Back where we started

The last full day on the Kennet and Avon. We've had a wonderful time, the weather has been kind and the challenges of boating not too difficult. It's not a relaxing break in the sense of taking it easy as there's always something to concentrate on. From simple steering and control around corners and passing other boats to mooring up to work swing bridges or wait to go into locks. And then there's the locks themselves, which after one or two become relatively straightforward.

It's only relaxing if you moor up for long periods, sit in the bow or cockpit with a book and drink and watch the world go by. What it does do is take you away from the rush of 21st Century life. It slows you down, allows you to appreciate the natural world as it passes you slowly moving vessel. You're not watching the clock. You're generally away from the traffic. You realise why many people like this life.

There are three types of boaters on the canal; holidaymakers like ourselves, those that own their boats and cruise for various lengths of time and those who live permanently on their boats.

The latter have a touch of New Age traveller about them. Alternative lifestyle either by choice or necessity. Their boats reflect the individual, some tidy some cluttered, some pristine some almost derelict.

Most of the cruising boats are lovingly looked after by their owners. They are also interesting people to talk to. Today we went through a couple of locks with a retired man cruising on his own who was on an extensive journey from The Wash to York via goodness knows what route but including the Kennet and Avon. He didn't expect to get to York until October. He had 5 properties, one in Spain, he lived in three. He appeared to be a bachelor and must enjoy the life. His boat was lovely too.

Would we like this way of life enough to buy a boat? We shall be very sad to leave the experience, sorry to leave Ena but we feel we can't commit to just one dominant way of life. We've wondered about a holiday cottage, a caravan and now a boat. But we also have so many other things we like to do that committing to one would affect so many other interests. The allotment, the Railway, the Lakes, travelling to other parts of the country and the world, visiting family. All would be affected by choosing boating as a way of life.

A comment on the Internet suggested you could have 4 weeks aboard a hire boat for the annual cost of owning your own boat. The same must is true of a holiday cottage and to a lesser extent a caravan. We feel we'd like to vary our experience and not limit ourselves to the one.

So, the week has ended as it begun in Bradford on Avon. We'll be back on the canals next year I'm sure. Perhaps Shropshire and Llangollen? It's been a valuable escape from the pressures and the horrors of the world. Not that we haven't been moved by them, just that I think we've been better able to cope with their impact.