About Us

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In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Tuesday 13 August 2013

Back to the Lee & Stort junction in record time.

Many many thanks to Roger and Pat ( The Cats Whiskers ) for recommending The Gate pub in Sawbridgeworth for a meal last night. As soon as we walked in, and the first thing that hit us, was the amount of beer mats hanging from every beam. Looking at it you wouldn't think they served food, looking more like a traditional pub then an eatery, but we had the most delicious meal and the cost was more then reasonable. Would you believe home made chicken or beef pie, mash, loads of veggies and gravy came to £2.50 per meal. Even the beer was brewed on site and only £2.70 pint. Bargain! Chris and Sheila were suitably impressed. You don't get many pubs like that where they live in Essex. All to soon it was time to say our farewells and a thoroughly enjoyable evening it was enjoyed by all.

Setting off today we had 8 miles and 11 locks before we reached the junction. Our plan was to cruise until lunch time, find a mooring and continue to the junction tomorrow. As luck would have it all but 1 lock was with us, gates open beckoning us in. So instead of stopping at midday, and with only 2 more locks to do, we carried on and arrived at the junction by 12.30. The visitor moorings for once were free so we stopped, had lunch and while I went fishing, Ian repaired our bathroom tap. For weeks I had struggled with trying to turn off the tap after my shower and, with the water still running and getting cold, many a time Ian had to come in to my screams of  'turn it off, turn it off'! So now it's fixed and I'm looking forward to a decent hot shower without a cold one to finish off .

Hidden Gem at Sawbridgeworth lock

Sawbridgeworth lock was the only one we had to fill

C&RT bod out checking boat licenses. Our new license is due end of August.

Into the unknown!!!

And a stowaway landed on the hatch cover

Found another willow tree further on to return it to.
Harlow activity center below Burnt Mill lock


Looking back at Feilde's Weir lock on the River Lee

Moorings at the junction.
And finally:-




White tailed bee





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