London Fixed-gear and Single-speed

wow

Hi Jaqui

We lived on our last boat at Three Mills for 5 years so know the area well and often cruised up to/hung out in Hackney/Walthamstow marshes but are now back in a house and p/t boaters. Lucy Alice is currently in Northampton (near my work)but next summer we will be in Hackney for 3 months for the Olympics - also looking forward to making your acquaintance.

Gareth

That is very true. Contrary to what people might expect, muggers don't like hanging around in darkness any more than victims do. The problem would be more related to it being a known late-night walking route.

I recall Regent Canal were a haven for protective species such as bat (especially in Islington), which is why they don't have lighting there, does that extend to where you are?

Protected species, Ed. :)

Protective bat:

I'm feeling slightly optimistic about the new charity.. having met with them really helped. They have a lovely and expereinced new head and she was very aware of the upcoming challenges she and the new body would face.
example of her forward thinking -
Her to me - the event you're proposing wouldn't generate large revenues but perhaps if we ring fenced the proceeds for a specific project the boaters would feel more positively about it.
My reply - Yes, visability and empowerment to perhaps choose the projects they'd like to support would be a good thing (I'm thinking more shower facilities, although I don't need them personally).

Fingers crossed.

useful anti mugging aid^

Jan 23.
Today I went outside to have my coffee while I charged my laptop on the Norwegien's boat. As luck would have it I said hello to a random wearing a high vis vest who was slowly walking and looking at each boat.
He said he was glad I came out as he'd been walking on his break to see if anyone of the boaters wanted some wood that was going to the tip from his construction site.
I was the only one about so IF I WANTED IT WAS ALL MINE.
It's surely better than it goin to land fill and I was raised to do the right thing..he chuckles.
I'll share it about I tell him.
So long as you take enough for yourself, he nods.
I said yes and asked if i should follow him over.
We walked and talked, he is from Kerry, same as my father.
Theres a half dozen ten foot lenghts of Oak about 4inches thick and a few 4x5s of pine and pallets.
Do you have a saw?
Yes, Sir.
You are a woman to be reckoned with, he chuckles. I can cut up the pallets for you. It'll give me something to do and I'll bring them over to you later.
Amazing.

score!

who says it never pays to be friendly eh?

Result!

Win!

24 Jan.
Heading out today to scout moving locations. OF COURSE its raining..
Also going to see if the showers at Stonebridge have hot water yet. They ran out of gas in late December.
It's been far too long to be reasonable. I for one am glad I don't have to rely on them, I can see why some people (who dont have their own showers) are getting cranky about it.

in other news my friend R has now purchased a narrowboat! YAY!! and my other friend K, who came with me when I bought Miracle has finally arrived back in London with his boat purchase.
I can't wait to see them both, although I suspect I may get jealous..

Jan 30. - Half way there.

It's been three months since I moved aboard.
Half the time I gave myself to figure out if life on board suits me. I know the answer already..

She's SO Small.

It's everyone's initial reaction; its a truth.

In my three months I have seen people living on smaller and less well planned boats.
I've seen bigger boats too without half of what Miracle has in storage or facilities.

Those that know boats and have seen the liveaboards that float on London's canals all agree, Miracle is small but she's also the most effecient use of space most have ever seen. She's tidy. Her interior is all the original wood and has that mature golden patina, he cuboards are understated and simple her lines are clean. She's too small for the intricate and sometimes twee woodwork found on other canal boats. In short she's timeless.

They say a place can feel like home. Miracle does.

Celebrations onshore soon?

Hi Jacqui, a friend directed me here as I have long held an interest in living a small/tiny houses and was, at one point, building a moveable one. It's been really interesting reading through your journey. Do you have any pictures of the interior of Miracle and how she's laid out?

Good call on the biggest solar panel you could fit, well worth the money in the long run.

Justin.

Jacqui - how's it going in this freezing weather?

Do we need to send a team to chip her out? It's been a while since she posted!

Lucy, the way you says it as if she's Shackleton lending the artic expedition on the Endurance.

Jacquelton ?

Excellent, could not rep you hard enough for that.

*tries to banish vision of Ed repping hard from mind*

It is I indeed a little frosty at the mo, the view from my kitchen window/hatch on Lucy Alice yesterday morning was just lacking penguins...

Sorry picture link appears to be a fail :-(

Here -

ty o'shane

Antarctic.

^ Pedantarctic


(but entirely correct of course)

An artic expedition, yesterday:

^ ubinstobart ?

Eddie Stoble

Meanwhile in the artic;

Is that Jacqui on Miracle?

No, that's Jacquelton.

There's a lady who's oh so very Ernest ... Jacquelton is her name, and Miracle's her game.

11. Feb. - Boat Rules

I went for dinner at Julian the boat painters boat the other night. His partner Charlie has been on the river seven years. Myself another rookie boater seemed the star dinner guests. Over and over throughout the night one solid piece of advice kept being floated back and forth towards the newbies..

Winter is just about staying warm and surviving. That's all you need to do.

There is ice on the canal.
There is ice on my deck, on the tow path, over the cobbles, and everywhere.

I've been away for 3 days.
I guess that's cheating, but I was still on the river just stayin aboard a boat with a multifuel burner which unlike my woodburner stays warm all night. Back on board this a.m. and a bit worried.

Miracles water is frozen.

I hope it isn't as bad as it could be.
I wasn't anticipating this, I'd thought I'd prepared.
I always drain my taps before leaving the boat.

I've been in her an hour now woodburner blazing both for my sake and the pipes.

I'm a bit panniced.

Please dear God, dont let me have broken my boat.

I've just spied a drip from the tap. (huzzah!)

First Snow.

Duckie was born in winter 2011. He has never seen snow. When the first snow fell last week he'd been inside and at 10pm when there was a good amount on the ground I took him for his first snow adventure.

Ehm.
Well sort of.
The adventure only got as far as the tow path.
Once on solid ground I put Duckie down and he repeadedly paced a circle approximately 60cm in diameter and began meowing. I walked a few paces, and called him. He answered but continued in the circle. Again, I called him and he again responeded but only walked the circle, seemingly unable to follow our call and response and transfixed by the snow.

After 5 mins I went back to the boat. Surely he's manage the 4 paces back with me.
Nope.
He continued calling desperately and pacing the circle.
I had to go back out and collect him.
I couldn't stop laughing. He wasn't ammused.

Aside for the necessary Duckie stayed in for the rest of the night.

whoo hooo. I haz water again - time for coffee.

Teehee glad you're surviving the big freeze Jacqui!

I am such a fan of these updates :-)

Glad you're well and surviving.

Hi Justin,
Thanks for getting in touch. I do have pictures of the interior of Miracle. But I am saving them just now. If you can picture it - Miracle's full length on the exterior is 20ft (just over 6m) The living space is approximately 14ft of that (4.25m) and like all narrow boats she's 6ft 10inches across. Miracle's gunnels are very wide, and account for about 9.5 inches so actual interior in above the gunnels is around 6ft with the below being fuller.

2.5m from the door is on one side my kitchen arranged (cupboards x 3, stove/gril/hob, sink and Rinnai then a full length closet, abeit only about 30cm wide. The opposite is woodburner, seating and bathroom (including shower and toilet but no sink as it would be redundant in such a small space)
The remaining space is my additional seating which converts to a double bed. The seats contain storage.

In the summer you're welcome to come see for yourself as I'll be travelling west on the london system.

Going down the Grand Union?

@velocio - coming to hang out with you of course! I'm gonna go everywhere. Next month I'll publish my schedule so when i am close you can come try your sea legs!

My dad lived on a canal boat for over a decade, I'm fine :)

We have a friend who lives on a dutch barge down at Chelsea embankment too.

I'll be sure to come by though. An afternoon spent by the canal and perhaps down a pub would be perfect.

Some of you may recall in one of my early posts telling you of my friend who works in a boat yard and has his own project boat. My friend, Seb helped me immesurably in the early stages when I was searching for Miracle. His project has taken 6 years so far and he's chronicaled it very well. If your're interested..
http://thevoyageofwendyann2.blogspot.com/

^ link's not working... nothing to see here.

Fine for me.

Hmmmm

You'd have loved it cliveo, he had these girders welded onto the front in a V shape, so that he could get his motorbike off on either side of the boat.