hotpotato6

After all the planning we have put into the Trent & Mersey Canal out of Barton Turns for the week of March 17-24 we have had to make a last minute switch to the Coventry Canal - and now will be getting a smaller narrowboat for the week from Avecote Marina close to Tamworth. We had arranged to go with another couple on a 55' boat - and the agreement states 3 people are needed to operate the boat. Unfortunately the wife of the other couple just came down with a case of the shingles - and they have had to cancel . Needless to say, we are all very disappointed. Since my husband and I don't want to lose our plane tickets we decided to go ahead with a smaller boat that 2 can operate - Barton Turns didn't have one (this is all through time share) so we luckily were able to get a smaller boat at the Alvecote Marina. Whew! Some other plans have to be re-arranged, but it's all going to work. Will this adventure be a test to our 36 years of marriage?! Was looking forward to meeting the owner of the Jolly Roger (Jolly Roger moors at Barton Turns). I've been doing research on the Coventry Canal tonight and am sure we will enjoy the week. We will certainly miss our friends and their companionship, but know we will get to meet people along the canal. The 4 of us are just grateful that this miserable illness of shingles didn't attack during the trip. Thanks again to all who have given us valuable input - and will defintely give a report on how everything goes! Ruth

Thanks Alan, photo perfect - my husband figured it was something like that. Have spent lots of time on this site - all the pictures are fascinating, many of them truly outstanding and beautiful. Really psyched for the Trent and Mersey!

JOHN: The only NY canals we know of are those upstate from us -- most quite a few hours ride each way. But then again there might be some closer we are totally unaware of. Copied following from a website I found....the closest to us would be the "capital (Albany)-Saratoga area about 3-4 hours away, but not sure what the canal setup there is. 'New York's Canal System The 524 mile New York State Canal System includes the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and the Cayuga-Seneca canals. The canal system connects hundreds of miles of lakes and rivers across New York State, linking the Great Lakes with the Hudson River and five water ways in Canada. Traveling through five of the states vacation regions, Niagara Frontier, Finger Lakes, Central Leather Stocking, Thousand Islands-Seaway and Capital-Saratoga vacation opportunities along the New York State Canal System are endless. The canal system winds its way through scores of picturesque towns and cities that grew or came into existence along its banks. Thousands of parks, picinic areas, restaurants, inns, museums and historic sites line the canals' banks. Boat, bike, hike, stroll or just relax and enjoy a cruise aboard the many tour boats operating along the canal.' PETER: Simply wonderful description of your trip! We will most likely be passing through some of the areas you did - will copy your diary and bring it with us. All along I've been thinking "hope it doesn't rain too much" ... now got to add "may the winds not be difficult"! We definitely plan to keep a journal of our adventure - and will certainly post afterwards. OK - spades, the card game - there are sites on the internet for people to play the game of spades with other people (also chess, backgammon, hearts, bridge, etc.), and there are sites that offer team play. I've been playing for almost 4 years now with basically the same people - and we even had a gathering in Texas last year with many attending. People from all over the world play, our team is just one of over seventy or so on the site. Our team has a lady from Australia, and it's great to meet people from all over the world - quite a few from the UK too. CHRISSIE: Thanks for the links - the lock one makes you realize how logical the operation of a lock is -- just got to keep focused on each action, and as you said "take it slowly". Frog one was cute, albeit frustrating, but did well with the rope throwing . Happy travels to you all & looking forward to meeting many in the canal community!

Thanks for the photo of a windlass Guinness drinker John - We don't live local to any locks, more local to the skyscrapers and streets of NYC! We have seen narrow boats on the canals in past trips to the UK, my husband even assisted opening one, but that was a few years ago. We will be traveling from Heathrow to Derby the day before we board the narrow boat so we hope to be able to stop and observe some lock action during the drive. Thanks, and am appreciative of all the replies -- really enjoying reading other threads on this site and the links they lead to.

Allan - It's good to know our nights will be "free"! Have enjoyed your website - you have had some great sounding adventures. Peter - Thanks for the information - I'm compiling all the helpful comments and suggestions to take along with us. Kind of embarrassed to ask - but what does a windlass look like - it sounds as if it's like a key? Is it something that can be put on a float type thing so if dropped it won't sink - or it too big and heavy for something like that? I'd hate to be dead in the water and require a funeral at sea Thanks - Ruth

We were going to stop at Wedgewood after the narrow boat week on our way to Chester & Wales, but since it's right by the canal, if our timing works well, we could see it via the boat instead of car. JollyRoger - what a great link! Thanks for steering us (good pun?! ) to it - lots of detailed and helpful information. Printed out a copy of the Boaters' Guide - beta version. Question: All the moorings we see mentioned along the canal - are there fees, and if so, about how much would they be for overnight stays? Do most people moor at visitor moorings - is it proper or possible to just find a good spot along the route and pull over and moor for the night? Thanks again, one and all - Ruth

Thanks to you both - your suggestions are indeed helpful. It's great to get recommendations from people who know the area. As mentioned, we will be looking for the Jolly Roger at the marina! We have been notified that our boat for the week will be Marcus. Ann, odds are good that we will duplicate the first route you described. I like the part about the first locks being "easy" - that makes for a good learning experience. In the one week there was enough time to get to the Stoke-on-Trent pottery area & take a tour? Without the actual canal maps haven't been able to figure out lock locations and distances - but will have access to them on the boat. Was successful in getting rain gear today - I'll be a lovely shade of bright blue if the weather requires my outfit! We've planned out the 5 days that we will have in Wales after the week on Marcus - now it's working on a packing list, knowing it's important to think minimal and functional -- and not overpack. Counting the days (30!) until the canal, the scenery, the wildlife and a good pub meal with a pint of Guinness! Ruth Thanks to you both - your suggestions are indeed helpful. It's great to get recommendations from people who know the area. As mentioned, we will be looking for the Jolly Roger at the marina! We have been notified that our boat for the week will be Marcus. Ann, odds are good that we will duplicate the first route you described. I like the part about the first locks being "easy" - that makes for a good learning experience. In the one week there was enough time to get to the Stoke-on-Trent pottery area & take a tour? Without the actual canal maps haven't been able to figure out lock locations and distances - but will have access to them on the boat. Was successful in getting rain gear today - I'll be a lovely shade of bright blue if the weather requires my outfit! We've planned out the 5 days that we will have in Wales after the week on Marcus - now it's working on a packing list, knowing it's important to think minimal and functional -- and not overpack. Counting the days (30!) until the canal, the scenery, the wildlife and a good pub meal with a pint of Guinness! Ruth Yikes....apologies for clicking twice

Figured after learning so much from my other post and reading different links on this site we'd again pick experienced brains! All we know at this point is we leave Barton Turns on a Friday late afternoon and have to be back there the next Friday by 9:30am. What route would you suggest (remember, we're very new and very green narrow boaters ) .... where are places we should stop and/or spend night, pubs we shouldn't miss -- etc. etc. Going out today to get some rain gear, also known as our insurance policy Ruth

ParanoidMarvin: Thanks! Tony: Thank you for the information - good to hear about the video as well as knowing about winds we might experince at Barton Turns. Like the name of your boat! We figure we'll be doing quite a bit of dawdling on the canal - there's so much more to see in the slower lane than the fast one

Dear ParanoidMarvin - We've been away for a few days so just saw your post with your most generous offer....truly very kind and remarkably surprising considering you apparently consider yourself "paranoid" and would be willing transport some unknown and possibly dangerous American ( )!!! Seriously, your offier is indeed most hospitable and appreciated. It is my husband who would need the ride mid-morning, not at the end of a work day, so most likely wouldn't be workable for you even on a Friday. Ruth

Thanks for all the help Jolly's owner....we're going to be having a pow-pow to discuss the trip in the next week or so, so am sure will come up with some more questions! The thread about working of locks and water proof clothing is most helpful too. So glad to have happened upon this site. Wishing everyone some blue skies!\ Ruth

Hi JollyRoger's owner First, apologies for getting confused in posting this reply We most definitely will keep a look out for you when we arrive March 17! Received a letter today confirming the timeshare arrangement and we're told the name of the narrow boat we'll be on is Marcus. We've booked the airplane flight and made car rental arrangements. We'll drive from Heathrow and want to stay in the general vicinity of the marina for the night of March 16 - any recommendations as to where to stay? We don't need to return the car to Derby until the morning of the 17 so we're mobile as far as where to spend the night. Under discussion is Birmingham, Burton-on-Trent, Lichfield....etc. etc. My husband will drop the 3 of us off at the marina with luggage in the morning, drive to Derby and return the car and, from what we can gather since we don't know the area, we figure the best way for him to get back to the marina would be to take the train from Derby to Burton-on-Trent and then seek a taxi to get to the marina. Any other suggestions, or is this workable? Next step is acquiring some foul weather gear!! Greetings from NY - Ruth

Dearest new friend Cheshire Rose.... Can we convince you to join us March 17-24 on the Trent & Mersey Canal ?!? We'll provide you with wonderful meals....you just supply the glorious weather! Ruth aka hotpotato6 Apologies for duplicate. So thrilled with the prospect of assuring fair weather got all flustered

Wow! I was very excited to log on tonight and see so many replies - thank you, thank you!! We're long time campers, primarly tent, and figured boaters would be as friendly to newbies as campers are with helpful hints and information . First thing we'll do is look into the Nicholsons guides - second thing will be to print out the comments and take them with us so we'll have all the "reverse" suggestions right with us in March! We're very much looking forward to living on a narrow boat for a week and touring around. We first saw narrow boats a few years ago in Stratford-on-Avon and my husband even assisted in opening a lock - we both agreed it looked very appealing so the idea to do it someday stuck with us and is now materializing. Again, thanks for the warm welcome....we've met so many great folks during our trips across the pond - and anticipate another wonderful time. We figure a couple of days in the area before the narrow boat and then a hopefully a week to see some of Wales for the first time. And hey - we know the weather isn't always cold and damp - there are plenty of sunny spells mixed in!!