After over 20 years boating I have now called it a day, writes Rick Grant.
And joined the many others who have done the same, from what I both read and have been told.
The reason being that there was virtually nowhere to cruise this past summer with most of the canals closed leading us stuck on the Oxford Canal and of course unable to get up north and certainly not wanting the Thames that my partner is somewhat worried about.
The Canal & River Trust blamed the dry summer but not a mention of the thousands of gallons of wasted water through leaking lock gates and busted cills that are certainly the norm these days, as your many pictures have shown.
We of course met the leaking locks in past years that others must have noticed had become worse and worse year after year. There is little doubt the blame rests with Canal & River Trust with its waste of money on none waterways spending, especially its many managers it has set on with their strange titles, making one wonder what they actually do.
However, as we are told those dry summers are to be the norm in future, I for one just don’t see the point of boating, if you are not able to.
So the boat has gone, but with deep regret.