Richard Elliott had been told his cancer was in remission. Emboldened
by the news, he quit work and bought an old narrow boat – a recreational vehicle designed to sail
the UK’s canals – and set about restoring it. It was tons of work, but
Richard had time, or so he thought. Then the cancer returned, and doctors said
there was nothing more they could do. Richard and his friend Del finished the
boat in two weeks, and set about fulfilling Richard’s dream: to cross the
English Channel to France. It was completely mad. Narrow boats are long and
shallow, meant for canals where you’re never more than a few feet from shore, there
are no waves and you can’t get lost. Somehow Richard and Del made it. Richard
explored French canals a few weeks, before cancer ended his holiday. I wonder
if he was inspired by reading “Narrow Dog to Carcassonne,” by Terry and Monica
Darlington, who did it first.
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