue why this was recommended to me, but it was a really pleasant watch! Thanks :)
Watching this makes me incredibly jealous of the lives these people get to live. Looks so peaceful and free.
Once again your captures are the best and the theme of real lifers on the canal captivate and make one yearn for life as it should be on the canals.
This is a beautiful snapshot of history and a unique culture, thank you for documenting it!
Not sure how I ended up here but I watched from start to finish. That was rather interesting.
As someone living out of a toyota RV in Seattle these people are an inspiration ❤ it's not what you've got but what you make of it.