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Humber Barge 'Waterdog', 90ft x 15ft, 1890s Riveted Iron

Where are we now - In Erquelinnes (Belgium) for 2010 Summer

Setting off on our spring Mini-cruise

Waterdog was a Humber trading barge from the 1890s which was saved from the scrap yard by Lorna and then adopted as a life project when Lawrence joined her in 1997. We have been planning and working toward living and cruising through Europe for years now and have finally made the crossing to France to begin the next adventure.

The black and white photo opposite is from her trading days on the Humber and Aire and Calder and she is pictured near Pollington Lock in the 1950s or 1960s.

Our third season on the continent sees us safely moored in Erquelinnes, Belgium, getting more fitting out completed and doing local cruises in southern Belgium.

The local club that run the port de plaissance have really come alive for the hot summer. Several live on board their boats for the summer and they organise fetes and meals. We took one short cruise in the spring ( new pages here. ) and otherwise got on with the fitting out.

2007 NE England Cruise

2008 Dry dock

2008 'Work-up' for Europe

While looking for proper French lessons we tried to self teach ourselves with books and software packages but it is quite hard to do. Here we take a midday break to learn some French from a school book with Tilly trying to join in, or at least wondering what on earth we are doing!

We eventually started lessons in a local Belgium scheme for in-comers. Let's hope we advance into being able to hold conversations with the locals this year.

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