After several years of dreaming, several months of preparing, our narrowboat adventure has fully begun. We left the Kelpies a week and a half ago, and after a couple of days on the Union canal towards Edinburgh, we set off along the Forth & Clyde to Glasgow and the Clyde.
What was meant to be a two day trip actually took four. Our engine overheated and went bang with lots of smoke. We had to stop and call out River Canal rescue who removed a possibly faulty thermostat, probably exacerbated by the vast amount of weed in this canal that has not been used by boats for two years. Then when we could get going again, two lift bridges at Clydebank broke down, and the only automated drop lock in the world stopped working when we were in the middle of it. A drop lock is where you drop down in the lock to go under a road and then come up the lock on the other side. A marvellous piece of engineering – when it works!
So we are now at Bowling – a marina at the end of the canal. Since we arrived here our batteries have drained too fast because the solar panels appear to be faulty, and we were using too much electricity. We are having to run the engines for several hours each day to provide power. Then our bathroom sink started leaking, soaking everything underneath it. A quick trip to a caravan parts shop in Glasgow, and some very dodgy plumbing from me appears to have fixed it for now.
On Sunday we plan to take our most perilous journey, an hour on the wide tidal Clyde river, up to Dumbarton Sandpoint where we will wait till Tuesday and then be lifted out by crane onto a lorry to travel down to the English canal network for the rest of the year. My fingers are crossed. If there is no blog next week you will know why.
What have I learnt this week? A reminder that in narrowboating, patience is everything. If something can go wrong, it probably will, and there is no point in getting upset. Better to relax and enjoy the moment.
Have a great week.
Pete
Pete's Blog 
Wow Pete. What an adventure so far, makes banking look boring!
I hope the big issues are behind you and next week goes well.
PS The dogs look super cute, I hope they have adapted well to life on the river.
Thanks Matt. Yes more exciting than banking but the key is not to allow it to be so stressful. Will be more confident after we get the boat to England :-). How are you?
I’m good thanks Pete. Finishing my recovery from gall,bladder removal. Looking forward to new normal which should be a monthly rhythm of home, Wales and office. Let’s see if variation is a joy! I hope the crane lift isn’t too stressful.
What a great adventure you are on and fingers crossed for a safe and uneventful invasion of England next week by Coleman Cruise Lines 🛳
Thanks Andrew