After looking in the London area and taking advise, I was
told go north for best value quality boats. So that's what I did.
I ended up just outside Chester, stopping at various
brokerages along the way and checking out several boats. In the end I decided on Clutie Dumpling.
I then spent the next
three days getting essentials shipped up from London....winter woollies etc..Fitting her out for the journey....tools, axes,saws, spare parts,engine
lubricants etc and carrying out some pre-journey engine maintenance.
So I was ready to leave Nantwich on the Adventure of a lifetime and
left on a very cold foggy morning.
The quickest route was down the
Shropshire canal to Birmingham but due to scheduled maintenance by the Canal
and River Trust, some sections were shut! I was forced to backtrack North up the Middlewich Branch
and then down onto the Trent Mersey Canal.
After a few days of sailing, I have found the main highlight of my journey so far has been the people I've met. You could not hope to meet a friendlier, more helpful and interesting group of people than those who live year round on the canals. So far I've met with accountants, lawyers, ex military, a hugely diverse assortment! Everyone has their own expertise and is happy
to share. Naturally once people hear of
my background, I become the local geography, mapping and technology Guru....sometimes
unfounded...
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