Wednesday, 26 July 2023

Crazy Anna

 

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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