01/10/2026
The Nomadic Narrowboat - Tales of a Roving Trader
Steering Waratah away from the familiar northern waterways where we spent our first two years trading felt like a bold, exciting leap, and this reflection on our time so far on the Grand Union Canal with the RCTA is a celebration of an absolute joy of a summer.
We roasted under hot sunshine all summer long, which brought glorious days but also a real struggle with the heat for me, so much so that we finally invested in a tower cooling fan, and it has been an absolute lifesaver. Of course, the weather also brought a few sudden downpours, and true to canal life, we navigated a minor mechanical breakdown along the way with good humour. One of our most memorable moments was when David had an unexpected dip right into the canal to rescue a customer's dropped phone!
Moments like that always highlight why this community is so special, and I was deeply touched by the heartfelt words of encouragement customers shared with us along the way.
We also met so many wonderful new faces, and the warmth from everyone in the southern RCTA division made us feel right at home instantly. David threw himself into a brand-new role, becoming our unofficial PR man by charming local radio stations to spread the word about our floating markets. I even faced a brand-new challenge doing a canalside radio interview for Mix 92.6, though Chantalle put me so much at ease that I ended up genuinely enjoying it. And to top it all off, I was asked to write a weekly blog about our experience, something I am genuinely thrilled to do.
After four years of boating, I have to admit I was entirely unprepared for one particular southern quirk: I have never in my life come across so many Waitrose stores right on the canal side. Finding high street comforts just a short stroll from the towpath always gives me a little bounce in my step.
Usually, I dread the winter months, as the low levels of light tend to get me quite down. But looking ahead to this winter feels completely different. We have opportunities to cross paths with our new-found friends, and I know it just takes an invitation to the local pub for us to reconnect over the colder months.
Leaving our northern roots was daunting, but exploring this vibrant new route, making dear friends, and sharing the journey together has made every single mile worth it.
