As a Liverpudlian/American I would suggest that you guys are the National Treasures, thanks for sharing your wonderful, unbiased views of my home with its memories.
Fascinating vlog guys. I was working a couple of years ago just south of the sea lock. The Brunswick docks just south of there were filled in a long time ago but there are still all the buildings and those hydraulic accumulators. I would see massive oil tankers over at the Rock Ferry oil terminal and the following day they'd be already in the English channel. Ironically one of my visits was during the Aintree horse racing festival so I couldn't get local accommodation and had to stop near Southport at a Premier Inn by the Leeds and Liverpool canal (near Scarisbrick marina) Also, probably 30 years ago or more I worked on a contract at Unilever power station in Bromborough and we visited the Eastham ferry pub/hotel which overlooked the entrance to Eastham locks. Lots of great memories - Thanks - Andy
Ship Canals are more what I am used to here in Canada. While all our Canals are Freshwater the St Lawrence on the east side gradually transitions to Salt Water. The Mississippi via Lake Michigan enables ships and large barges to travel up the Mississippi to the Great Lakes. Yes we also have requirements of pilots for certain classes of vessels. The waters and the shores of the Mississippi require pilots as the mud is in a conjugal state of flux. All things water are fascinating. The life aboard is totally different than life on land. Thanks as always for a most pleasurable trip.
Thanks for inviting us all aboard to share your voyage. Clearly you aren't the kind of people who hide your sweets in your pocket - your packets are open on the table for everybody to help themselves
Hubby says that we don't have to do this now. HA! Really enjoyed this one. I'm amazed at how big the ships were. I think we've seen CC's version and will go watch Lorna's video next. Great video!
Thank you for the lovely day on the water. I just binged your last 3 vlogs. I always enjoy your trips, but now you guys are like my tonic. Besides the holiday season being it's normal stressful self. Life with aging parents has added to that stress. So when I get home after a 3-4 days away, 3hr drive, 3x a month. I go to you. Your "Chill" and the water are just what this girl needs. Thank you Michael and Jo . Have a fabulous Holiday.
Great trip! Really good job that old bloke with the beard on the back of the boat knew what he was doing! Stuart seemed really helpful too ;) Well done Michael and Jo! That is a nightmare of logistics to put yourself through what must have been a trip into the scary unknown! Thanks again for being so intrepid! I have done that trip, but on a Mersey Ferry (great trip if anyone doesn't fancy doing it in their narrowboat :) )
This was one of the best narrow boating vlogs ever. So many challenging and usual situations all crammed into one trip. Must have been quite intimidating being in that huge lock with an enormous tanker drifting towards you. Excellent stuff !
Another thrilling adventure, yet one more ripping yarn to tell. Going where but few other narrowboaters venture. I think I see a desire for the sea growing, at least in Michael.... Now for David's and Lorna's vids.
I would absolute love that, but as I’m kind of Immigration-bound to the UK for at least a couple more years it may take awhile before we’re in Sweden! M
Some puckering moments for me as a I saw red and green buoys go down the "wrong" side, until I remembered Britain uses the opposite system from North America. We use "red right returning" as our mnemonic, keeping red port buoys to our starboard side as we return to harbour.
I would have pushed “Cruising The Cut “ over the side, mid channel, ha, ha, only joking of course , but then again, “many a true word was spoken in jest,”, Great film boy, keep em coming, and more George please...
Your description of the large ship coming into the lock reminded me of my first time as an air traffic controller having a C5a come into our airport as it kept getting closer and was still miles from the runway! Dave and Lorna did a nice job of discussing the trip! Thanks for sharing!
Liverpool changed a little since 1941 When i was born 6 miles out from the dock sides so it was great to see some of the old buildings again. thank you for trip over to the other side glad to see you all made it in good shape. Ed40 40 south of Vegas
What. An. Amazing. Journey. Thank you so much for sharing this, it was one of your most spectacular and interesting films, looks like even George was impressed, despite being confined to the boat!
Those early morning shots from the bow looked like a Turner painting, David’s in particular, I almost expected a full rigged steamship to appear dramatically in the haze. The light in October is amazing, I was on the K&A two weeks after you shot this and it was spectacular.
Hi Jo and Michael, Good on you Jo for doing the crossing! You guys do the most interesting cruises, it is good you invite the National Treasure along for the experience, and of course London Boat Girl. These cruises that you do, that are not normally undertaken, is the reason I subscribed to your channel. I discovered you off the Tidal Thames video posted by the National Treasurer. Once again you two have provided brilliant content. Keep up the great work! As I have said before Micheal would probably have the most experience of varying conditions having mastered Perseverance through so many different conditions than any other narrow-boat owner. Full kudos to you both. Keep up the great work and the interesting content you provide. Regards a Fan from Aus. P.s. I am now going to look at the video posted by the National Treasurer.
Hope you enjoyed David’s version! Yeah I do kind of think I might be in the upper echelons of narrowboat skippers who’ve seen it all... though a bit more so after the next two videos! M
enjoyed watching that. that tanker is quite small compared to some that go up to Stanlow. it would have been a lot cosier in the lock! look forward to your trip to Manchester.
Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic! As hire boaters, we can never even aspire to doing that and, even if we weren't, I'm not sure I would have the fortitude and the downright determination to do it. It was wonderful and thank you for including us on your adventure. I know you down play the seriousness of the undertaking Michael, perhaps for obvious reasons, but the mere fact that David and Lorna must have traveled quite a way to accompany you - I think David was on the Caldon when you made the crossing? - makes it a rare and very special adventure. At first sight, it looks like 'the professionals' make it unnecessarily difficult and tedious to arrange, but when you actually get there and those lock gates allow the first glimpse of a mile wide, fast moving waterway, with proper, man sized, ships......... then it becomes clear that it isn't a tourist attraction. They are fully aware of just how - unsuited I think was the word I used the other day? - unsuited narrowboats are to 'real life' travel, outside of the slightly artificial world of inland waterways. Well done for 'persevering' and absolutely making my Sunday evening. I'm off to see what David and Lorna made of it. Thanks guys.
Yeah, the working port people do I think want us to have a wee bit of a doctor’s appointment first, but at the end of the day Perserverance is suitable, she’s just unusual! It is a bit hard to convey the seriousness, since we want the videos to be fun... but yeah, the moment those gates open everyone else is excited and I’m just the one that’s got to keep them all alive. It’s daunting, when it hits you... especially as it’s not like I can let on I’m nervous! But well worth it, once you’ve planned for everything you can! M
This is a FANTASTIC video! And until you I saw the outtakes I thought the filming, narrative, editing and overall content were perfection! And, in the final analysis as your editing was smooth it IS perfect. A new favorite out of all the Narrowboating videos I have ever seen. Including those done by the professionals (Kevin the Country House Gent and David of Cruising the Cut). I have about 5 questions, which (for me) will turn into 25. Some of the questions you answered several videos back when you were introducing the route and ultimate goal. However, I can’t remember which video. So I will go watch David and Lorna’s take and glean what I can from their videos before I annoy you with all of my questions. If you don’t mind my return and another post. I was thinking, when watching the cuts to the stern sans audio, that your guide has probably got some stories to tell. It was good to hear that, indeed, you got some interesting historical information, which is one of your favorite things. Or seems to be. Again, great video! Thanks!!
Ask away, though I hope I can find the questions again to answer... we’ve gotten a lot more comments than usual on this one and I’m having a hard time keeping up! And yes Stuart did have a lot of tales to tell! Fascinating guy! M
I have been catching up on you vlogs in order ( now at 213) since being away for the summer, but had to watch this one after having just seen David's vlog of the trip. Nice to see a few of my favourite vloggers together on the same boat. I am glad to see that Jo appeared to relax and enjoy the trip, after all she was in good hands with Micheal at the tiller...Before I forget, Happy Christmas Jo, Merry Christmas Micheal and all the best in the New Year. Fair locks.......
It must have been an amazing experience, and I'm glad that Jo stayed on board. You also kept the National Treasure safe, even though he needed a nap after his experience. When we were at Ellesmere Port in July we saw 2 tugs go at speed up the Manchester Ship Canal and they created an unbelievable big wash!
Wow, well done. That sounded complicated to organise but the trip looked much calmer than I expected. Thanks for taking us along on yet another trip that I won’t be doing on my boat!
I think the pilot wanted you all at the stern to trim the boat to give more freeboard at the bow so that it was less likely to be flooded by wash from another vessel, and / or to put the propeller and rudder deeper in the water to improve propulsion and steering in case you started pitching.
I think you’re right about keeping the bow a bit lighter... he also wanted to keep an eye on everyone, so there’d be no unscheduled man o’erboard drills! M
Absolutely beautiful!! Looks like you lot had a great time, nerve wracking as some of it may have been. Great job with your “national treasure” cargo, Michael! Haha! Also, your captain looks to me like the quintessential sea captain 😂
Wow, I bet you're glad you don't have to wind paddles on those locks. Good job getting everybody safely across. I think you misspoke though, it's George who's the (inter)national treasure. Also, he probably isn't always demanding tea and a cheese sandwich. I see Davids video in the cue, perhaps I'll continue my narrow boat Sunday evening.
Wow! You guys are so brave! We thoroughly enjoyed watching this video. We were born and brought up about 15 miles from Liverpool, we’ve had our narrowboat for just over a year, but don’t think we will be doing the Mersey anytime soon! Well done tho! Love your vlogs. Sue and Russ
I guess David is probably a "national treasure". YT put his videos into my "recommended" long ago and was my first introit to narrow boats. Probably the same for countless others. Stuart the pilot looks like a stereotypical sea captain... sans gourd pipe.
Marc A. Mercier yep! It happened the same way for me, but I had seen an episode of Happy Valley on prime or Netflix and saw a narrowboat and I didn’t know what it was called and was searching ‘barges’ and nothing just Dutch barges etc... saw them on Peaky Blinders still couldn’t find them and then got a recommended vid and whola I clicked :) it was the National Treasure and I was hooked😎
Enjoyed this very much, beautiful videography and actually quite interesting and even exciting stuff. Great to see another part of the country that I would never ordinarily see. Very much a vicarious pleasure watching your vids - feel I'm there with both of you sometimes, and storing all the memories of the places with you. If anyone ever tells me that TH-cam is second rate to broadcast television, I suggest they watch videoblogs like yours. Because if anything, it is better and more natural than many of the tv travelogues I've seen.
Everyone well wrapped up against the weather, Michael in a T shirt, the man has style! Loved all three vlogs, all very different but each complimented the other. Thanks for showing my city in a positive light, I know you enjoyed your short time here,, and hope you do make it back one day. Now looking forward to the Manchester ship canal. Take care
Thanks Maggie. It was great to meet you before the trip. All be it briefly! You saw firsthand how nervous I was! Michael’s inability to feel the cold is amazing!
@@MinimalList I was thinking about you the next day, wondering how you were coping with it. I've been on the river when it is rough, not a place to be, good for you that you did it and I understand the anxiety.
Hi guys that was fantastic very well done, not even the foxes have done that trip. Such a lot of organising to do. I too was at Elsmere Port on the 19th of October, having seen your vlog I really wanted to visit the museum which I can thoroughly recommend, super dog friendly too. Looking forward to seeing David and Lorna's footage. Thanks, and take care. Alan.
Exciting stuff - tidal Thames, Ribble and now the Mersey and on to the MSC. I thought you would be saying that the Mersey experience was a bit like the tidal Thames, but obviously that wasn't the case. It might have been (similar) of course if the conditions had been rougher! Keep up the good work.
The Mersey was mainly different from the Thames because of the traffic and the total lack of bridges. On the Thames for the first hour and a bit out of Limehouse it’s just bridges and boats EVERYWHERE! M
You guys seem to have a relentless schedule that must surely take some of the enjoyment out of the narrowboat liveaboard lifestyle. I hope that you both manage to get the recommended daily allowance of "me time" Very interesting vlogs though, so thank you for your hard work 😁
We tend to get all the me time we need, however life events and winter stoppage notices have a way of putting deadlines on things when we’d rather be free to just get there. You’ll see more of that over the next few videos, I’m afraid. M
BTW, the link to London Boat Girl’s video took me to ‘Art by Anna Marie’. I follow her and can get it and David’s popped up within seconds of yours so no problem. But thought you would want to know.
Oh that was fun. Two years ago I was sat on a seat at the edge of the Mersey at Port Sunlight with three friends eating pies. Between you three and the Fox's Afloat you could be called Paul's nostalgia vblog. You really caught the feel of the place. Could almost smell the sea air. When the docks got hit by bombs boxes of cigerettes got blown into the water. Dad and my grandfather got hold of a boat and fished a lot out. They dried them out and sold them on the black market. Tobacco was in very short supply. They were awful but great fully received.
Heh, got to love a bit of ingenuity during a time of crisis! Well done those men! Though I can’t imagine salt-water logged tobacco is an improvement on the dry version. M
I think it's fantastic that you not only engage in the simple, pastoral pleasures of the Cut, but also want to explore our great (once-) industrial cities and rivers. You're truly getting an all-embracing British waterways experience! BTW Michael, don't you ever feel the cold?
Wow, don't think I'd fancy it in any rough weather. Must have been a bit awe-inspiring to share a lock with that tanker. Looking forward to your transit up the ship canal.
Great Trip...thanks for taking us along, virtually, my little Lister two cylinder 30' narrow boat would not be happy doing it! She is perfect for me on the Lea, but I have no need to try her on the River Mersey!
Funny, when I first saw Stuart I was absolutely certain he was the Gorton’s Fisherman, who’s face adorned the brand of fish sticks my parents could never afford! M
Awesome... great description of tugs “off & too fast” Lovely cruise on on fairly calm water, I was surprised most of the other crossings I’ve seen have been choppier. 😊 And wow the tanker dwarfed you as expected, but then the lock dwarfed the tanker.
Yeah, we got REALLY lucky on weather... I lay the blame entirely on my first and most painful tattoo, which was supposed to give me good luck, but inadvertently more correctly means I’m a good luck charm for others. M
where did that map with the colored lines come from?
I designed it. Its for sale here. artbyannamarie.com/shop/uk-waterways-map-a3-by-minimal-list/
...fun when you guys get together and make a video .... Camaraderie very cool !! : )
“National treasure” hahahahahahaha. Thanks for letting me join you :-)
A nautical treasure at least.
Yep its official. Your a leg end. 😁
I'm sure it's not a coincidence that your gift for gab has made you very popular in the narrowboat world!
It’s true David! If I drowned you, I’d be drummed right off TH-cam! ;-) M
Glad you had a peek into the world I live in everyday, times about 20. Its hard to believe I can put that many perseverance s in my tow🤣
cruising the cut is a world treasure! 😂
As a Liverpudlian/American I would suggest that you guys are the National Treasures, thanks for sharing your wonderful, unbiased views of my home with its memories.
Thanks for watching! Glad it fit with your memories! M
Great video of your Most Excellent Adventure. Thanks so much! Robin & Trudy 🤓🇨🇦
Thanks! M
Stuart the Pilot looks like the kind of guy who knows everything about boats. I'm sure he knows the odd sea shanty too.
Never got Stuart drunk enough to find out, but most likely he's got a few in there! M
Fascinating vlog guys. I was working a couple of years ago just south of the sea lock. The Brunswick docks just south of there were filled in a long time ago but there are still all the buildings and those hydraulic accumulators. I would see massive oil tankers over at the Rock Ferry oil terminal and the following day they'd be already in the English channel. Ironically one of my visits was during the Aintree horse racing festival so I couldn't get local accommodation and had to stop near Southport at a Premier Inn by the Leeds and Liverpool canal (near Scarisbrick marina) Also, probably 30 years ago or more I worked on a contract at Unilever power station in Bromborough and we visited the Eastham ferry pub/hotel which overlooked the entrance to Eastham locks. Lots of great memories - Thanks - Andy
Ship Canals are more what I am used to here in Canada. While all our Canals are Freshwater the St Lawrence on the east side gradually transitions to Salt Water. The Mississippi via Lake Michigan enables ships and large barges to travel up the Mississippi to the Great Lakes. Yes we also have requirements of pilots for certain classes of vessels.
The waters and the shores of the Mississippi require pilots as the mud is in a conjugal state of flux. All things water are fascinating. The life aboard is totally different than life on land. Thanks as always for a most pleasurable trip.
There's nothing like a life afloat to keep things "fascinating", that's for sure! M
Glad you were able to get together with David and Lorna for the crossing!
Always good to have David and Lorna aboard for our adventures!
Possibly the most ‘piloty’ pilot EVER!! All the images of the other vessels into the Sun were just stunning..... brilliant vlog 👌👍❤️🌱💚🎄
Thanks! And yes, Stuart’s pretty legend! M
Incredible video. I loved the rainbow and seeing everything going on at the stern. Thank you so much for letting me join you
Always! Thanks for coming along! M
Thanks for inviting us all aboard to share your voyage. Clearly you aren't the kind of people who hide your sweets in your pocket - your packets are open on the table for everybody to help themselves
Oh definitely. Pockets empty, sugar everywhere! M
Hubby says that we don't have to do this now. HA! Really enjoyed this one. I'm amazed at how big the ships were. I think we've seen CC's version and will go watch Lorna's video next. Great video!
I totally recommend doing it and I was super nervous!
Thank you for the lovely day on the water. I just binged your last 3 vlogs. I always enjoy your trips, but now you guys are like my tonic. Besides the holiday season being it's normal stressful self. Life with aging parents has added to that stress. So when I get home after a 3-4 days away, 3hr drive, 3x a month. I go to you. Your "Chill" and the water are just what this girl needs. Thank you Michael and Jo . Have a fabulous Holiday.
Thanks for that! Glad we can help, even in little ways! M&J&G
Great trip! Really good job that old bloke with the beard on the back of the boat knew what he was doing! Stuart seemed really helpful too ;) Well done Michael and Jo! That is a nightmare of logistics to put yourself through what must have been a trip into the scary unknown! Thanks again for being so intrepid! I have done that trip, but on a Mersey Ferry (great trip if anyone doesn't fancy doing it in their narrowboat :) )
We’re so glad it all came together, but yes MUCH simpler arrange by ferry! M
Now that was exciting! Well done! Safe cruising.
Thanks! M
This was wonderful to watch and I so enjoy David and Lornas channels. Way to go David on that line throw! I like the sea faring look of the pilot!
Its always great to have David and Lorna aboard. It’s amazing how different our vlogs are too!
Great watch 👌
This was one of the best narrow boating vlogs ever. So many challenging and usual situations all crammed into one trip. Must have been quite intimidating being in that huge lock with an enormous tanker drifting towards you. Excellent stuff !
Well, it would have gotten a lot more intimidating if they hadn’t been moving so slowly. It was definitely an interesting sight! M
I know the ship canal very well but never seen eastham locks being used, thank you it was really good to see
It was quite a sight, especially from within! M
Fascinating trip today.
Thank you!
Another thrilling adventure, yet one more ripping yarn to tell. Going where but few other narrowboaters venture. I think I see a desire for the sea growing, at least in Michael.... Now for David's and Lorna's vids.
Oh, that desire’s been there all along... space before sea, sea before land, land before nothing. That’s me. M
Perhaps get (hire?) a Dutch barge and take it to the Swedish Skargarden next summer? I would watch those videos!
I would absolute love that, but as I’m kind of Immigration-bound to the UK for at least a couple more years it may take awhile before we’re in Sweden! M
Yep, enjoyed that.
Well done to you all.
Crossovers are the best :)
Yep! M
Happy Birthday Michael.... ..
Thank you! M
Some puckering moments for me as a I saw red and green buoys go down the "wrong" side, until I remembered Britain uses the opposite system from North America. We use "red right returning" as our mnemonic, keeping red port buoys to our starboard side as we return to harbour.
I would have pushed “Cruising The Cut “ over the side, mid channel, ha, ha, only joking of course , but then again, “many a true word was spoken in jest,”, Great film boy, keep em coming, and more George please...
"David's having a nap." I like that man.
Us too! M
Good job. Fun trip.
That had to be a little intimidating bring in a lock that big with ships that big. Great vlog and glad you got to experience it
It was a little! 😬 Thanks for watching!
That pilot Stuart looks like he has just come off a Birdseye advert !! Brilliant vlog , such an experience from the canals to see !!
Yep, that’s a face that could sell a lot of seafood! M
Fascinating and looks fun.
It really was. And a little scary.
two perspectives down, one to go.. Im enjoying..
I love how different all our vlogs are! Glad you are enjoying!
I really enjoyed this Vlog, all my favorite narrow boaters on the same cruise. Thank you for all the hard work and planing. Great job.
Thanks! Glad you liked it! M
Your description of the large ship coming into the lock reminded me of my first time as an air traffic controller having a C5a come into our airport as it kept getting closer and was still miles from the runway! Dave and Lorna did a nice job of discussing the trip! Thanks for sharing!
Heh... I’ve seen a C5 land, and an AN-225... and yeah, similar feeling, though less of a sense of there being a real risk of imminent disaster! M
Great inspirational vlog. Looking forward to your vlog when you go back to Sharpness to do the Avonmouth trip! English Channel next?!
Liverpool changed a little since 1941 When i was born 6 miles out from the dock sides so it was great to see some of the old buildings again. thank you for trip over to the other side glad to see you all made it in good shape. Ed40 40 south of Vegas
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the memories! Lovely city, in any time period! M
What a great video I'm impressed with your patience in all the organising required. I would probably have thrown in the towel halfway through it.
It’s a might bit daunting, but in the end mainly just a lot of phone tag! M
Your both at it now
Utterly ridiculous but at the same time absolutely brilliant. The best vid I've seen for ages..well done you very brave souls!!👍👍
Thanks! We aim for ridiculous! M
Also, you should put 100 canal boats in that one lock, that would be awesome.
Heh, I doubt I could get that many to pay the fees! Plus we’d give Paul at Peel Ports an early coronary when we told him! M
What. An. Amazing. Journey.
Thank you so much for sharing this, it was one of your most spectacular and interesting films, looks like even George was impressed, despite being confined to the boat!
Thanks for such kind words! It really was quite the adventure!
Those early morning shots from the bow looked like a Turner painting, David’s in particular, I almost expected a full rigged steamship to appear dramatically in the haze. The light in October is amazing, I was on the K&A two weeks after you shot this and it was spectacular.
Hi Jo and Michael, Good on you Jo for doing the crossing! You guys do the most interesting cruises, it is good you invite the National Treasure along for the experience, and of course London Boat Girl. These cruises that you do, that are not normally undertaken, is the reason I subscribed to your channel. I discovered you off the Tidal Thames video posted by the National Treasurer. Once again you two have provided brilliant content. Keep up the great work! As I have said before Micheal would probably have the most experience of varying conditions having mastered Perseverance through so many different conditions than any other narrow-boat owner. Full kudos to you both. Keep up the great work and the interesting content you provide. Regards a Fan from Aus. P.s. I am now going to look at the video posted by the National Treasurer.
Hope you enjoyed David’s version! Yeah I do kind of think I might be in the upper echelons of narrowboat skippers who’ve seen it all... though a bit more so after the next two videos! M
Been waiting for ages for this vlog and it certainly didn't disappoint. What an awesome journey to do. Another one for the bucket list. Thanks guys.
Thanks man, glad you liked it! And yeah, sure took a while! Definitely worth adding to the list! M
Once again you take us places I never expected to be. Thanks!
Thanks for coming along!
Very interesting vlog, maybe I will try it sometime
enjoyed watching that. that tanker is quite small compared to some that go up to Stanlow. it would have been a lot cosier in the lock! look forward to your trip to Manchester.
Yeah, there are definitely larger... sadly they don’t let us schedule them! M
Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic! As hire boaters, we can never even aspire to doing that and, even if we weren't, I'm not sure I would have the fortitude and the downright determination to do it. It was wonderful and thank you for including us on your adventure. I know you down play the seriousness of the undertaking Michael, perhaps for obvious reasons, but the mere fact that David and Lorna must have traveled quite a way to accompany you - I think David was on the Caldon when you made the crossing? - makes it a rare and very special adventure.
At first sight, it looks like 'the professionals' make it unnecessarily difficult and tedious to arrange, but when you actually get there and those lock gates allow the first glimpse of a mile wide, fast moving waterway, with proper, man sized, ships......... then it becomes clear that it isn't a tourist attraction. They are fully aware of just how - unsuited I think was the word I used the other day? - unsuited narrowboats are to 'real life' travel, outside of the slightly artificial world of inland waterways. Well done for 'persevering' and absolutely making my Sunday evening. I'm off to see what David and Lorna made of it. Thanks guys.
Yeah, the working port people do I think want us to have a wee bit of a doctor’s appointment first, but at the end of the day Perserverance is suitable, she’s just unusual! It is a bit hard to convey the seriousness, since we want the videos to be fun... but yeah, the moment those gates open everyone else is excited and I’m just the one that’s got to keep them all alive. It’s daunting, when it hits you... especially as it’s not like I can let on I’m nervous! But well worth it, once you’ve planned for everything you can! M
Brilliant video loved every minute 👍👌
Bravo!
Thanks! M
I love watching you guys and Cruising The Cut. Keep up the great work guys.
This is a FANTASTIC video! And until you I saw the outtakes I thought the filming, narrative, editing and overall content were perfection! And, in the final analysis as your editing was smooth it IS perfect. A new favorite out of all the Narrowboating videos I have ever seen. Including those done by the professionals (Kevin the Country House Gent and David of Cruising the Cut).
I have about 5 questions, which (for me) will turn into 25. Some of the questions you answered several videos back when you were introducing the route and ultimate goal. However, I can’t remember which video. So I will go watch David and Lorna’s take and glean what I can from their videos before I annoy you with all of my questions. If you don’t mind my return and another post. I was thinking, when watching the cuts to the stern sans audio, that your guide has probably got some stories to tell. It was good to hear that, indeed, you got some interesting historical information, which is one of your favorite things. Or seems to be. Again, great video! Thanks!!
Ask away, though I hope I can find the questions again to answer... we’ve gotten a lot more comments than usual on this one and I’m having a hard time keeping up! And yes Stuart did have a lot of tales to tell! Fascinating guy! M
I have been catching up on you vlogs in order ( now at 213) since being away for the summer, but had to watch this one after having just seen David's vlog of the trip. Nice to see a few of my favourite vloggers together on the same boat. I am glad to see that Jo appeared to relax and enjoy the trip, after all she was in good hands with Micheal at the tiller...Before I forget, Happy Christmas Jo, Merry Christmas Micheal and all the best in the New Year. Fair locks.......
Thanks for watching this one out of order! I’m also glad she calmed down, eventually! Merry Christmas! M
Great cruise.
Thanks! M
It must have been an amazing experience, and I'm glad that Jo stayed on board. You also kept the National Treasure safe, even though he needed a nap after his experience. When we were at Ellesmere Port in July we saw 2 tugs go at speed up the Manchester Ship Canal and they created an unbelievable big wash!
Yeah, those tugs REALLY don’t hang about! So glad they set off before we did! M
Wow, well done. That sounded complicated to organise but the trip looked much calmer than I expected. Thanks for taking us along on yet another trip that I won’t be doing on my boat!
It was way calmer than anyone expected, or indeed it would have been on almost any given day... we got incredibly lucky with the weather! M
I think the pilot wanted you all at the stern to trim the boat to give more freeboard at the bow so that it was less likely to be flooded by wash from another vessel, and / or to put the propeller and rudder deeper in the water to improve propulsion and steering in case you started pitching.
I think you’re right about keeping the bow a bit lighter... he also wanted to keep an eye on everyone, so there’d be no unscheduled man o’erboard drills! M
Another great vlog!
Thanks! M
Brilliant! Minimal List turning narrowboating into an extreme sport.
That’s us! Next time, torpedos! M
Absolutely fascinating.The relief on Jo's face at the end spoke volumes. Merry Christmas everyone
Thanks! And Merry Christmas to you too! M
Loved the "National Treasure" comment. LOL
Wow! Epic adventure! Wonderful vid guys.
Thanks! M
Absolutely beautiful!! Looks like you lot had a great time, nerve wracking as some of it may have been. Great job with your “national treasure” cargo, Michael! Haha! Also, your captain looks to me like the quintessential sea captain 😂
Stuart really does fit the mold, doesn’t he!? M
Minimal List Absolutely!! Haha
Wow, I bet you're glad you don't have to wind paddles on those locks.
Good job getting everybody safely across. I think you misspoke though, it's George who's the (inter)national treasure. Also, he probably isn't always demanding tea and a cheese sandwich.
I see Davids video in the cue, perhaps I'll continue my narrow boat Sunday evening.
George is indeed a treasure, but he’s got a more select audience! M
Wow! You guys are so brave! We thoroughly enjoyed watching this video. We were born and brought up about 15 miles from Liverpool, we’ve had our narrowboat for just over a year, but don’t think we will be doing the Mersey anytime soon! Well done tho! Love your vlogs. Sue and Russ
Thanks! It’s worth doing, if you get the right weather! M
I guess David is probably a "national treasure". YT put his videos into my "recommended" long ago and was my first introit to narrow boats. Probably the same for countless others. Stuart the pilot looks like a stereotypical sea captain... sans gourd pipe.
Marc A. Mercier yep! It happened the same way for me, but I had seen an episode of Happy Valley on prime or Netflix and saw a narrowboat and I didn’t know what it was called and was searching ‘barges’ and nothing just Dutch barges etc... saw them on Peaky Blinders still couldn’t find them and then got a recommended vid and whola I clicked :) it was the National Treasure and I was hooked😎
Yep... almost everyone it seems finds their way to TH-cam’s weird and wonderful narrowboat niche through David’s work, of course among others! M
Enjoyed this very much, beautiful videography and actually quite interesting and even exciting stuff. Great to see another part of the country that I would never ordinarily see. Very much a vicarious pleasure watching your vids - feel I'm there with both of you sometimes, and storing all the memories of the places with you. If anyone ever tells me that TH-cam is second rate to broadcast television, I suggest they watch videoblogs like yours. Because if anything, it is better and more natural than many of the tv travelogues I've seen.
Wow! Thank you so much for the kind words! Glad you enjoy it so much! M
Everyone well wrapped up against the weather, Michael in a T shirt, the man has style! Loved all three vlogs, all very different but each complimented the other. Thanks for showing my city in a positive light, I know you enjoyed your short time here,, and hope you do make it back one day. Now looking forward to the Manchester ship canal. Take care
Thanks Maggie. It was great to meet you before the trip. All be it briefly! You saw firsthand how nervous I was! Michael’s inability to feel the cold is amazing!
@@MinimalList I was thinking about you the next day, wondering how you were coping with it. I've been on the river when it is rough, not a place to be, good for you that you did it and I understand the anxiety.
Very interesting vlog!
Thank you!
Brilliant vlog......nice to see other side of narrowboats life crossing tidal rivers.....thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching! M
Would have loved to see those ships and have been on a Narrowboat. Thank you for sharing.
It’s quite a sight! M
Hi guys that was fantastic very well done, not even the foxes have done that trip. Such a lot of organising to do. I too was at Elsmere Port on the 19th of October, having seen your vlog I really wanted to visit the museum which I can thoroughly recommend, super dog friendly too. Looking forward to seeing David and Lorna's footage. Thanks, and take care. Alan.
Watched all 3 videos. And you did the best. Thanks for the adventure,
Thanks for saying so! M
That was good , you don’t see that route very often . A bit of a motley crew but you all made it safely , Jo another demon overcome :-)
Yep! I’m so glad I didn’t get the train!
Brilliant video for a Sunday evening definitely interesting with a capital I.
Thanks!
Exciting stuff - tidal Thames, Ribble and now the Mersey and on to the MSC. I thought you would be saying that the Mersey experience was a bit like the tidal Thames, but obviously that wasn't the case. It might have been (similar) of course if the conditions had been rougher! Keep up the good work.
The Mersey was mainly different from the Thames because of the traffic and the total lack of bridges. On the Thames for the first hour and a bit out of Limehouse it’s just bridges and boats EVERYWHERE! M
You guys seem to have a relentless schedule that must surely take some of the enjoyment out of the narrowboat liveaboard lifestyle.
I hope that you both manage to get the recommended daily allowance of "me time"
Very interesting vlogs though, so thank you for your hard work 😁
We tend to get all the me time we need, however life events and winter stoppage notices have a way of putting deadlines on things when we’d rather be free to just get there. You’ll see more of that over the next few videos, I’m afraid. M
Your right each of you posted a Vid. All of Your Own! I Like the friends you chose for the ride along. Need to have more sleep overs Ha Ha!
Hopefully there will be more adventures soon!
BTW, the link to London Boat Girl’s video took me to ‘Art by Anna Marie’. I follow her and can get it and David’s popped up within seconds of yours so no problem. But thought you would want to know.
Thanks
Great vlog!
Thanks! M
great vid loved it
Thanks! M
Fuzzy!
Lov'n it! All the best of the season to you!
Thanks! You too! M
Oh that was fun. Two years ago I was sat on a seat at the edge of the Mersey at Port Sunlight with three friends eating pies. Between you three and the Fox's Afloat you could be called Paul's nostalgia vblog. You really caught the feel of the place. Could almost smell the sea air. When the docks got hit by bombs boxes of cigerettes got blown into the water. Dad and my grandfather got hold of a boat and fished a lot out. They dried them out and sold them on the black market. Tobacco was in very short supply. They were awful but great fully received.
Heh, got to love a bit of ingenuity during a time of crisis! Well done those men! Though I can’t imagine salt-water logged tobacco is an improvement on the dry version. M
I think it's fantastic that you not only engage in the simple, pastoral pleasures of the Cut, but also want to explore our great (once-) industrial cities and rivers. You're truly getting an all-embracing British waterways experience! BTW Michael, don't you ever feel the cold?
Gotta embrace all of it! And yes, I do feel cold... just not quite as much when I’m concentrating on keeping a celebrity alive! M
Wow, don't think I'd fancy it in any rough weather. Must have been a bit awe-inspiring to share a lock with that tanker. Looking forward to your transit up the ship canal.
Awe inspiring, and a wee bit of dread to think of not getting the hell out of his way in time! M
Great Trip...thanks for taking us along, virtually, my little Lister two cylinder 30' narrow boat would not be happy doing it! She is perfect for me on the Lea, but I have no need to try her on the River Mersey!
Yeah, maybe hold off on that one if you’ve not got a lot of power! M
What a Fantastic voyage thank you for sharing it with us. Dawn
Thanks for watching! M
Lol nice one again thank you for sharing this with us stay safe and warm regards 👏❤️😁xx
Thanks! M
You really do like to live on the edge 😳😂👍👍👍
It makes life more interesting for sure!
I’m very impressed... very awesome!!!! I really do enjoy your channel....P.S. I love then end🤣😂🤣
Michael and Jo are more than just content creators, they are smile creators.
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it! M
Of the three versions of this trip, this is definitely the longest. 👍
True that! M
Great adventure! Thanks for taking us along! Stuart the pilot looks a bit like my friend Howard, who is a CRT volunteer lock keeper.
Funny, when I first saw Stuart I was absolutely certain he was the Gorton’s Fisherman, who’s face adorned the brand of fish sticks my parents could never afford! M
Loved this !
Awesome... great description of tugs “off & too fast”
Lovely cruise on on fairly calm water, I was surprised most of the other crossings I’ve seen have been choppier. 😊
And wow the tanker dwarfed you as expected, but then the lock dwarfed the tanker.
Yeah, we got REALLY lucky on weather... I lay the blame entirely on my first and most painful tattoo, which was supposed to give me good luck, but inadvertently more correctly means I’m a good luck charm for others. M
Hahahaha..
Thanks for taking us on your adventures!
Thanks for coming along! M
great vid
Thank you!
I think you ALL are treasure level.....Merry & Happy Christmas /Year
Thanks, and Merry Christmas! M&J&G
It looks a little crowded on there!
It was a little! Good job we are all friends!