On the Cut, 2026

[Gary R. Smith]

I stumbled on the whole narrow boating thing as a guy that I went to high school with has several brothers and they spend time in the UK traipsing around the canal network. As a result of that I've watched a couple of YT vids shot while on the waterways. My friend's brother purchased a boat and while it is kept in the UK, I don't know how they keep it. I have no idea if there are narrow boat "marinas" or if you just pay for a spot somewhere or what.

 

[Ralph Turner]

There are quite a number of marinas dotted about (we keep ours in one), though some boats more or less stay on the move from temporary mooring to temporary mooring.

 

[Ralph Turner]

Moored up at Nantwich last night and had a quick mooch into town. Some wonderful old buildings.

 

[Gary R. Smith]

Looks like the brick layers used a plumb line and the carpenters did not...

 

[Ralph Turner]

Looks like the brick layers used a plumb line and the carpenters did not...

Lol. I don't think there's one old building that sits perfectly square to any other in the town. There's been a settlement here since roman times and the church in the town, St Mary's, dates back to the 14th century and some of the timber framed buildings date back to the sixteenth century.

 

[Ralph Turner]

I will probably feature one or two more images (along with various others from the journey) in a post on my Substack page in due course.

 

[Gary R. Smith]

and some of the timber framed buildings date back to the sixteenth century.

We don't have anything that old over here.

 

[Ralph Turner]

Beautiful cowslips.... and a broken morse cable to the gearbox. Luckily a chandlery a short way down the towpath managed to order a new one for us. Hopefully here on Thursday

 

[Gianluca Drago]

 

[Gary R. Smith]

and a broken morse cable to the gearbox.

It's always something...

 

[Ralph Turner]

It's always something...

Indeed. At least where we're moored is rural and peaceful.

 

[Gary R. Smith]

Indeed. At least where we're moored is rural and peaceful.

And a chandlery a short way down the towpath...

 

[Ralph Turner]

Still not underway just yet, but we did have a glorious sunset last night..

 

[Gianluca Drago]

Wow!

 

[Ralph Turner]

Cheers, Gianluca. Well, we've got another night here in this spot, but we should be able to move off first thing in the morning as I've just finished fitting the new cable, so we can go backwards AND forwards again. Ohyes!

 

[Wes Hall]

Lol. I don't think there's one old building that sits perfectly square to any other in the town. There's been a settlement here since roman times and the church in the town, St Mary's, dates back to the 14th century and some of the timber framed buildings date back to the sixteenth century.

Can confirm- pre 1900’s terrace cottage and every single wall, floor and ceiling are like an MC Escher design.

 

[Ralph Turner]

Mored at the top of Church Locks, near Church Lawton.

 

[Ralph Turner]

Old, derelict Price & Kensington Teapot Company factory.

 

[Peter Roberts]

That's very much my cup of tea, Ralph (pun intended).
I'm always fascinated by old industrial buildings. That's somewhere in the Potteries I suppose.

 

[Ralph Turner]

That's very much my cup of tea, Ralph (pun intended).
I'm always fascinated by old industrial buildings. That's somewhere in the Potteries I suppose.

Many thanks, Peter. Yes, it's about half a mile north of the Middleport Pottery, where we're moored for the night. When we came past, I thought what a fab place to photograph. I walked back up there with both my 6D and half a roll of FP4+ in my Yashicamat EM. The film lasted no time at all and I rattled of countless frames on the Canon. Couldn't help myself lol.