LETTING GO
Naomhog spent the winter months moored alongside Farmer P’s field. A lovely boater moored alongside agreed to run the engine twice a week for a couple of hours, to keep her ticking over, wanting nothing in return. Tragedy struck when a barn went up in flames and many of the possessions of this boater were destroyed, as they were stored in a caravan, close to the fire. His wife, a painter lost many original pictures and much of her art materials. As recompense for helping us, we helped to restock her equipment and as a thank you, she painted a beautiful, near photographic quality picture of Naomhog, a keepsake that I will treasure. (She takes commissions!)
Leaving the farm at the beginning of March, we journeyed a short distance to the Trent & Mersey, where P, at the Middlewich Wharf, carried out a full service, for the start of the 2026 boating season. A few years previous, we had walked passed this wharf and I had a feeling it would be instrumental in our boating life. P turned out to be a broker, and still mindful of the words I had had in June 2025 ‘sell the boat’, I asked him if he would do this for us. It was agreed that we’d take Naomhog for a final ten day cruise, returning her to the Wharf on Wednesday 18th March.
It’s been a very wet winter and setting off in more rain, I decided that not all boating is fun! Our aim was to go along the T&M towards the Harefield tunnel, but turn left onto the Macclesfield canal and see how far we could get before time necessitated we turned around and headed back to the Wharf. There were an awful lot of locks, fortunately narrow ones and most, easy to operate. Friends we knew from way back, who now live in Leek, visited us for an evening, which was great fun, reminiscing over old times, in one of the canalside pubs. The weather cheered up and we made it to Congleton, 32 locks under our belt, by Thursday. We then had a choice: a thirteen hour round trip to Macclesfield, with a further 24 locks or, moor up for a couple of nights in Congleton and take the train to Macclesfield – a journey of less than 15 minutes, one stop along the line. We were moored a five minute walk from the station, so you can guess the choice we made!
A lovely day on Friday, meandering around Macclesfield and learning all about the towns involvement with the silk trade. Well worth a visit to the Silk museum. Also found one of the best wool shops around – getting into granny mode, there was a bargain bin of baby wool, which I made good use of, along with a very easy pattern to knit a baby cardigan, which even I could manage!
We weren’t just cruising though. Ever mindful of the imminent boat sale, we delved into every nook and cranny to see what we could get rid of, either in the charity shops or the recycling bins. We washed windows and floors, sprayed wood polish over the boat interior, cleaned out all the galley cupboards and tidied the roof, the stern and the bow areas. We had prolific fires in the stove, (a real treat to have it on in the day time!) to use up the wood that R had painstakingly foraged and cut and we had not used over the winter. We also realised we had at least one full bag of coal and a boaters blanket that we wanted to bless a boater with. The blankets are made up of squares of knitting, mainly due to the love and time of some canal Ministers and their friends. All of us are encouraged to carry a blanket aboard ready to give to a boater in need of some warmth. Conscious of this blanket I offered a prayer that we’d find someone to give it to and soon.
Walking back from the station along the towpath, R said a ‘hi bro’ to a guy who looked like a boater and thus began a conversation that resulted in him coming to find us on our boat later in the evening. As his story unfolded, it became clear he’d really appreciate both the blanket and the bag of coal. Some of the stories you hear just make ones’ blood boil about the injustices of our social system and the prejudices that are still rife. It doesn’t cost a lot to be kind and we need more of it in this world where many people find themselves increasingly lonely.
Talking of kindness, I cannot tell you how kind our friends H and J are. We returned the boat to the wharf, after the most beautiful final cruise in sunny weather and a glorious sunset (that reminded me why I love boating!) and set about packing up. How could I manage to squirrel away so much stuff in such a small space!! I remember one of the selling points of this boat was its incredible storage for such a small size. I had made the most of it! J drove to the Wharf and filled his car with our boat belongings. Then he stored them in their garage and returned to the boat to take a further carload. The shiny clean, empty boat got photographed and put up for sale. Within 48hrs I’d accepted an offer greater than the asking price, on the condition that the boat was removed from the market. The survey revealed that some bearings needed replacing, but as I knew other people had also expressed an interest in buying the boat, I stood firm and said I wouldn’t reduce the price, which the buyers accepted. Half an hour later the broker rang to ask how the pumpout toilet worked! It looked like some switch was malfunctioning and would cost £550 to replace or if that wasn’t the cause, it would cost a further £1500 to replace the entire toilet! So, I chanced on the switch alone and yesterday got the good news it was the switch. However, it also served to remind me that boats cost money and the old adage is true – the two happiest days of owning a boat are the day you buy it, followed by the day you sell it!
So, the end of an era and a new chapter ahead, now based living near the canal in London. We likened Naomhog to a dog, needing to know where she was, who was looking after her and was she safe. Our increasing commitments off the boat made me realise that in the back of my mind was a constant concern of what to do about Naomhog when we weren’t aboard and this was like a shackle, that we are now free of. We have had the most amazing four and a half years. We’ve learnt a lot, expanded our horizons, had adventures and discomfort as well as pleasure and beauty. Most of all we’ve met some amazing people and made some truly great friends. Now we will go on other people’s boats, help crew if needed and still remain part of the boating community in London. I envision sitting in the canal club garden, a soothing green space in central London, helping boaters through the nearby lock and chatting with them. We will remain in the Canal Ministries team, walking the towpath and engaging with the boating community. R hopes to get involved with the Camden community boat. So, this is not the end of the story. We have had to let go of something extremely precious, but we bless the new owners in to whose care Naomhog now lies and hope they will enjoy her as much as we did!
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