Canal life is a vibe that fits the essence of my being, and while I'm living in the UK, there's no other way I'd rather live. It's exciting, and every day presents new experiences and gives me the freedom that not all other modes of alternative living offer.
On this day, we'd set off at 8:00 AM, and 5 minutes into the journey, we stopped at the water station to refill the tank on the verge of emptying. That took us approximately 45 minutes, but the time went by quickly as hubby and I chatted and interacted with other boaters in the queue to fill their water tanks.
We shared stories about our most recent stops, challenges, and pleasures along the canals, and it's a great merging of different worlds.
Laundry is on my daily agenda; this I do in small portions by hand, as space restraints prevent me from having a washing machine. This has been working out perfectly fine, though, as there's never a pile-up of dirty clothes.
Also, summertime is more convenient, as the garments are light and easy to dry, and the sunshine, coupled with the natural air, is soothing and pleasant.
We're constantly meeting new people as we cruise along, and occasionally we might bump into another boater that we've met before.
I was seated at the bow of the boat, folding away my clothes rack while greeting oncoming boaters.
I was caught off-guard by the cheeky greeting of an elderly man who was smiling while coming towards me before saying, "Hello, Shortie!"
I giggled because that was reminiscent of being greeted by friends and strangers whenever I'm home in Jamaica—shortie or smiley, they say.
However, that's not everyday humour here in the UK, as the culture here is focused on being PC and mindful not to break laws or offend others.
I'm pretty thick-skinned, though, and in Jamaica, we say things as they are, and our expression is descriptive and might be offensive to outsiders.
Still, it's a great view from the bow of my boat, and it's tempting to sit outside and be on the lookout for marvels that await.
Whether it be people, scenery, or the fascinating wildlife and farm animals that live harmoniously with each other.
It was just gone mid-day with the harsh sun, and I was struggling to determine if these were indeed water buffalos. Luckily, a couple of ladies confirmed and told me how special it was to see them.
It's always a treat to see the swan families with cygnets of different sizes. They grow pretty fast and appear to be intelligent.
Their parents are territorial and protective, but their nurturing nature towards their little cygnets cannot go unnoticed. The family gives off a serene and happy energy, and it's pleasant for them to stop by the boat.
The foals and fillies are adorable, and they look stunning across the fields next to the adult horses.
Or this hilly field of black and white cows that's undeniably postcard-pretty.
The cows more than all the others were curious, with questioning looks, and it feels as if I'm interacting with animals, and I love it.
The weather continues to be hit-and-miss and July feels a lot like October. I've even had to light my fire a few evenings, but it all adds to the experience of living on a narrowboat, extending this rich heritage of UK history, and relishing in the freedom of this lifestyle.
#FreedomFriday.
What rocks my boat
My blog frequently features my minimalist lifestyle and adventures while living on my narrowboat.”
Irie love,
Milly
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