Keeping a narrowboat warm................................. fire verses new technology

 I saw something during Sundays walk along a section of my local canal that I hadn't noticed before.

The barges on the canals of the UK are mainly pleasure boats... either privately owned or hired for holidays.

There are still a few commercial craft but some are permanent year round homes.

The traditional craft have wood/coal burning stoves... the smoking chimney pots are a feature.

The new builds are linked to modern boilers which heat the water supply.

Central heating radiators are the norm in a lot of the holiday lets.

 Hot water on tap.

 I saw this barge as I neared Marston and the Salt Barge (the lovely pub lunch has already been shared).

We have had a mild winter so I wonder how many empty gas bottles there would have been a year ago.

It has a chimney so has a wood/coal burning stove... the gas must have been a winter back up.

It was the first time I had seen solar panels on a narrowboat and with our wonderful spring weather the owner was enjoying natures freebie.... as I passed the next barge my count became 2.

The narrowboats on our waterways have some wonderful artwork.

Roses and Castles are the main theme... it's the panels inside the rear doors where they are painted.
It's when they are open the workmanship can really be appreciated.

I have made a mental note to share more images as I take them during the summer.

There are also a lot of old craft in decay... another subject worth a closer look.