2: Bob’s barge lessons in Stratford-Upon-Avon

[@paulashton5990]

Lovely ground level shot of the boat rising out of the earth. Very iconic

[@pjmaynes8747]

Robbie, your choice of lifestyle is right on. I’m 73 and haven’ decided what I want to do (not really, but close).☺️

[@benfaulkner5904]

We went through here on our pilgrimage home with our new boat, our boat is an inch wider than it should be, and as a result scraped all the way down on both sides! Avon boating gave us a couple of free things - brilliant people.

[@andyb1237]

Well done for helping out a newbie boater and thanks for bringing us along.

[@BenEmelie]

Bloody awesome and a big well done to Lou!!! And what a lovely boat. Teach her well Robbie :-)

[@RobbieCumming]

Thanks Guys will try my best!! 8^)

[@trishandbunnies]

Good luck Lou. And what a hero you are Robbie! Great vlog..

[@stilcrazychris]

Great video. I'm a day behind. I'll be catching up soon.
Bless her heart. She'll get the hang of. I believe in you.
Thanks Robbie, Chris

[@pootle2768]

You’re such a good canal coach! I’m looking forward to the next instalment in this exciting mini series 😊👍🏻

[@RobbieCumming]

Thanks Mandy!! 8^)

[@SuperPurpleBoots]

Well done Lou! You should add a composting toilet to your list of things to get. My whippet cries too, he’s fine if he’s up with me but can’t bear it if he’s inside when I’m out or he’s on the boat when I’m off locking. Le sigh.

[@peterrussell9473]

When lock gates do not open fully, don't call for help until you have tried to fix it yourself. The usual reason is that there is debris between the gate and the lock wall. This can often be removed (if it is floating debris or nearly floating debris) by closeing the gate again as fast as you can. This circulates the water and often moves the debris into the lock. Try this 3 or 4 times. Sometimes the gate does not open due to heavy debris (bricks or stones, for example). You may be able to move this using a long boat hook or boat pole - which is one of the reasons that professional boats carry such things. The other item often carried on traditional narrowboats is a long fork which can be used if there is alot of floating debris getting behind a lock gate. Having moved debris into the lock take care not to get it around your propeller as you enter the lock.

[@RobbieCumming]

Yep did all that but couldn’t film as was hands on - but thanks for the tips Peter

[@bengunn9254]

Pub of the day playing Smooth operator in the background

[@RobbieCumming]

😂👍

[@RobbieCumming]

😂👍

[@wsatnutter9674]

great stuff well done you two

[@mudds78]

Great stuff!!! Love it

[@mattlad6935]

Some of those Stratford Canal locks are 'ard work......

[@4thEyeVision]

I can't wait for more vid's in Statford

[@clivebanwell5865]

Great post Robbie !

[@timpaszkiewicz7169]

You only learn from when things go wring.

[@MrBblhed]

If nothing goes wrong you will never learn what to do when something goes wrong.

[@deanbarnes20]

Proud 'barge father'! :)

[@elperroloco1752]

Great vid. I'm looking for a bit of advice my family and I have to decided to go on a narrow boat holiday in 2019. in honour of papa who's favourite holidays as a boy were narrowboat ones. Do you know of stretch of canal that is pleasing to the eye but is also easy for absolute first timers to venture on ? Your vids are great by the way I'm now subscriber

[@RobbieCumming]

I don’t I’m sorry - all are easy and difficult in their own unique ways! Anglo Welsh hire boats seem good on this canal, lots of lovely locks and no swing bridges at least!

[@pattyfarghaly1821]

Eeekkkkk. Had me worried for a minute.

[@johnbrookes2196]

Nice cheese on toast as well

[@theonetempus]

Intrigued by that folding sink in the bathroom. would you please show us more about it???

[@RobbieCumming]

Sure

[@theonetempus]

I'd appreciate some information about that sink. It would be nice to know more about it, as a folding sink seems like a big space saver, for when I fit out my boat some day...

[@RobbieCumming]

Ah sorry Ragnar - I’ve completed my filming now and didn’t manage to find a logical break in the filming to include it. It’s very simple and seems widely available. You can wash your hands and flip the bowl back, with any excess water draining away into the canal/river. Drawbacks include not being large enough for the water to run hot however so for me I thought it wasn’t as ideal despite the space saving aspect. Better to have a small corner sink or something like that!

[@bex82uk]

Yikes not sure what i would do if cruising solo and got stuck in a lock, scream for help? Lol. Sometimes u just have to do a bit of waiting until help comes in those situations and not panic right, what's the point, at least it was dry and sunny... ! ~bex~

[@MuddyBootz]

Will there be a graduating crankin' ceremony at the end of the trip?....At least you've not to do any ice breaking!!!

[@JMS98989]

Are you going over the aqueduct soon??? 🤔🤔🤔

[@RobbieCumming]

Yeah dude just uploaded! Sorry couldnt meet you in Stratford mate! 8^)

[@JMS98989]

Robbie Cumming hey 👋🏻 no worries I didn't know how far up the Stratford canal you were going. The aqueduct is my favourite place....well right through to Wooten Wawen is pretty great!! Next time you are passing shout me up for a beer 🍻 or Wagamama 😊

[@rwbimbie5854]

4th Narrowboat youtuber I've seen going on about Cheese On Toast.
Is that some kind of UK mandatory food staple? Do public schools teach all UK kids how to make cheese on toast... in case a war breaks out and they need a strategic cheese toast reserve?

[@RobbieCumming]

We produce some of the finest cheese in the world so you’re god damn right. Ha ha! Only joking it’s not everyone’s favourite thing but it does make for nice quick comfort food. For info, Welsh Rarebit is a dish you can order in some restaurants/pubs and it’s basically a fancy version of cheese on toast. 8^)

[@rwbimbie5854]

Have you tried the american Grilled Cheese?
Bread & cheese sammich, butter pan toasted both sides over med-low heat to melt the cheese inside?
It confuses a lot of folks that the Grilled refers to a short-order diner fry grill, rather than a bbq grate grill

[@RobbieCumming]

No I’ve not - sounds good though!

[@davexjs5889]

Get down South with Lou she'll show you a few pubs of the week Robbie

[@davexjs5889]

I lived in London for 15 years left in 2016 and there's plenty of pubs of the week there still

[@tml136]

How stressful is it teaching someone

[@RobbieCumming]

I found it easy, but Lou was a great student!!

[@carper1325]

take it u dont like dogs