The Planned Voyage

For a long time I've wanted to live on a boat. I have itchy feet, and enjoy travelling around, but HATE moving house. A boat seems to be a good solution - travelling with one's own house. I've spent a few holidays on the UK canals, but wanted to explore further. I thought that I'd investigate Europe, retreating to England (maybe via Ireland) when I'm old and doddery. Europe, of course, is a big place, so where to go? I don't particularly want to lay down a strict schedule, and some of my plans have already changed.

I would like to get over to Poland and Eblag, where canal boats descend via a series of railway lines. This is not far from Marienburg, the ancient fortress HQ of the Teutonic Knights. However, I'm concerned that the routes through Germany might be so heavily commercialised that there will be little pleasure in travelling them. We'll see. I certainly want to visit the Moselle and the South of France. I'm still a bit iffy about going out on the upper Rhine. I expect to be here in Europe for four or five years.

I've come to the conclusion that for this year, I'll stay in Belgium and France. The Polish expedition will be started in 2001.

I've also concluded that travelling every day will prevent me from seeing what's out there. Hence I'm planning on moving not more than two or three days out of seven - but we'll see!!