Chris Back is preparing to do what many Australians now do in retirement - wending Europe's canals.
The Liberal senator has announced he's quitting parliament at the end of next week.
"My wife owns an old Dutch barge on a French canal," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
"We're just going to coast along French canals until we get to Belgian and Dutch canals."
Senator Back, a veterinarian before he entered parliament, says he's retiring after eight years service to spend more time with his children and grandchildren who live overseas.
"I tried charging them board a few years ago and they didn't leave home," the West Australian said.
The senator and his wife then left for Tasmania to buy a business, but the kids stayed put.
"So I knocked the house down to build a new home. They seemed to take the message and all three of them went overseas to live," he said.
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