and
What is Next
The bottom line was - "it was well worth it"...........
This section may be helpful to those thinking about a similar adventure and give them some idea of what to expect as far as costs. Obviously, there are many variables.
We were in England for 34 weeks but the weekly costs below reflect the average for the 28 weeks we were cruising:-
The normal operating cost of the boat averaged out to
.......................... £54($80) per week ................,
this included fuel, calor gas, pump-outs, maintenance, laundry, insurance and licences.
However, when fully loaded with the following:-
The start-up costs such as bedding, a small table and chairs for the lounge and various bits and pieces.
The buy/sell loss of £2,500
The telephone installation and on going costs; and.
The loss of interest on £42,000.
the averaged cost increased to
......................... £250($350) per week ..................
In addition to the above, food, drink and personal expenses were around
........................ £140($375) per week ..................... This was for just the two of us. As a general comment, our guests paid for their own food and drink but, in accordance with our wishes, nothing towards the other expenses.
As a little statistical sidenote; we spent a total of £193 on fuel for CLAIRE JUSTINE and a slightly larger £766 on liquid fuel for our bodies.
We originally planned this trip as our swan song to England; that was the real reason why we decided to sell CLAIRE JUSTINE.
Today I have to admit that I did not expect our canal travels to have such a long lasting effect on us; we have travelled extensively throughout the world and have many fond memories of all the places visited but there was something extra special about living on the canals.
Will we do it again? We really don't know, it is not England as a destination that draws us, so are we looking back on our memories through rose colored glasses?
I would venture a guess that there is a greater than 50% chance that we will end up owning another narrow boat and be back feeding the swans, mooring up by the pubs for a pint, waving a friendly greeting to other canal lovers (and fishermen), screaming at each other as we are about to crash into the lock gates, polishing that brassware, painting that canalware and, of course, having our afternoon sherry and fruitcake..
NEWSFLASHES.....
October 1997: We purchased a 1/12 share in nb Ursula and returned to the waterways, Cruised the Trent & Mersey and Caldon.
January 2007: We sold our 1/12 share in nb Ursula (Is this really the end of our travel on the UK Waterways?).
Please see our "Farewell to nb Ursula" slideshow for links to our 18 cruises on Ursula.
Visit our Homepage for links to all our albums and web pages.
Drop us a line John & Pat .....The Canaloholics in Reno, Nevada.