pheran
New member
We had been boating on the Thames for more years than I care to remember but since the mid-1990s have spent several weeks a year 'over the other side' mainly in France , Belgium or Holland. It was mainly the time-cost of getting there, 2 days to Teddington, another day to Ramsgate, yet another to Nieweport and perhaps another 3 to Friesland, when we were going to North Holland that made us look at the prospect of keeping the boat over there. We eventually bit the bullet and have now spent three full seasons there. We go out in April to get the boat ready then live on board until September/October when we have the boat lifted and put away indoors for the winter. Although we still love the Thames (we were at the ATYC Rally at Henley on Sunday last) we have never regretted the decision to seek wider horizons and as a result, have enjoyed far more extensive waterways and much lower boating costs - indeed, I doubt very much we could afford to keep our current boat in the UK. We're having a year at home this year and are now planning to move to France and do much the same thing on the French inland waterways for the next 3-5 years. I've no doubt we will eventually return to the Thames (if we can afford it) but do have a slight concern that we might now find it just a bit too restricted. Mind you, I shall be so old by then I shall probably be past caring. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
