Over the recent years I have seen many a tale of how people have ended up afloat so I thought it was about time I did something to explain how we ended up in the same position!
In 1991 my wife and I after about a year of marriage spent a great holiday afloat with some friends on Sir Lanceor from Countrywide Cruisers, based at Brewood. We covered the 4 Counties Ring and made all the errors you would expect; wrong paddles up in locks, inability to steer to where we needed to be etc., but we did really enjoy the time we had. The fun continued the next year on Sir Fergus, with a return trip to Chester. Fine weather followed it seemed on all occasions.
NB Sir Lanceor at Brewood
The scary thing now is looking at the pictures – we were so young!
The seed was set to slowly nag and grow in us both, but starting a family and all that entails resulted in a break of several years from the waterways. A stint working in Newbury had me cycling the K&A every night, seeing boats of all sorts, which reignited thoughts of narrow boating. It seems that the years here moved quickly but the nagging need to be afloat was slowly resurfacing.
So we were now in a new Century, with a daughter who was rapidly heading to double figures. At this point a very good friend of ours, Peter, had purchased a number of shares in a boat “Shugborough” and we had many an evening hearing his tales of being afloat, and were slowly being drawn back, the pull became harder and harder and after a while a share came up in “Shugborough” so after deliberation we took the plunge and bought in! A half share, meaning 2 weeks afloat during the year, so we could still have a “normal” holiday in the sun, but little did we know what was to happen in our future.
NB Shugborough on the Chirk Aqueduct.
Easter in 2004 saw us take our 2 weeks. Shugborough was based at Norbury Junction on the Shroppie, so off we set with Llangollen as our target. The Chirk Aqueduct was great and we marvelled at the engineering, the view etc., little did we really know what was to come ahead. Then we got to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, “wow” is about all you could say, the girls were amazed by the whole thing and I was on the tiller wondering how we stayed afloat 120 feet in the air! All too soon the holiday was over and we were facing another 12 months on dry land!
At this stage we both sat down and decided on a 5 to 10 year plan. Save up, buy a boat and chug off whenever we wanted. We would have to satisfy our “craving” for now and await when our share next came up. But life at times throws you a swerve ball and your whole outlook changes. Peter called and told us some shattering news that made us revise our outlook on life; he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.
This news changed our Plan. Friends kindly lent us their boat, Glengarry, and we had a long weekend away. The immediate need to be afloat was sated, but our minds were still thinking of Peter and the future. We decided at the end of the 3 days away that since you never knew what was around the corner, we would start to look at boats! Life is too short, after all.
NB Glengarry
The investigations showed us that we could just stretch to a new boat, if we were careful and set our minds short(ish)! 45 foot in a 2 + 2 style, but it had to have a traditional stern, which would allow for all 3 of us to be afloat and in due course, when our daughter was older, would be ideal for just the two of us.
In July 2004, we visited several builders and after assessing each we finally placed our order, with Liverpool Boat Co. We now waited, and waited, for what seemed like an eternity. Meetings came and went regarding, build, fit out and colours etc. But Molly II started to slowly take shape, and the anticipation grew.
We spent our final holiday in the sun, relaxing and writing a list of what we needed, much to amusement of those around wondering why I sat up and said “Garlic Crush” all of a sudden one morning!
Then in May 2005 Molly II finally got wet! We took delivery at Braunston and after unloading lots of boxes we filled up with diesel and chugged off to our mooring.
NB Molly II (well almost!)
Gently Does it!
Since this time we have enjoyed many weekends and holidays afloat. One was rather sad, but poignant as we received a call to say that Peter had passed away to a better place. This was the call that we were dreading. We always felt he must have known where we were and was smiling down: we hold him responsible for our years afloat and often lift a silent glass to him as we cruise along.
This is the original of the Article that Appeared in Canal Boat January 2012