by Patrick | Mar 8, 2020
Lisson Grove – Regents Canal Regents Canal It has been nearly a year since I last posted. Did not really expect to be posting at all. Thought my canal days were over! (We sold Shangri La in 2018). Well maybe not! Given the situation in SA, Karen and I are... read more
by Patrick | Jul 2, 2019
And here are the last of these interesting boats we have seen – this time mostly the rather deadbeat and derelict ones in France! Interesting colour scheme Saw this one somewhere in the Netherlands. Would love to know what inspired this colour scheme!... read more
by Patrick | Jun 18, 2019
Here are a few more pics of funny and/or interesting boats we have seen on our boating travels on the inland waterways through Netherlands, Belgium and France. Antwerp – Willemdok Havenmeester This was a one off – in Antwerp the Harbour Master, complete... read more
by Patrick | May 28, 2019
So here we are, well into May. Normally by now I would have done masses of route planning and have our 3 months cruising all set, as well as wintering possibilities for the end of the year. But Shangri La has a new owner and we are boatless! I am a mixture of... read more
by Patrick | Mar 15, 2019
What a season it was! Great from the point that we sold Shangri La to a good home, and that we achieved a reasonable price. Not so good from the cruising point of view. Map with 2018 cruising route With regards to the first point – when we bought Shangri La at the end... read more
by Patrick | Jan 27, 2019
Thursday 30th August to Monday 24th September Part 2 – The sale of Shangri La About a week after we left the boat in July (see South of France and Sojourn in England), I had a message from the H2O broker that we already had an offer on Shangri La, obviously subject... read more
by Patrick | Dec 30, 2018
Thursday 30th August to Monday 24th September Part 1 – The cruising Shangri La at fuel jetty – St Jean The final episode on Shangri La was somewhat of a rollercoaster ride, with loads of mixed emotions – happiness, sadness, relief and frustration! I had hoped to... read more
by Patrick | Dec 18, 2018
27th Julyto 29th August Bath Bath – River Avon There are several reasons for this month long sojourn in England. The main reason was to do the 2 -week Demuth’s Vegan Cooking Diploma Course in Bath. As any regular reader will know, we follow a plant-based diet... read more
by Patrick | Dec 11, 2018
Monday 16th July to Friday 27th July South of France There are a number of reasons for this little trip – we would have loved to have done it aboard Shangri La, but the trip down the Rhone is not taken lightly, especially if you want to come back up again. Also, down... read more
by Patrick | Nov 29, 2018
Chalon-sur-Saone Wednesday 4th to Friday 6th July As much as it is wonderful to have friends on board, it is lovely to have the boat all to ourselves. We had three lovely relaxing days in Chalon – a meal at our favourite vegan eatery – La Pierre Vie, shop ups at... read more
My love of boats goes back to my early years when I went on holiday with my parents to Knysna in the Cape.
We stayed at a hotel on stilts, and I played in rowing boats and little motor boats on the lagoon.
