In 2021, Martyn and I enjoyed a holiday on the K&A canal, as newly weds, where we met Rob, Trish, Paul and Sue, at a water point. We said how much we wanted to come join Christians and serve the boating community. They prayed with us and we went on our way.
We returned to Wales, packed up the house and business, sold my house in Dorset and bought Everlong, our beloved 70ft long, electric blue narrowboat.
We embarked on our maiden voyage on our shiny new boat, from Swanley Marina on the Llangollen Canal to the Kennet and Avon in Wiltshire. Martin looked at his shiny laminated map and informed me it would take two weeks . . . it took two and a half months! We quickly learnt that hiring a boat and living on one, were chalk and cheese! We navigated our way down the canal network, through the various trials such as fallen trees and bridges, broken locks and vagrant youths!
One particularly trying day as we approached Trowbridge, I asked Martin how we were going to find those Christians again as we had had no contact. He said he had prayed about it. Not 5 minutes later, a lady on a bike on the towpath, shouted across to us “are you the Christians from the north?” We said we were and she told us they had been praying for our arrival!
Rob and Trish were our mentors to our new life on the canal and provided much wisdom and practical help for which we are forever grateful. We quickly found Bradford on Avon Community Church who have also been very supportive.
We settled into the highs and lows of the boating community and were accepted as we live among them and experience the same trials. We have helped people obtain food parcels, coal, wood, clothes and a tow if they have no engine. We have provided a listening ear to peoples trials, comforted those who faced bereavement and helped many a hapless tourist get to grips with their hired boat!
