Tony & Linda

Thank you everyone for your suggestions - I now have a lot of research to do. Many thanks Tony & Linda

You've sampled the offerings at Margaret River ? Enjoy them ? Tony Thanks :-) I'll see if I can get a feel for it on Google street view. Tony An intriguing idea. Would need to check the issue of moorings. Thanks Tony

Thanks Jo But I do have to admit that I like a little bit of the chaos that comes with boating. I don't know if the link below will work - but this is what happened on our first day on the Midi. We did improve rapidly and by the end of the week were looking semi professional - but despite the chaos it is the part of my holiday that I remember most fondly: http://aceware.com.au/OurHouse/EventDetail.asp?lngEventId=541 Tony

Many thanks Athy I'll start researching it. Re beer drinking and sports. Sorry to shatter your illusions :-) Most of us just live in the suburbs, work in an office in the city every day and spend the weekends going to the supermarket and mowing the lawn. Hardly the Bazza McKenzies of Australian folklore :-) Mind you - we do live on a 5 acre block covered in gum trees and we feed about 15 kangaroos near the back door every evening. Tony

I did Shrop Union about 30 years ago and Canal Midi, South France last May. My fantasy was to slowly cruise through cute towns, stopping frequently at cafes and beer gardens for refreshments (I am not a great beer drinker - I just like the idea of relaxing at an outdoor table, watching the canal, with a beer/coffee in my hand and a pub lunch). Although the Midi canal was fantastic - it was mainly through farmland, the villages were distant from the canal and usually deserted during the day and there were very few refreshments along the bank apart from the occasional expensive restaurant. Can anyone recommend the best canal in the UK for us to try this time around ? We are looking for: A bit of country side. Small quaint towns near the canal. (not averse to cycling a couple of kms) Cafes & beer gardens overlooking the canal. Maybe the odd bit of industrial archeology or museum (that would be a bonus) I was hoping to take a route recommended as 4 days and do it over 7 days. Many thanks Tony and Linda