My story starts in Leeds where I lived in a flat overlooking the River Aire. I was intrigued by the colourful narrowboats that cruised regularly past my window and it soon became my ambition to live on one. As a taster, I persuaded some friends to join me on a narrowboat holiday and we went for a ten-day cruise on the Shire Cruiser hire boat Northumberland on the Rochdale. It rained almost solidly for the whole ten days, but I still loved it and was hooked. Next came a trip to see the bank manager. "If I rented out my flat would you lend me the money to buy a narrowboat?" I asked. To my amazement and delight he said "yes". After many happy hours drooling over boats on the internet and visiting marinas, I found the one for me.
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