Big decision!

Yes, I know, we have been very quiet online for a few weeks.  Although I have had a few draft posts lined up for some time, other matters have kept me preoccupied so they have yet to see the light of day. 

When life changing events happen you rethink your priorities.  Such an event happened to us just over a year ago when Ruth, our first grandchild came into the world.  We continued our cruising after seeing Ruth soon after she was born but quickly realised how much of her development we were missing as we moved around the canals.  It got us thinking.

Last year was a fantastic cruise during which we travelled from Great Haywood to Chester then down to Bristol via Oxford and all points between.  (Previous posts in this blog tell the story.)  In the seven years we have owned a boat (five on the SusieQ then two on Adagio) we have cruised pretty extensively, the last two years as liveaboards.  But neither of us is getting younger and the aches and pains of cruising are starting to tell.  So we have decided to give up living aboard and move back ashore.  A great opportunity to buy a retirement flat near to Clifton suspension bridge in Bristol came our way so we grasped it.  Moreover, attending Ruth's first birthday last month confirmed to us this was the correct decision for us.  Currently, we are waiting for all the solicitors to get their acts together so we can finalise our move.  Adagio is already on brokerage you can click here to take a peek New &  Used Boat Company.  Where we shall be living has views over Bristol Floating Harbour, lots of green space and walks along the gorge for Duffy to enjoy.

We have enjoyed a great, albeit hard, two years as liveaboards.  We met and enjoyed the company of many lovely people and saw some great places and sights.  We endured two pretty hard winters but, on the other hand, enjoyed some excellent boating weather.  Having decided to move back ashore we are excited about our next adventure!  We intend to hire boats to get our fix of the waterways, as we did when our children were young, so shall continue to blog.  Also, I have already started planning the book of our adventure so far - watch this space. 

Meanwhile, our thanks to everyone who has followed our blog - remember it will continue so please stay with us - and thanks to all those folks we have met along the way who have shared advice, a friendly word or a wave.  It's been fun.