Polishing off some really happy times

摘要

My love of boating and water began way back when I was 17 in a canoe on the Bridgewater Canal; I launched it near Warrington, packed with sandwiches and a radio. I then moved on to water skiing, then bought a Fletcher Arrowflyte with a Yamaha outboard and used it on the River Weaver. I launched it at Frodsham and had some great times but, when the slipway got taken over, the ski club fees increased. I felt I could not give the time to warrant the extra fees... so what next? Speedboats can't be launched everywhere and, by the time the boat was fuelled, car fuelled to tow it to the coast and the salt on my wheels, pounds had gone. I was travelling home along the Bridgewater Canal and spotted a fibreglass cruiser for sale, it looked tidy and I thought "maybe". I rang the number on the boat and, after a bit of bargaining, I'd bought a 1978 Norman 23. It didn't have a motor, but I was allowed to take over the mooring. My wife and I spent time washing, polishing and fixing. We bought a new 15hp Suzuki outboard and then we were off. We first cruised the Cheshire Ring in the early part of the year then went for shorter weekend cruises and we both loved it.