No, he’s not my new man, he’s a boat! And a very fine canal barge he is too. He is newly painted green and red with his name on the front and is very beautiful. He has a full kitchen, comfy seats, and a flushing toilet. What more do you want or need.
I was trying to think of something relaxing and restful to do with a 20 year old after exerting myself on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge at Easter. You both want to spend time together but your idea of fun can be a world away from theirs at this age as you have different ideas of a good day out. Mine normally involves movement , exercise, and fresh air. His involves as little movement as possible and an over indulgence in alcohol. So a compromise had to be found.
Anyway, this one was a success. I hired a canal barge for the day. His name was Ben and I’m in love.
We drove to Skipton to collect him and spent the full day pootling up and down the Leeds to Liverpool canal.
Said offspring was in charge of the boat and brought his able assistant along in the form of his girlfriend – his real one, not the one he is growing in the jar of water.
What did I do? NOTHING! I sat on the bow like Kate Winslet in the ‘Titantic’ film with a cup of tea and a book all day, it was wonderful, partly because I’m still a little stiff, well not a little, a lot, as it was only two days after the Three Peaks. Oh, I did make the crew a bacon sandwich down in the galley, and I did buy the drinks at the canal side pub we moored up at – that was the alcohol compromise. But I did make them get off the boat to operate all the swing bridges.
It was an extremely enjoyable restful day with me being chauffeured for a change. The canal was quiet with it being a week day, the sun was shining and we saw so much wildlife. The skippering was first class, much better than I would have been, and no wildlife or other boats were harmed on our inaugural canal barge sailing trip. All in all a lovely family day out on the beautiful Leeds to Liverpool canal.
