FOR THE MANY

My name is Tracey and I, along with my husband Tim, live aboard nb Sola Gratia.

I am registered severely vision impaired and am currently on the waiting list for a new guide dog.

Oakley, my gorgeous black Labrador first hairy hero, is enjoying a well-deserved and wonderful life after early retirement at the beginning of 2019. Life afloat as continuous cruisers was amazing with Oakley beside me, although it certainly came with some challenges. Now, with my dreaded white cane, I am finding it very tough indeed.

Despite my vision impairment – or maybe, even because of it, I love living afloat. When I first lost most of my sight, I

Life as a liveaboard with sight impairment is a challenge but committed cruiser Tracey Clarke wouldn’t have it any other way and aims to improve access for all thought the dream might be over before it had begun! However, thanks to Oakley and support from Tim, I have never looked back. Relying on my sense of hearing, I pick up more of the wonderful sounds of the natural environment around us. Often, I hear birds long before Tim sees them.

Although the underlying cause of my optic nerve atrophy may never be known, I know that stress is a significant contributor to further deterioration. The slower pace of waterways life removes most of that stress. So, Canal & River Trust’s strapline “Making Life Better by Water” certainly rings true for me.

Of course, when it comes to working locks, these can be something of a challenge. To some extent, one lock is much like another; a rectangular hole with gates and paddles at each end. They do vary but, on a “good eyes” day, I can manage. Slowly and carefully.