chris bowden

Following on from usefull advise received from members of this group, we are starting our trip from Heritage Boats on Monday. Early start so this message may be a little late. Got my Nicholsons guide handy but previous experience teaches me no longer to expect the marked pubs to be still in buisness. Any recommedations for good watering holes and feeding stations (particularly DOG friendly places) would be welcome. Monday to Friday this coming week up the Caldon Canal..weathers looking good. regards Chris Bowden

Following on from usefull advise received from members of this group, we are starting our trip from Heritage Boats on Monday. Early start so this message may be a little late. Got my Nicholsons guide handy but previous experience teaches me no longer to expect the marked pubs to be still in buisness. Any recommedations for good watering holes and feeding stations (particularly DOG friendly places) would be welcome. Monday to Friday this coming week up the Caldon Canal..weathers looking good. regards Chris Bowden

Thanks for the info about the coachmakers, I will give it a try. Are they having a closing down sale? chris bowden

Further to my last post earlier today: I read Phils suggestion of Heritage Boats at Kent Green and followed this up. Cruising times from here to Froghall are realistic for a Four day trip so checked avaiability for my dates. Cam up with Mon 26/ April tp Fri 30 April Ramsdell boat 49ft. plenty of room for 3 plus dog beds to make up (nothings perfect except the price) £439 all in. Post an enquiry./reservation. They got back to me in minits by phonea and ITS BOOKED! Thank to Phil and everyone else for your help. Chris Bowden

A big thank you to all who have contributed suggestions about my proposed trip up the Caldon Canal. Most recently to Phil who has suggested a further option which I will come back to. So far I have decided the dates will be between the 19 and 24 April. I have whittled the options down to 3. 1) 5 days from STONE on Agnes or FRANCES 19 hours cruising each way £511 plus fuel. 2) 4 days from Eturia on Duchess 2 11 hours cruising each way £593 plus fuel. 3 5 days from Eturia on Trent or Duches 4 11 cruising each way £675 plus fuel. Phil has now suggested a further option from Kent Green with an optimistic cruising time of 2 3/4 hors to Eturia. (The best timings I can calculate are 4 hours cruising each way) but this is half the time needed for the Stone to Eturia section, so I am going to make some further enquiries, Thanks to all Chris Bowden

I am planning a mid week break for three (wife and father in Law plus me!) April 19th. Hopeing to explore the Caldon Canal with a start point at Stoke, and at a reasonable price. Have viewed most of the main hire companies but hoping to widen the choice. Has anyone recommendations or perhaps know of smaller more obscure boat hirers. Chris Bowden