SPRING INTO ACTION

Liveaboard Emma is embracing the changing seasons

It feels like it has been a long winter. After the fun of all the Christmas celebrations, we seemed to have long months of rain and heavy winds. The storms and all the windy days cut down the times we could cruise, as it can be really tricky navigating in the wind. Winter stoppages can also cut off large sections of the canals, in particular, the Llangollen Canal is not open until the end of March.

But as spring starts the canals will start getting busier as people emerge from marinas and winter moorings and the hire boats start getting busier. I love spring, we start getting longer days and better weather, but don’t have the really hot weather of the summer.

On the canals and rivers, there are so many things for people to enjoy, not just for us boaters. There is so much to see as the seasons change. Spring flowers bring colour and life back to the towpath, after what can feel like a bleak winter. Wildlife starts getting ready for breeding and early sightings of signets and ducklings are amazing to see.

The towpath is a great place to walk and experience all the beauty of spring. I love to see families out with their children, teaching them all about nature, geography, and history. It is also great to see all the dog walkers with their dogs enjoying all the new scents and sounds. I love photography and filming my vlogs for my YouTube Channel. There are so many things to photograph living on our narrowboat and it is great to meet other photographers enjoying the beautiful scenery and nature. I have to confess to not being a great artist but I love to see some of the amazing artwork inspired by our great scenery on the cut.