Lol. Yes. I nearly bought a narrowboat a few years ago but after cruising the canals for a few weeks I realised it wasn’t the soft-focus lens-flared bohemian lifestyle that it appears to the casual observer, but that once you venture beyond the picturesque areas such as Camden and Little Venice, it’s more akin to living in a floating shanty town.
I live (in house) on banks of river lea and it's full of river pikeys. Often sinking, catching fire or just shitting into river in broad daylight. Very few proper boater left, most alcoholic junkies.
I probably moored somewhere near you, as my epic voyage took me from Westbourne Park to Hackney and then north up the River Lea to Hertford and we stayed overnight in Stanstead St Mags.
I would but can't seem to sell anything else at the minute, so keeping the pockets closed until lucky luck comes my way.
if anyone is feeling flush and desires an outragously priced motor with eye watering upkeep, this site might help; Racecarsdirect.com - Race Cars
I did a 2 week canal/shagging holiday with an ex-gf on a narrow boat. I really enjoyed it. However, I was rather surprised by the number of questionable 'communities' we passed on the trip. Each time there was a lot of very,very smashed/tripping, tie-dye wearing, peasudo new age junkies littering the place. Didn't see that on the Timothy West and Prunella Scales programmes...
It would seem that the New Age travellers stopped using road going vehicles and migrated to the Waterways system. Much less hassle for them and largely out of sight and mind for the majority.
