Narrowboat in November

The alternative would be to buy a cheap pair of 'wellingtons' when you get here and leave them here - maybe on the narrowboat? - for the next occupants to use (assuming they fit!).

I think in November even the towpaths, which are often gravelled or paved, could be wet and muddy and the canal/river banks certainly will be. Any field paths into villages from the canal are certainly already muddy - I got a proper soaking in Wales yesterday and everywhere was muddy underfoot!

Have a great trip!

Ian

Many boats come with waterproofs - November is one of the wettest and windiest months. Has your base told you about any winter closures of the canals?

Most boats have a traditional tiller and the boat driver is outside exposed to all weathers. For that job I suggest a tie-on wide-brimmed waterproof hat, for reasons which will become obvious.

After the winds and blows of this week - I'm local and not a million miles from Market Harborough - it will freeze up next week, so being prepared with plenty of tea bags and gloves, or mittens, wooley hat and windbreakers is critical for narrowboating at this time of year. If it is cold be sure to use gloves (have some just for this task as it can be greasy sometimes and you don't want to ruin your good ones) when working the locks, especially when using the windlass. You don't want to take off skin when the windlass gets really cold.

Are you heading towards Foxton Staircase? A good pub at the foot of the staircase. There is usually help and a lockkeeper there but I don't know about in winter.

You probably won't meet many other boats at this time of year so it is unlikely you will have much delays at locks. Pubs are starting to put their Christmas hat on.

Do remember when planning your days that they are shorter now - you need to be tied up during hours of darkness - and the sun is up around 7:30 and everything is dark by 4pm.

Narrowboating is a fabulous holiday. Enjoy the stillness and quiet, the scenery, the world class pubs, the wildlife and farm animals.

There are several supermarkets in Market Harborough for provisioning before setting off. Don't forget the teabags.

I rather like the Market Harborough branch of Waitrose supermarkets. Not the biggest by a long chalk but a very pleasant little supermarket which will have everything you need.

Also available are Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury.

Thanks all for the advice. Based on all this, I will pack our boots. They are good ones with grip that is good even on the ice (thanks for mentioning that, Emma), so it is probably better to bring them rather than try to buy something there. No, we've never been on a narrowboat, but we love the winter and all the winter sports (skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, etc.) in New Hampshire where we live, so I don't think the cold will bother us. I've been checking the weather and the temps seem to be pretty consistently 10 degrees (F) warmer than when we've been having at home. But Nigel, you convinced me I should pack an extra pair of gloves for each of us.

Yes, our first stop is Foxton Locks. We are also planning stops at Husband's Bosworth, Yelvertoft, Crick, and Welford. Thank you for the supermarket suggestions too! We knew we need to buy food before picking up our boat, and weren't quite sure where to go for that yet.

After our week on the boat, we are renting a car to drive up to the Yorkshire area which we'll explore from our base in Thirsk. This is the general area my great grandparents (and many generations before them) were from, and i have a lot of information about the churches they went to, graveyards where I may find headstones, and in some cases, addresses of where they lived, so I am excited to explore.

Then we'll return by train to spend 3 days in London. I suppose this all may have been nice for a summer holiday, but this is the only time we were ale to get away this year. On the positive side, it won't be as crowded now and I'm excited for the Christmas festivities (festival in York, for example).

I'm so glad to hear you're doing this. We did a narrowboat excursion (our second) out of Market Harborough in 2006, but that was in July! Are you going with Canaltime? They are very nice boats. I absolutely love a narrowboat holiday -- you see a side of England you don't normally see, and putting at 3 mph forces your mind to slow down and just enjoy what you can see up to the next corner.

Are you going north toward Leicester, or south? We went south through the Foxton Locks to Norton Junction, then west along the Grand Union to Braunston, then south on the Oxford Canal to Napton, then back the same route, in a week.

To answer your question, we didn't have wellies but that was July. You will very likely be happy to have them in November. I would echo the suggestion that you buy a cheap pair there and leave them there -- too bulky and heavy to pack overseas.

One suggestion I can't stress enough is to have a good canal guide. This will help you figure distances from lock to lock, find good mooring and reversing points, and scout out good pubs and shops along the way. I recommend Nicholson's Guides (https://www.amazon.com/Nicholson-Guide-Waterways-Oxford-Guides/dp/0007136641).

I envy you. Enjoy your vacation!

Thanks. That sounds like the same route we have planned, except we probably won't get as far as Braunston in the winter. With the short days, we tried to plan for just 3.5 hours on the water per day. So, we'll probably turn around before the Braunston tunnel. But, if we somehow go faster or get further than we think, that is exactly the route I would love to take.

but we love the winter and all the winter sports (skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, etc.) in New Hampshire where we live, so I don't think the cold will bother us. I've been checking the weather and the temps seem to be pretty consistently 10 degrees (F) warmer than when we've been having at home.

There is a big difference between -10°C on a crisp sunny day (I only think in °C), that is lovely, and +5°C on a dank wet, drizzly November day, where the wet just gets into you.
I agree with Nigel and Emma, having spent much of my life with English Novembers, it is a time of year to stay indoors (or in a good pub) round the fire.

We live in central British Columbia and are very familiar with all kinds of winter weather, wet situations and cold. My husband and I completed our second 2 week canal boat holiday this year in the Bath/Devizes area in late April. It was a mixture of cold (-2 C at night), sleet, and some not very warm days. Bring layers. Bring some wool. Hat to keep your ears warm. I had a jacket that had a hood on it and used it a lot. Gloves that will keep your hands warm and dry if/when it rains. If you're using these for lock work, they will get dirty from time to time, so consider that when you bring them. You may find having some warm pajamas or longjohns useful as well. We found the boats not to be too warm in the evening, even with some heat on. I used trail walkers and didn't have too many problems with the mud or wet trails. I also had rain pants/jacket.

Have fun! This trip we enjoyed spending a couple extra days in some of the towns rather than trying to put lots of miles under us.

If you have never been been on a narrowboat and you will have locks - you will on the route you have chosen - be aware of the basic rule - Mind The Cill.

It is critical if you don't want your adventure to turn into something worse. The Cill is at end of a lock and you don't want part of your boat on it and the rest in the water. I'm sure that your guidebook will mention it, your book of instructions on the hire boat, and hopefully your instructor.

http://patienceafloat.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/boat-caught-on-lock-cill.html

Also don't steer too near the bank when moving - you can get pulled in.

It will be beautiful. Enjoy.

Please tell us how your narrowboat adventure was!