CaRT's Soviet ten years plan

THERE is a belief that living aboard a boat can provide a close approximation to an aspirational and idyllic style of life. But like many things viewed from a distance—when you get in close, you come to realise that idyllic is not the right word, writes Mick Fitzgibbons.

Hopes and aspirations

Though to be fair, many people still harbour their hopes and aspirations for the future of the inland waterways. I even count myself amongst their number. However, in the current financial and political climate, the state of the inland waterways will test the resolve of every boat owner over the next few years.

As the years tick off the government funding clock, we only need to look at the performance of the Waterways Partnerships, which as the flagship of the 'new regime' have failed miserably to even cover their own costs. This does not bode well as an experiment. Neither does it bode well as being a fully fledged funding stream by the start of the current year.

Has much to offer

Living the life on a boat is not for everyone, especially if you want to enjoy a cosseted life, one that comes with all the creature comforts. However, if you are the sort who would enjoy living in a caravan, then boating on the canals and rivers has much to offer. As you move around, you will make acquaintances and friends, though you may only meet up again by chance from time to time in passing. Most of your friendships will be quite loose. If you enjoy solitude or you are quite comfortable with your own company, then living on a boat can be a nice experience. For some, with the right sort of expectations, a boat can provide a home.

Life on the inland waterways has its own very specific problems, which can be much harder to manage than you might think. The first is that if you wish to lead a sedentary life you will need a mooring. Without a mooring the Canal & River Trust can and will pursue you to keep moving. If you have a mooring the Canal & River Trust will still pursue you to keep moving when away from your mooring. Therefore you are unlikely to be able to stay in one place, while away from your home mooring for long periods. If you have a medical condition or similar issue requiring access to the NHS or other such services a marina mooring is going to be a necessity.

Two extremes

The environment of the inland waterways has two extremes. The countryside can provide a pleasant vista for those harbouring idyllic pipe dreams. With sunny days, dappled shade and the sounds of the birds. However as seasons change so does the environment. What was a carpet of flowers in summer can become a soggy morass of mud in another season. The weather will vary and so will the waterway. The best times will therefore, by the unpredictable variation in climate change and the nature of the weather, be very short.

The other end of the spectrum can be surprisingly grim. It's not the weather that's the main issue now. It's the way that the waterways are treated by those living alongside the canal. Generally those living on the waterways try to maintain some semblance of tidiness. The closer you get to conurbations the greater the change will become. As you leave the countryside and approach a conurbation the very nature of the canal changes. For some people the canal is a place to fly-tip rubbish. It's been this way for many years. There is an association in the mind of the public with the canal being dirty, dangerous and a dumping ground, the usual marker being a rusting shopping trolley, the idyllic view being enhanced by the gaily coloured plastic bottles and bags.