After covering what went well on our first leisure cruise it’s only right that we cover what went not so well, and as such what we have learnt from our first expedition. It would be fair to say there was the odd screw up, thankfully being the care-free boaters we laughed it all off.

Boating is Dangerous 

Listen kids, this is a cautionary tale, Boating is Dangerous, and care and caution should be shown at all times. As you can see from the below I am just recovering from the blood loss and hope to have full use of my leg return in the next few days. The injury follows me walking down the side of Fantine in preparation of mooring, with the side hatch open I managed to clunk my leg against a protruding screw. Cue me having to pretend I was ok as onlookers watched us moor (Continually telling myself ten minutes and you can cry). Let this be a lesson to you all!

Worry don’t be happy 

Want to know what’s terrifying? Tying your home to the side of a towpath somewhere heading off for a few pints and praying it’s there when you get back. Want to know what else worries you? Leaving your home tied to the side of the towpath whilst you fall into deep deep drunken sleep, with the worry of waking up to find yourself stranded in the middle of the canal. It’s a worry which caused James to not sleep well and wake up at 0400am (I slept just fine).

Tip or Dip Your Hat 

Chugging along we noticed so many boats had replaced their chimney hats with flat caps (Not of the tweed hat variety) or even tin cans, how odd we both chuckled … until we made a quick diversion into bushes to avoid an oncoming boat, and waved out little chimney hat goodbye. Burial at canal it was for this little man.

X-Ray Vision is a Plus 

We didn’t meet that many boats on our trip, but it was guaranteed that those which we did we met on the blind corners, the narrowest sections or on the wonkiest of bridges. X-Ray vision would of helped to combat all of this, definitely consider it for any of your trips.

Beware the Hire Boat

Ok how dare we right? We have only done three cruises in our whole lives, one of those with a hire boat! However we had the good sense to hire a dinky hire boat. Whilst we are far from experienced boaters a few of our closest calls seemed to come from Hire Boats, Beware the Hire Boat and its band of merry men would be my warning.

Lesson’s learnt, we are ready and excited for our next outing.

James & Kirsty