The Grumpy Boater from Rose of Arden recently wrote a blog post about a fun way of sending mail around the canal:

Its a sort of message in a bottle, that has been cast adrift via any number of unknown routes. What a wonderful idea for bit of boating fun. Thought up by Simon Greer. Basically you get to send a picture postcard via any number of different boats which will occur at random, addressed to some other boater on the cut. Like a message in a bottle, who knows maybe one day a similar message will wash up on your boat.

This is how it works:

1. Choose a nice picture post card.
2. Address it to another boater on the system. Write them a little note of good wishes.
3. Put the card in a see through plastic bag (Self seal sandwich type works best).
4. Put it inside the bag and also put inside this note:
   “Dear Boater, Please pass on this canal post to another boater who can help it reach its destination,
   Include a a note in the bag a few words about who you are, your boat, and how far you have carried the post”
5. Hand it to another boater

It looks interesting, I may have to find a postcard to send to Mike, I am more interested in how he will send me mail by return,