Living on a narrowboat - logistics and how?

Wednesday, 22 September 2010 15:18

Meg Booth and Dave Northcote's Wedding

One of the skills required for permanent liveaboards is 'Logistics' - known to lay folk as 'Planning'. It would be relatively easy to cruise as recluses, never responding to the lives of others, if health was never an issue.

Even then there are the practical needs, including shopping for food and fuel, filling up with water and emptying .... well, you know what I am referring to if you know anything about canal boating by now!

Watering up - usually every 5 to 10 days, depending on how much we have used

However, such a life would miss so much of the social joys of life. It's all very well telling friends and family that they can visit us any time; we can display our location on the website and show our route on a map.

We are contactable by mobile phone and email, but there are some things that you just have to go to - like weddings - and remember, we don't have a car. Yes, land-based reader, it is possible to use public transport to get around this country of ours - even if sometimes there are hurdles to be surmounted on the way - but more of that in a moment.

Such was my pleasure this weekend. However I was glad the weather was not like this and I knew Fi's photos of trains might come in useful one day!

I passed through this restriction a few days ago - in sunshine

There was a hiccup with Chiltern Railways. The Train Manager sold me an invalid ticket, meaning I was unnecessarily delayed at London Marylebone, while I paid the extra since I was apparently, after all, travelling in the peak period.

However,  I just made my connection and my dear sister-in-law Lois met me at her local station and provided high-grade temporary overnight hospitality. We then travelled together to Lewes, to enjoy more excellent hospitality at the nephew and niece's house, which gave me an opportunity to see the young "3¾ year old" Nathaniel - lovely.

We went en-famille to Meg and Dave's Wedding and had a splendid  time. Just to prove it, here are three un-posed low-grade photos taken on my phone - competing with far too much sunlight!

Lois The Happy Couple Transport - posed!

A lovely time was had by all!

I was able, the following day, to visit Harefield Hospital to spend an oh-too-short afternoon with Fi, before catching another hiccup with Chiltern Railways. Being Sunday, engineering works was planned, so a coach was advertised as replacing the service between Warwick Parkway and Dorridge: except the coaches didn't stop at Lapworth.

A taxi was duly dispatched, which arrived after nearly an hour, having been sent by the controller (I know not if he was fat, or not!) to Warwick instead of Warwick Parkway. I did get back though, if a little late, after a most enjoyable weekend.

Glitches all add to the fun, it is best not to be in a hurry! My journeys (this the temp Ed from her bedside!) have often necessarily been as complicated, but I have never had such problems!