Space is an extremely important factor when deciding to "barge" or go "narrowboating" as the locals distastefully correct us everytime we merrily mention our barge. (Oh, an be carfeful when commenting on villages/towns/cities they're quite anal about their naming of such places as only the Queen gets a say in what its called) Now a warning for future enthusiasts: Choose your companionins wisely. You're basically attached to them in a ten metre radius for 7 days (da da da da) So (and here comes the greatest piece of wisdom) either choose people you've known for a really REALLY long time, or people you've known for a really short time. If you've known them for long then hopefully your strong foundation will keep the friendship going. And if you've known them for a short - you'll be too busy being polite to have fights. Middle of the road friendships might be irreconcilably ended. (or drive one to suicidal thoughts)

K, so read over the last couple of msg/entry thingies and just want to add that the boat is pretty indestructable but things such as lights etc aren't. DON'T TRY IT! It isn't fun having glass everywhere - whip lash is another downside to driving into a tree (ha ha...funny one, whip lash involves going faster than like 2 ks an hour)

Oh and claustrophobia (sp?) isn't a desirable quality on a barge either. CLAUSTROPHOBICS BE WARNED! Seriously, this is the bed. Enclosed on 3 and a bit sides.

Now so far this seems very negative! its not meant to be! REALLY! Barging (whoops...."narow boating") is really amazing. Its so much fun!
Driving this thing is actually really hard. It just doesn't go where you want to. And it takes forever to turn so you always over-compensate...I'm really bad at it...put me on a straight bit and i'm fine but I dont do: corners; other boats; bridges; or locks...which basically leaves nothing....and its really tiring as well.........I AM SUCH A MOANER! Dammit. K, I'll put a few photos and then get back to the fun bits of this.

Ok, look how beeautiful it is. Its so weird...like we were there,experiencing it...but you forget just how beautiful it is until you have photos to remind you.
Pubs are another plus. There are at least 2 in every VILLAGE you go to. (and seeing as my dad has some sort of pub compulsion...we go to every one!...now thats a lot of pints) Its strange how in SA when you go out, its so busy and hyper. But in a pub, everything is very laid back! It has to be......the pubs are like 200 yrs old (hyper would probably cause it to collapse) And they're beautiful! Oh and there are millions of brightly coloured flowers everwhere...its like you can't turn your house into a home without at least 3 hanging baskets and a couple of pot plants outside. (and some people have an infatuation with garden gnomes - weird creepy little things are all over their lawns! One person had about 40 all over the front yard! Maybe they're supposed to ward of criminals like our "tokoloshes")