Timx

My point is that the industry is under obligation to conform to the buyers requirements,ultimately, and the op was about price fixing basically therfore reducing choice. Yeah, I have been narrowboating for a few years and love it, and will be buying my own when I retire,but you seem to know better, but thanks.Its the very point of dinosaurs in the the narrowboating world that the op was referring to. Yes but if you look now they are giving a price, but diesel is not included in the price, not all , but a lot

ha, yeah, depressing watching the match, but also lookin to get out again next week, and just an observation of so mant different boats in different places havin the same price, and not the same company, but it is hard to get a reasonable sized boat for two at a reasonable price, just seems a bit suspicious to me

Looking at hire companies prices, im sure they are getting together and making up the same prices,as there is only two of us ,there prices are obviously for full occupancy, but making sure most of them dont undercut each other, taking away good deals, which we are obviously looking for, but where are the independant firms giving choice, a few but not many, how disappointing,hope there doing bad business,or am i just being paranoid and cheap...?. why dont all boats have an inverter to cope with the modern needs of boaters on holiday,surely someone needs to drag this industry into the the modern century...needs to be an ethical code and a better system of regulation to stop them shooting themselves in the foot by,what appears to be price fixing and ruining options, and ultimately leading to the demise of canal use,and leading to higher prices for boat owners using the canal, or have i got this all wrong..?

Sorry about the mistakes and spelling its late and wanted to report in one go.Cheers,sure other peoples impressions will differ from mine,just my interpretation, but the staffs and worcs canal is gorgeous-fact.

Had time to dawdle so stopped at Wheaton aston next for a couple of pints, nice place to moor with good pub, took this pic of boat from outside pub above the canal, id moored just b4 bridge, but theres loads of mooring on otherside as well, nice bar staff nice foo 502Wheaton aston by Timore3, on Flickrd- We moored at Gnossal overnight, great pub by canal there for last night, then a last potter in the morning to base,backed the boat in fine,but there you back it right in, and with a cruiser stern, and with the seat across the back and with the tiller facing across , you have difficulty getting off the back, and then you have to unload the bags,I filled in a form about how the trip had gone, minor quibbles ie we were told the invertor was big enough to accomodate a coffee machine, which it wasnt, a hair straightener , which it wasnt, never mentioned the microwave it said it had on board , which it didnt, and no front curtains or blinds, so no privacy at the front, wasnt till i mentioned in chat that I could do with someone to help with bags because of the lack of space to get off he said''do you want me to drive it for you''.Thanks Norbury junction.Anyhow, the canalc were beautifull despite the rain,cant wait till next trip, just maybe a more professional outfit.

Back on the Shropshire union, i have been on the north of this canal and is so recogniseable, the cuttings are fantastic in parts where the trees overhang from both sides, if you dont see kingfishers here, surely you dont see them any where, but this time i only saw one, anne saw two,[she said]- 482Shropshire canal south by Timore3, on Flickr Stopped at the bridge inne for Sunday roast, great meal good price,picturesque villiage- 492 Bridge inne on shrop by Timore3, on Flickr View from over the bridge at Bridge inne- 493View from over the bridge at bridge inne on shroppie by Timore3, on Flickr

So we carried on that night past the shrop turn off and up to the fox and anchor pub, just in time for a shower after more rain to get a table just in front of tv to watch the england sweden game, this was friday, waited an hour for meal,popu;lar pub at weekend, average 448 FOX AND ANCHOR by Timore3, on Flickroverpriced food for my thinking, but handy pub in that stretch and good mooring As my planning had gone to pot because of the weather had to do another up and back trip, so travelled up to Gailey lock and back on the Saturday, I hped I could turn there, but wasnt sure till i got there, otherwise next turning point was miles, so relieved when found out I could, sat off for a couple of hours when got there, had planned a walk to the pub from there but was persisting down again,Anne didnt want to go out in the weather, so i sat in cratch cover , with a few lagers and watched the rainfall on the canal, and the new boats come out from gailey, mm relaxing, then made way back in the rain to fox and anchor for evening meal. walked into the villiage to the spar whilst waiting for meal.Average overpriced fare in my opinion again, but suited purpose. next day was last full day on board,but knew how far i had to go made planning easy, we go through a mile section of narrows, very picturesque, and lucky again not to meet a boat coming other way, there is passing points, but quite far apart, so would be a pain, after that becomes quite broad, river like, still pretty , but maybe not as much as most southern parts Gailey lock 449 Gailey lock by Timore3, on Flickr Narrows- 455Narrows on way back to Shroppie turn by Timore3, on Flickr Passing point on narrows 456passing point on the narrows by Timore3, on Flickr River widens- 461towards Autherly junction by Timore3, on Flickr carried on to chester turn up the shropshire union, as I was about to turn saw a boat reversing back, so waited, couldnt make out what they were doing as there is a stop lock as you enter, then a double hotel 465 by Timore3, on Flickrboat came out -

439Navigation pub by Timore3, on Flickr whoops sorr this si where we moored just b4 cookley tunnel rain got progressively worse during the day , moored up around 5 for a change at bumblenook lock at the oak, great pub, homemade shepherds pie fantastic, great pub and good moorings just outside, reccomended. Next bay goin through Bratch locks, easier if you go through when lock keepers are on duty, th 441Going up Bratch locks by Timore3, on Flickrere helpfull, and friendly sorry for double photos, comp playin up will repost 440The round Oak by T 436moored for the night by Timore3, on Flickrimore3, on Flickr 443Ebstree lock by Timore3, on Flickr ebstree lock, just pretty

The sitting area on the grass by the cut after greens forge lock, at the Navigation pub, had lunch here, reasonably priced and another pub with history wo 438Seating area before bridge at Navigation pub by Timore3, on Flickrrth a look- this is slightly out of sequence, but is just b4 cookley tunnel where we mored the nigh 438Seating area before bridge at Navigation pub by Timore3, on Flickrt b4, quiet great mooring, , no one around to disturb morning coffee, apart from birds tweeting. 439Navigation pub by Timore3, on Flickr

Because of the rain, and then to do the ring , it would take me 7 hours a day to return, also because I had turned, and the weather forecast I decided to change plan and just return the way I had come,and left me options for time, ie not moving it if it continued 429 by Timore3, on Flickr persisting down. Caldwell lock, next corner is the Watermill pub, only room for one and a bit boats, but stop here if you can, we did going and comin back, good food and nice setting outside, the canal is gorgeous arond here, as is all the south bit of the canal. locking back upto 430Kiiderminster by Timore3, on Flickr Kidderminster never stayed here apart from visiting the supermarket briefly,coming the other way, is only ''ugly ''part of this canal, ie building site.but soon through it, and city centre may be nice, but not what i wwant. 431 The lock inne by Timore3, on Flickr Had lunch at Wolverly, nice enough, with some history

Booked a boat from Norbury junction for ten nights,plan was to go down shrpshire union canal turn right on to staffs and worcs canal,down to Stourport,on to the Severn,then down to Worcester ,then return,but if I made good time,and had the weather, was going to do the Droitwich ring[as suggested by a forum user.Started on the Friday to pick up the boat about half three, but got delayed on the m6 an hour an a half journey took 4 hours,so rang boat yard and they gave us the access number to get into boat yard and left the keys on board, we got there about quarter to six,all staff had gone by then,so couldnt move that night.went to the pub opposite boat yard for a meal and a couple of pints which was needed after that journey.Dissappointed not to get off that nigt, as had it all planned out, wanted to make wheaton aston that night,so was around three hours behind my itinary.Canal plan is great if everything works in your favour lol.Had a nice night anyway and straight to bed after the pub was knackered after sitting on m6 for so long so think was in bed by half 8.Up early, but by time you go through all the boaty things and sorting things was about 11 ish b4 we got going, the night b4 had been wet and windy, so presumed it was providence lol, as I hate driving a boat in the wind, but know i Would of done if I could.Stopped a couple of times in pubs on the way,was really busy with boats on the Saturday, and first day while im getting used to the boat again i do tend to go slow,moored up first night about ten on worcs canal at Compton,went to a Ch.inese type restaurant there, not impressed but it did.Slept well afterwards, getting used to fresh air all day works wonders for your sleep pattern.Stopped at wightmoor next day at lunch ,had a couple of pints but thought too early for lunch so moved on planning to have lunch later,at bumble hole lock, but by the time got there it had stopped sering lunch,ended up stayin in Swindon for the night,and no food being served there, whoops, she wasnt happy with crisps.Next day had an Indian in Kinver which was great and cheap, didnt think much of the pub there, moved on that evening after the meal stopped about tenish again at caunsall,like to wake up in the morning somewhere a bit countryfied, nice having a coffee outside in the morning.The rings were taken, but the nappy pins work well along most of this canal.Next day went on to Stourport,the weather had been poor,up till then cloudy mostly, when we got to stouport it was around sevenish, but the weather clouds cleared to blue skies, and they had opened the locks to the seven river,although it was still on amber apparently, so without planning I locked down through the basin where you cant moor and went left on to the severn.Wow the flow of the river was fast, but was great , such a wide expanse of water after coming off the canal,the water flow took you so fast along as well.Anyway I hadnt planned on a mooring spot, and there wasnt one, lol, got to the lock at Lincomb and it was shut.So turned round and headed back, boat turned and reversed well against the tide, I had spotted amooring by a pub but there was boats moored there so had to lock back up to the basin, there is a weir b4 the lock and you could feel the flow of the water taking you there without power, but boat manouvereed ok past it. apparently a boat had been taken over it the night b4.Turning back into the basin took me three goes as , as you turn the flow has taken you back, but good fun making more use of the engine.Moored up quite late and it was getting darker,but just got a space by the pub and moored there for the night.Had a relief manager on first nioght and a couple of locals who were good fun, so stayed there till closing. 423second night at caunsall by Timore3, on Flickr moored after not wanting to stay at kinver, this is in the morning 425Severn by Timore3, on Flickr this is on the way to having to turn round at first lock on Severn , it was a nice evening and no other boats around, what a surprise lol. moored her quite late, e 426Stourport, top of basin last mooring place having turned on the Severn, but right next to pub. by Timore3, on Flickrnjoyed the banter in the pub,worth a visit,great mooring for uss

Well you have the luxury of not moving if you dont want to in this weather,think its only hirers out in the wind and rain,like me, will give you a wave if i pass you going the other way,but it may be from a pub window,were travelling from the shrop to worcesterish,just looks like we will be doing more pub stops than planned..got three yrs of hiring till get our own and out of the working crappy lifestyle.

is crick just three days from sat, not very well advertised about information on line, or is it just a click

Thanks for that idea, had a look at on canal plan ,but at 6 hrs a day doing the droitwich ring would take me too long,by a day.I can see its doable but might make it a bit rushed for me,as plan on sight seeing[stopping at as many pubs as possible]and as its only me to drive the boat,[apart from at locks, where she doesnt mind driving for a bit,while I lock wheel],if I plan on doing more hours I feel Im constrained by the clock,which I dont like.Thanks for the suggestion though.

Thanks Ian but done most of the four counties etc,so want a different scene,and thanks for the post on getting to Bratch,and other suggestions, I normally start late and go on till dusk,lot of the time its quieter,I will look it up on google.

Hi, hiring out from Norbury on the shrop, want to go southish,as have been north of there already, initial plan was to go to worceter and return, but no itinary as yet, prefer none industrial,or city/ town like places,prefer country pubs and villiages etc, any ideas would be most welcome,only two of us.Plan about 6 hours a day cruising, 4 hours first day 2 hours last day.Thanks for your ideas, experience in advance..Tim.

All i would add is dont be afraid to travel late, it all goes quiet, people try to moor up early for a good spot, if all goes wrong park it anywhere and get up early to move on..that was my experience in mid June last year.

http://www.avonnavigationtrust.org/index.php?id=65

For anoraks like me,here is a cam site of the locks from tewkesbury to S thttp://www.avonnavigationtrust.org/index.php?id=65ratford- Timx