The views of a continuous cruiser - Volunteers

Volunteers

Instead, the Trust now relies on volunteers, that alas are rather seasonal, as I have seen very few over the past winter months, and have had 'Heath & Safety' drummed into them—have you ever seen one rescuing a boat/boater by going down a ladder? As a single hander some are very welcome indeed, but I am very wary that they often go about it being rather busy interested in other things, taking their attention off the job in hand.

I only wish there were as many in winter as there are in summer, though I of course realise there are many, many more boats in summer, but it is pleasant to have someone to talk to when taking a lonely winter cruise, for during the dark winter months those millions of visitors we so often hear about are nowhere to be seen.

Visitors

To most continuous cruisers the 'visitors' are a huge joke, with the many thousands calculated per mile per week never seen!  This winter part of my cruising was on the 'easy' Shropshire Union Canal, poddling along and staying a few days here and a few days there, and many a day a couple of people with their dogs have been the only visitors I have seen, so where the 360,000,000 (I believe is the last 'count') are, I have no idea. In someone's head no doubt!

With the latest faux pas of calculating loaves of bread for ducks, I for one take no heed whatsoever of any statistics from the Trust, it really must have a Silly Statistics Manager, whose job it is to 'think of a number, double it and multiply by the days in the year'—and there is the result!  I just wonder if those at the Trust realise how stupid it makes them look?

Marinas

Over the 18 years, I have moored in various marinas, the latter part of the time having no 'roots', and they vary greatly, though all profess to offer the best facilities. One thing that many do not mention, and something that is obviously most important to the boater is the length of jetties.  The new marinas are the best, such as those at Mercia on the Trent & Mersey with jetties the same length as the boat, that enables entry to whichever end you want without having to reverse in to get easy access to the stern, and they prevent you scrabbling along an unsafe 'gunnel'.  The worst marina I used was Sawley where all the jetties are 40ft cruiser length.  Even when new ones were built they were still just 40ft long, and not safe. I only moor in a marina for three months in the winter, but make sure the jetty is as long as the boat as it is stern entry, and enables me to walk along the jetty to gain entry.

A good chandlery is also a blessing for someone now without a vehicle and a decent restaurant or one nearby is a must to give a break from preparing meals.  I don't mean those chains with cheap £5 meals either—I can do those, but restaurants serving decent well cooked food.  And a marina with DIY facilities is always very handy when undertaking winter maintenance.

Stoppages

Over the 18 years I have seen a real deterioration of the structures of the waterways, that perhaps that have reached their limit of 200 years and need the attention that they are just not getting, proved by the stoppage after stoppage as the structures fail. As a continuous cruiser, providing I am not caught in a breach, I am not too concerned at stoppages, but for those on a strict holiday schedule and particularly hire boaters, it must be a nightmare being stopped, particularly for the hire company unable to get its boats back for its next hirers. As the number of failures increase, as they are obviously destined to, boating will loose it attraction to all but first-timers who do not realise the situation they face.

Continuous moorers

I am aware that there is a ban on the subject of continuous moorers, but with Canal & River Trust finally sorting itself out, (though I agree with Victor that it would be nice if we had an actual minimum distance we must travel per 14 days) perhaps I will get away with it! Most of us genuine cruisers, and I for one can't remember when I stayed 14 days anywhere, are annoyed with those on the Kennet & Avon who think they can be home moorers on a continuous cruiser licence.  It is simple to us, you either pay for a mooring (as I do for part of the winter) and stay put or you pay nothing and get a continuous cruiser licence and do as it says—continuously cruise.  You can't have it both ways. And that National Bargee Travellers Association, as it calls itself is ridiculous stating that 'More than 800 boat families on Canal & River Trust waterways are threatened with eviction and the seizure and destruction of their homes as enforcement against boat dwellers without permanent moorings'. It calls itself a 'travellers' association—so get travelling, as you should.

I must thank the editor for suggesting this article, and it was a pleasure to meet, and for the opportunity to air my views so often, others should take the opportunity, as it is very well read indeed so has some clout.