{"id":2665,"date":"2014-01-12T22:54:30","date_gmt":"2014-01-12T22:54:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=2665"},"modified":"2014-01-19T17:15:45","modified_gmt":"2014-01-19T17:15:45","slug":"heres-a-way-to-interest-brenda-in-sailing-uh-boating-i-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=2665","title":{"rendered":"Here’s another way to interest Brenda in sailing, uh…boating. I think."},"content":{"rendered":"

My family often jokes that my life for the last 35+ years with Brenda has been a series of desperate moves designed to help her enjoy her time aboard as much as I do.<\/p>\n

So, do I think that this is a fair assessment? \u00a0Yes indeed, I have done pretty well except for the times, which might possibly have been too frequent, when she hasn’t enjoyed it. \u00a0It’s those not so fun times that our oldest son Rob refers to as “career limiting\u00a0\u00a0moves” (CLMs).<\/p>\n

Examples of CLMs include.. a day spent thrashing to windward. \u00a0CLM. \u00a0Nights spent at anchor with no wind and temperatures in the high 80s or worse. \u00a0CLM. Day after day of rain and nothing to do. \u00a0Well, you get the picture.<\/p>\n

The good news is that after so many years of cruising with me, Brenda continues to spend months every year aboard. \u00a0That’s very good. \u00a0I guess that means that the good times outweigh the CLMs. \u00a0Good. \u00a0So, with that in mind, what am I planning as my next set of “desperate moves”?<\/p>\n

Yes, that’s the burning question for me as we prepare to return to Florida and Pandora in a few week for our second visit to the Bahamas. \u00a0I do find self thinking “what next?”. \u00a0 \u00a0Will we go for a third season in the Bahamas next winter or branch out for something new?<\/p>\n

We do enjoy the Bahamas very much. \u00a0What’s not to like about warm temperatures and chrystal clear water? \u00a0Yes, it’s pretty nice.<\/p>\n

However, I know that Brenda really wants to visit places that have great architecture, art and restaurants. \u00a0The Bahamas have some of that but that’s not what they are known for.<\/p>\n

Here’s an idea… Brenda majored in the classics. \u00a0Latin and Greek. \u00a0So, where can we go with Pandora where there’s lots of that sort of thing. \u00a0Yes, you guessed it. Europe, across the “Pond”.<\/p>\n

Also, she I know that enjoys river cruising and our trip down the ICW last year was very enjoyable. \u00a0 So, recently I mentioned the idea of taking Pandora on a canal tour from the English Channel all the way to the Med. \u00a0She loved the idea. \u00a0How cool is that?<\/p>\n

So, I decided to do some preliminary research. \u00a0I found that there are some 5,000 miles of canals in France, most of which are deep enough to float Pandora, and the operative word is “most”. \u00a0This map shows just how extensive they are. \u00a0The dark blue colored canals are plenty deep to float Pandora, the lighter blue ones, just barely, I think. \u00a0I have contacted an expert on the subject and he seems to think that we can plow our way through the shallow parts and not get stuck.<\/p>\n

This map shows just how extensive the network is. \u00a0Pretty amazing. \u00a0\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>I am told that the part of the trip that is in central France will be the most challenging for our draft. \u00a0I guess we’d enter in Rouen and exit in Petit Rhone. \u00a0For now, I am keeping my fingers crossed regarding the “skinny water” in central France. \u00a0Besides, I don’t want to go fast anyway. \u00a0Too much to see along the way.<\/p>\n

The site, www.french-waterways.com<\/a> is a great source of information on the canals and the moderator\/editor, Grehan, has been very responsive to my questions. \u00a0It is his opinion that with my 1.8m draft I should be able to push my way through the low spots and do fine everywhere else. \u00a0I guess I will need more information on that score but it’s an encouraging start.<\/p>\n

I found this interesting video on the site. \u00a0It’s a first hand overview of what it’s like to go through a lock in France. \u00a0It’s amazing just how narrow the locks are. \u00a0Many of the locks are only 14′ wide and Pandora,with her 12′ beam will fit with about one foot on each side. \u00a0I tried to find other videos that showed the countryside but didn’t find quite what I was looking for. \u00a0I’ll continue to explore to find some worth sharing. \u00a0For now…