Diesel engines

[Steve Pope 243]

Better be working on those muscles for all the lock gates you'll have to open.

[ex TL systems 63]

Well if you find a boat you like and it looks good smells good sounds good and the price is right,then you should just buy it, and enjoy it. once you get past a certain age you don,t want to waste too much time, you never know how much you have left, and you would have worked on plenty of people that never quite got to fulfill their dreams.

[Guest 000]

Better be working on those muscles for all the lock gates you'll have to open.

Nope, your thinking about England. In France you buy a VNF, good for a year, costs €240 and gives you access to all canal and locks - all manned, as well as all the many berths along the canals, all of which provide water and most electricity.

On the question of charges, we plan 6 months on the canals, 6 months at home. I get a long term visa by virtue of a spouse being an EU national - I always knew marrying a Dutch girl would pay off some day. A long term visa gives me access to the French medical system which is meant go be pretty good. For the 6 months at home I will hire a 15m marina berth for a total of €1600, including power, water and internet and allowing liveaboards. From our many bike tours through Europe we know that food is good and dirt cheap, wine is even gooder and cheaper, and contrary to general opinion, the French are a darned nice bunch of people once they realise that you are a kiwi and not a pom. And people puttering around the waterways in boats are regarded as an asset to the communities along the canals because they help support the local economy and not a bunch of rich pricks looking down their arrogant noses at the quaint locals.

So, we are in mind to give it a shot. Perhaps we could become Crew's foreign correspondents.