Well after the trepidation of our trip from Whilton to Yelvertoft the one thing we were really looking forward to, that was keeping our tired and achy bodies going, was the thought of a roaring stove that evening.

We had all the gear … Kindling … Fire Lighters … Smokeless coal … A lighter … in fact it turns out the only thing we were missing was an idea! After a good 40 minutes of fighting with it on the first evening we called it quits, and went to bed.

Feeling totally defeated by something even the cavemen could muster, we came back the next evening, with new hope in our hearts, and a deep desire to succeed.

So attempt two didn’t go much better, we got a bit more of a fire and it burnt for a little longer, but still no great success!

Yes it may be spring, and yes it may be like 18 degrees outside, but we have just got a boat, with a cute new Hobbit stove and we just want to light it! So the third night on the boat came, and we were feeling the pressure, it was a cloudless night, heat was going to be needed. So I took to being the hunter gatherer and built the best fire you have seen, it was like a game of fire making jenga in the stove. And by golly it took! We had fire! Warm fire! Warm to the point of my god it’s hot in here open the doors fire! Woohoo success … Now time to hope I can replicate it the next time we are on the the boat!

James & Kirsty