Robbie Cumming Canal Diaries
Robbie Cumming discusses cruising the waterways of the South East for his new series of Canal Boat Diaries
Robbie on the Regent’s Canal at Camden.
It was in the cold winter of 2012/13 that I got my first taste of liveaboard life. Residing afloat was not something I ever planned; it was just a means to an end. At that time I had a girlfriend in London and, not having a job, my friend Sam said I could live on her narrowboat for free as long as I kept it moving and in a tidy, well-maintained condition (she was planning on selling it).
I was aboard for a total of three months and I never did get a job. I was completely distracted by this lovely parallel world where everything happens in a different timescale and utterly absorbed in exploring the capital in this way.
I remember arriving at the boat at Hackney on my first day. Sam opened it up for me to unpack my things and make myself at home before she headed off to talk to a friend. In the bathroom there was a Porta Potti, which I didn’t have a clue how to work.
Essentially, there are two levers and I quickly realised I’d selected the wrong one. When Sam returned to the boat, she found me on my hands and knees mopping the floor. Also, because it was full, we had to go to empty it, so it was certainly in at the deep end. But I think it was good for me. I thought, okay, if this is the worst that I have to deal with, then I can handle it.
Return to London
I was reminded of all this recently when filming my new TV series. As well as covering several South-East routes, I returned to the Regent’s Canal where it all started for me.
One personal highlight was passing through Islington Tunnel again. As I explain in the episode, this is where my fascination with canals truly began. There is something about the fact that no one else, other than an inland boater, can go through there – you can’t even paddle a canoe through – that amazed me.
Although only one episode of the ten is devoted to London, I’m really proud of it because I think we capture the reality of liveaboard life there. It was the typical situation of not being able to find a mooring so having to tie up abreast of another boat and getting chatting to the owners.
It was special to be able to take Naughty Lass through those places and locks again. You do feel like a bit of a film star, because there are so many tourists taking pictures of you and asking questions.
