I was mesmerised by this streaming pink light across the canals as I woke up this morning. So I grabbed my mobile for a quick snap to ensure that I wasn't dreaming.
A swift change of colours brought me back to earth, reminding me of how changeable light is in the winter, and it inspired me to crack on for the day's cruise.
My fingers suffered the cold the most, but I was desperate for some freshness. So I huddled in an extra layer of clothing and sat in the bow of the boat for the most picturesque views.
I was enlivened by the Antarctic air, but I remained valiant and transformed my bow into a floating office with this makeshift desk. This seating was advantageous for me to toss food to the ducks and swans as they paddled alongside the boat.
Winter cruising is a vibe in itself.
The days are moody and perfect for tuning into my emotions and the sensations within my body.
It makes sense in many ways for me to make the most of the daylight hours by retiring earlier at night and waking up with the sun. This way, the natural energy I receive from the sun reduces the amount of energy I need to function, which is good since I'm a lot less active during these colder months.
Animals instinctively do this thing, huh?
Yeah, apart from their natural coats, some of the wildlife hibernate and become dormant at certain times, and it makes them all more interesting and reminds me how much we can improve our lives by observing animals.
Some horses were wrapped in blankets by their owners, and they looked posh in the fields, but these along the canals were stoic in their natural state.
My mind calms whenever I see the shadows and reflections in the water, and I find myself going deeper inward to process stirring emotions.
However, I was filled with gratitude for life's special moments and even the dull moments that spirited from being in the open.
The natural misty formations made the moments feel magical. Our visibility cruising was not affected, and it simply added a positive element to my cruising experience.
Still, the days are short; we're happy that this route goes for long stretches without any locks, except for a shallow one and a swing bridge, which were both easily handled without the delays of typical locks.
I had a short jibber-jabber with a couple who were walking their dogs. They have a week's timeshare on a narrowboat during the winter, and they appreciate the novelty of boat life and the snugness of it compared to their regular house.
I took a moment to process all the little things about my alternative lifestyle on the canals as a continuous cruiser.
We passed several canalside moorings along this stretch, and hubby is always courteous by slowing down when passing moored boats. Something that irritates the shit out of me is when boaters ignorantly cruise at normal speed. As I cruised by boats, the sightings of light billowing smoke from chimneys made it tempting to stay inside the boat, but after spending a week stationary, the freshness and changing views were more appealing.
There was a steady flow of boaters along the canals today and many fishermen tossing rods too. I'm not sure how successful fishermen are at this time of the year, but I admire their dedication to fishing in this weather.
I guess some people might think that's the same for us cruising during the winter, right? We get asked that question frequently, and honestly, there are bounteous reasons.
However, the most significant of them all is us taking the time to do the things we want to do while we're able, and I'm happy to have this platform to document these precious moments.
I'm looking forward to the weekend and until then, sending positive energies from across the canals.:)
All the photos were taken by me.
Awwww... What lovely scenery you have this time of year from the canals, @millycf1976 friend!!!....100% inspirational!... And I loved those photos with the leafless trees reflecting in the water!... Visual poetry!... Thank you for this beautiful post!... Happy weekend to you!...
WHAT A SHOT!!!... APPLAUSE!!!!
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!PIZZA
Hey @jlinaresp
Your lovely comment made me blush 😊
That's what I feel when I witness the views around me, so I'm pleased that translated into the photos. I particularly like that shot too 😊🤗
Thank you and a happy weekend to you too:)))
Hello dear friend @millycf1976 good afternoon
I'm not surprised that a morning like this leaves you mesmerized, given that it is really beautiful and extremely relaxing
How great that in this section of the canal there are no locks and they travel more freely.
What beautiful shots, I love seeing nature sneak through the fog, wonderful that it has not been an impediment to navigation
Thank you very much dear friend for sharing this beautiful experience in our community
Have a beautiful night and a happy rest
Hey @jlufer
There are magical moments, indeed, and after sitting outside for 2 days, nature and its elements have been like a pick-me-up pill.
Yeah, we're pleased about that too, because it could be disastrous if that happened...
Thanks for your thoughtful message, and have a lovely weekend:)))
What a truly amazing world we live in! Your photography is superb @millycf1976! Some look like perfect paintings. Certainly would inspire any artist to reproduce the scenery!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Hey Lizelle,
Thank you 😊
It's true when they say there's beauty in everything. I hated winter so badly years ago that I never thought I'd live the day to want to take want to photograph it.
We'll continue cruising today... I just woke up and the weather feels a lot milder (for now).
Have a lovely and relaxing weekend too:)))
That's a cool desk with a great, changing view. You just have to dress for the weather. It has been chilly lately and life on the canals must be hard at times. Stay cosy.
Hey Steve!
Yeah, once I figured that out, everything was good!
The boat is at its cosiest in the wintertime because of the heat that the wood burner generates. Right now it's windy outside, but it feels like I'm in a sauna 😁
Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend:)))
You too. I spend a lot of time inside over winter. The house is warm, but the view doesn't change.
If it's a decent area with good neighbours, then it's alright:)
There really is something magical about cold still mornings with occasional low hanging fogs... and your photography is really top shelf! I'd say well worth the cold fingers.
The relatively leisurely pace of a canal boat must be the perfect way to truly see your surroundings.
You've said this all so well.
Thank you for your thoughtful and kind feedback.😊
Yes, I think it was worth the frozen hands because it does not always have bright frosty days during winter.
It's a lot milder today, but I'm back in a lock zone, so I'm pleased that the temperature is higher.
Have a lovely weekend:)))
I love to take pics of such landscapes. They are irresistibly appealing, moody, and also look very cool in B-W mode. NB - some of the pics really convey all the froze that surrounds you. Brrr! hate that thing. nobeer 🙃
Hey Qwerrie!
Yeah, I love B-W photos for landscapes, but I tend to level those for hubby since he most times features B-W.
I hate being out in frosty and blizzard weather, but I'd been locked in the last few days and felt lethargic... I thought a little vitamin D, albeit cold, would pick me up:)))
Happy Weekend!
Aha! understood, about the B-W absence. lethargic... the spring is pretty far away yet, meh... 😕
Haha! That's a sad reality 😏
We appreciate your work and your publication has been hand selected by the geography curation team on behalf of the Amazing Nature AN Community. Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much. That's highly appreciated:)))
I legit thought you edited the first image by adding some colour effect... so that was real. So cool.
I dunno what winter feels like but it looks like it's not as bad as some movies say. Or maybe it takes super powers to function in such a weather... 😀
🌻
I woke up dreary, opened my curtain and the colours looked like a natural filter... and I could see a few swans surrounding the nearby boat.
Oh, winter chills you to the bones. It's just that on fresh, bright days like yesterday you have to make the most of it. UK winters are normally damp and grey, and just depressing:)))
Haha, I see.
Cheers to the weekend.
I love how you captured the beauty of winter cruising. The light, fresh air, and calm reflections make it so peaceful. Thanks for sharing the lovely moments.
I'm pleased you enjoyed this:)
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It is not a dream waterproofing in Venezuela, there are many places like this, the only thing that supports it is the rice that has little antennas that protrude to the aguañiñamiento, to solve their respiratotorios inconveniences. The rains sometimes are good for the droughts, but other times they are very voracious and dangerous for the environment and the man. Greetings. It is a publication, with very striking shots.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/omarrojas/re-leothreads-2xfd9osdq?referral=omarrojas
Thanks for your lovely feedback:)
Very good publication, reminds me of my population, my family lived in stilt houses on the Orinoco River in Venezuela, in the state of Delta Amacuro, in a town called Curiapo, since 1940, I was born in 1952.
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😎 Oh, wow! That's an achievement.
Thanks for the alert:)
This is going for boat Cruze it's a lovely scene really especially the ones with changing colors. Working on nature I just love and feel the freedom you've got
It's amazing, indeed, and I'm pleased you like what you see:)
I love what I see 😀
Awww..this is beautiful
Thank you!
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Wow, a nice essay with matching photos to bring out the essence. Good work!
Thank you!
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Sounds good to me:)
Those foggy waterside show are unreal. Nice ones!
Not having locks would be a major bonus this time of year. I assume that it's cold on the hands opening and closing them.
That is quite the life overall. I can see the appeal, even why people do it for a short time of the year just to experience it