Leaving the waterways

THOUGH John Sergeant in the latest mockery of life on the waterways in the form of his television Barging Around tells us that there are more leisure boats on the waterways than ever before, we know it is untrue, as even CaRT figures clearly show they are declining.

Perhaps a reason is as told by our contributor Martin Brooks, who writes:

I wonder how many people are like me, reconsidering their retirement plans?

End of garden mooring

When I first bought my boat, I was a continuous cruiser, as I was working as a white van courier and could start from anywhere. I then took a permanent lorry driving job, and was lucky enough to find a permanent end of garden mooring, where I have stayed for some years now.

I used to take the boat out once in a while, but due to the current climate and hostile atmosphere on the waterways, I have not moved in the last five years or so.

Will continue in a motor home

I had intended, upon retirement, to return to cruising the system, but due to the attitude of CART, not to mention that of some other waterway users, I have abandoned that idea, and have no intention of ever moving the boat again.  All the boat is to me is a roof over my head, and as soon as I retire it will be sold, and I will continue my travels in a motor home.

I came onto the canal to get away from officialdom, little Hitlers and self important know-it-alls, but there are more of them here now than ever before.

Sick of the lot of them

'You cant stop here, you must stop there, you haven't moved far enough, you've moved too far', etc etc. I'm sick of the lot of them.

I wonder how many other people have also changed their plans? Quite a few I would think!