.Meet 'Bear Necessities', our narrowboat. We found her for sale in Northamptonshire. She has an unusual layout, with a fixed double berth and bathroom in the centre, dinette and kitchen to the back and a lounge in the front. Built in the year 2000. We have had numerous canal holidays either hiring boats or borrowing them from friends and had always talked about spending time on extended cruises in our own boat.
We spent a fantastic 10 days getting to know her and cruising up to the outskirts of Chester in late September as we moved her to her permanent base at Tattenhall Marina. This was a journey we had done by road in just 2 hours - it was great to slow down and do the same journey at just 3 miles per hour. Even the 82 locks were fun.
Here is 'Drakon Harald Hårfagre' as she looked in December 2011. The hull is almost complete after nearly 20 months of work. She is being built in Haugesund, Western Norway. You can find out about her at www.vikingkings.com My job is to help research, source and commission all the 'Viking' equipment that she will need - oak sea chests for the 100 rowers to sit on, shields to hang on her sides etc. There is also a growing number of volunteers - 'The Fellowship of the Dragon' whose involvement I will manage.
So now my life revolves around the 'Bear' and the 'Dragon' and two very different ways of crossing water!
