Now that the heavens have opened and the thermometer is back in the twenties, it seems apt to write about life on a 45 foot metal boat during times of extreme heat - how bad does it really get?
The short answer is, not too bad, all things considered.
Staying cool on the river Kennet
Narrowboats come with insulation as standard, which acts as a great shield for hot weather as well as cold. The small windows on my boat keep out not only prying eyes but also the sun’s glare. Open the front doors and the back and you have a pretty effective wind tunnel, or at the very least a hint of breeze - this is best done when you don’t have a boat parked half a metre in front, unless you’re happy to share your sleeping arrangements with strangers (not my thing).
Cooling Water - early morning on the river Kennet
And, very importantly, water is a cooling element, so living right on top of it keeps the temperature down compared to living in most houses.
We parked up in full sunlight to take advantage of oodles of solar power, but chose a spot that had trees at either end where we could take shelter when needed. We cooked outdoors, almost lost mooring lines to teething bullocks, hunted damselflies and went on long walks that finished with a well-earned drink…and I even got to watch the Wimbledon finals in the fresh air…what’s not to like?
