And so it begins ….

We were not planning on doing a blog, but after so many people have asked us how we were going to keep in touch and how could they follow our travels, we have succumbed to the peer pressure, so here goes for our first blog entry. 

The original plan was to leave the island on 1 March 2020 and spend a month in an AirBnB in Pocklington (near York) close to our family, after not seeing them for so long due to Covid restrictions. Unfortunately the Covid restrictions relating to the mixing of households in England have not yet been lifted, so there seems no point in going to Pocklington. 

Then on the 1^st April, we were to pick up a narrowboat called “Peter Pan” on the Grand Union canal, somewhere near Watford.  But plans change! We are now picking up a narrowboat called “Life in Slow Motion” near Rugby on the Oxford canal on the 15^th March; our new home until 30 September.  (photos of “Life in Slow Motion” to follow)

In these strange times, we will be “live-aboard” boaters, however currently due to Covid restrictions only essential boat movements are allowed,  essential being shopping, fuel, health care etc. Therefore like everyone else we will be glued to the Government updates to ensure we comply with the changing rules. We will cruise the canals when permitted.

When we talked about leaving the safety of the Island, which had been Covid free from late May 2020, until early January 2021, we received a few raised eyebrows questioning our sanity, but it was a considered decision based on the fact that we will be on a narrowboat, in the countryside on our own, effectively self-isolating. Unfortunately the Isle of Man currently has a significant outbreak, with higher numbers than parts of England, so it currently feels like an easier decision, but that is just caused by timing and hopefully the Island will get on top of this outbreak soon.

In the last few days, and weeks, we have been organising, downscaling and packing all our belongings, a daunting task but we are getting there.  The plan is, for everything we choose to keep, to be in our newly purchased van when we leave the Island, and whilst on the canals the van will be stored at a boat yard.

Wish us luck !