Our Narrowboat Experience

 

On our narrowboat's maiden voyage

Not all perceived refinements turn out to be positive. Let's just say for starters that our narrowboat experience wasn't ENTIRELY Tickety-Boo!

In our last blog/podcast, Christine and I talked about our escape from London to The Cotswolds. Now that WAS an entirely positive change. A refinement!

When we first started looking for a place in the country shortly after the COVID pandemic hit, I had the bright idea (and this is Tony talking here) that we should also buy a narrowboat.  I was absolutely delighted when Kiki (aka Christine) agreed and, as she always does, threw herself wholeheartedly into BOTH projects - i.e. finding a new home in the country, and purchasing a narrowboat.

The first potential new home she found even had a 120ft canal mooring at the bottom of the garden.  At that time, we’d decided on having a new narrowboat built. Thank goodness we changed our minds about that idea!

Since I was a small boy, I’ve been obsessed with boating. I used to race sailing dinghies and over the decades I’ve been on many canal holidays, both in the UK and across France. 

After my first narrowboat holiday 40-odd years ago, I fell in love with the UK canal system.

Now in my mid-60s, I had the opportunity to buy my own narrowboat.  I was soooo excited!  I glued myself to numerous YouTube channels about narrowboating.  These videos all portrayed an idyllic vision of canal-living. They stoked my excitement even more.

We found our ideal narrowboat which we kept for a year.  Let’s just say, it was an interesting experience, but one we won’t be repeating.

You can hear all about our narrowboat experience on our podcast.