Northern Pride

In my post last October, Blogging all over the canals, I mentioned some of the blogs that held my attention.

NB Northern Pride fell off my radar for some reason, I can't remember why.  I thought I'd already written about Barry and Sandra's summer cruising blog earlier this year, but clearly not - very sorry!

They came over from Gisborne, New Zealand last April, actually buying (not renting) a narrowboat within a week of arriving, and started the blog immediately (here's the first post).

In a summer of cruising they found the time to carefully  catalogue their trip, and finally get married at the end of September, with a wonderful wedding and reception at the Dog & Doublet pub on the Curdworth flight. 

The picture suggests the ceremony even took place on the roof of their boat, but Sandy doesn't confirm that.

The writing's vivid, a cut above the usual cruising diary, although it's perhaps too personal to make a conventional travel book.   It's what I call a letters-home blog, a wonderful record for family and friends.

Here's a Google location map of everywhere they stopped. 

One other thing you'll notice about Northern Pride is the high quality of Barry's photography.  It's rare to see images of this quality in an amateur setting, and it does seem that he's a pro photographer in another life, although Sandy doesn't say much about that side of him.

I did try googling about it, and there are frustrating shadows of his work life on the web, but not enough for me to point to.

Indeed, in September Capt. Ahab commented:

For photos par excellence look no further then nb Northern Pride:  nbnorthernpride.blogspot.com

Last week Sandy recapitulated their trip, and worked out they were just 10 miles shy of a milestone:

When we were travelling around the canals and rivers of Britain writing our blog, we chose not to keep a track of how many miles/ locks/ swing bridges we were going through. 

After a while though, Barry did meticulously update our whereabouts on the google map, which has proven to be a very useful tool!  He's now counted the distance we accomplished and the work involved, and it looks like this:

• 990.6125 miles
• 539 locks
• 99 swing/lift bridges

Damn!  If we'd realised that we'd have taken a little detour somewhere along the way and made sure we'd hit the thousand mile mark!  Maybe we'll do it differently next year?

I especially enjoyed their ten highlights of the canal adventure at the end of their reflective post on returning to New Zealand.

Why have I omitted Barry and Sandy's blog?  I don't know, and I feel very guilty for having been so brief when Sandy wrote to me in July.  She said:

Hi there.  We went past Streethay Marina yesterday and were disappointed not to see you there, then saw that Granny Buttons was in dry dock! 

In my defence she didn't link back to her blog, so I wasn't reminded (I need to be nagged).   I must have been in a hurry, because I only replied:

Thanks, S&B!
I was out most of the day, I'm afraid.
Cheers
Andrew

If you ever get a curt reply from me, like I gave to Sandra, it's quite possible I just hammered off a note on my phone, meaning to reply later.   And forgot.  You won't believe the number of emails I've only half-replied to, sorry!

Finally, this is no word of a lie, hand on my heart, I swear to god:  Before I started writing this post, I honestly hadn't realised they gave me such link-love in their last post:

Barry had read waterways blogs for months prior to his dream becoming a reality, and we're very grateful to fellow bloggers for all of their information, particularly Granny Buttons, aka Andrew Denny, whose blog Barry soaked up like a sponge.  Thank you Andrew.

Blush!  But I'll be damned if I hide that particular light under a bushel.

Comments

[Sandra & Barry]

Kia ora Andrew (that's hi in kiwi speak!)
Thanks for the write-up, very flattering from such a prestigious blogger.
We did indeed have a 'Humanist' wedding ceremony on the roof of Northern Pride, it was magical.
Barry sold his photography business (D & K Photography, Gisborne) in Sept 2008 in order to pursue his dream of travelling on the canals of Britain. He'd worked as a professional photographer for 35 years!
Just about to write a blog, the other day we watched a DVD with you and Paul from Waterways routes on the Severn Estuary!
Maybe our paths will cross next year when we're back, would be good to meet you in person.
Sandra (Northern Pride)

[Kevin Moore]

Hi Andrew,
We met Barry & Sandra a few times on the cut and yes, Barry is a professional photographer, very nice couple they are!
Kev & Ann (nb 4evermoore)

[Paul]

I believe Barry owned a photography business back in NZ.
Brilliant photographs!