Millsy

All open & with the weather forecast you should have no problems. Thank you. Now I'm really looking forward to our 3 weeks out.

How's it looking now? We're planning to be there Mon/Tues. Should we moor up somewhere and walk up to have a look or would it be safe to assume we'll be able to get through? Thanks for any info.

Got the cables and tested it out - it works at home and on the boat. Hurrah!

Thanks for all the replies. We do have an aerial socket as Gareth pointed out but I am too lazy/stupid to choose & fit & fiddle with an aerial/satellite dish. Hopefully, I've sorted it now...I've downloaded BBC deskplayer to OH's Mac so we can download and store programs from BBC i-player. It's a bit slow but it does work OK. The programs have an expiry date so need to be watched within 30 days but that's no problem. Now all I need is a miniport to HDMI adaptor and an HDMI cable (and to check that the TV we have on the boat has HDMI input) The only downside is that OH doesn't have an excuse to buy an i-pad now!

My theory is: buy an i-pad and an Apple TV unit to plug into the telly then stream or store programs from BBC i-player/channel 4 od on to i-pad then put on telly via Apple TV. I realise that I can only download/stream when there's access to the internet but I'm happy to only watch stored programs when there's no internet access. This seems too easy to be true...does anyone else do this? What are the pitfalls and flaws in my plan?

Thank you for posting this. We're planning to do the Four Counties from Mercia too - at the end of July. I've just gleaned more information about timings and shops from your report than all the guides I've looked at so far!

So sorry for your loss, Martyn. You fulfilled your final responsibility to your friend in return for the love he gave you. In the past we have had every dog 'put to sleep' by the vet and had wished that we hadn't had to make 'that decision'. We imagined that having your dog die peacefully in its sleep would be preferable, but when this happened to us at Hawkesbury at Easter we were completely devastated. Such a shock! But, the truth is, that another dog will help.

This worked once for a runaway cat but is possibly worth a try for Dusty - if you know what area he's in (which it sounds like you may do)find a safe spot to put something that smells of you. If he finds it he may return to it - or even stay there. Hope you find him soon.

Great - thanks for the info!

We're planning a 3 week trip in summer & intend to do the 4 counties ring (from Mercia). I'm trying really hard not to plan too much (so far the plan is: go out of the marina and turn right) but would be interested to hear about others' favourite moorings, pubs etc. Thanks!

Just a thought - you may have been down this route already, but it may be worth contacting any Border & Patterdale Rescue organisations locally and nationally (vets & rescue kennels should have the contact details). They may have had Dusty passed on to them already or may have ideas on where he could be if he's been stolen (God forbid) I must admit that since reading about you and Dusty I have dug out my dogs' microchip details: not much good stuffed in a drawer at home when we're out and about! Thoughts still with you both, good luck.

I hope you find your little chap soon. I was going to suggest the rabbit hole but was beaten to it. Could he have run/wandered back to somewhere you'd moored/visited before? Someone I know had their wandering/lost dog picked up by the police but they weren't notified: the police just put it in their pound.

The Bruce Wake Trust, based at Upton also have accessible boats.

Which would you regret most - selling then wishing you hadn't or not selling then wishing you had? If necessary, could you sell at a later date (albeit from abroad or having to make a trip home)?

Well, we made it. Not without incident, though, so our thanks go to everyone who helped us along the way. Especially: David and Gareth - outstanding service from D&J, as ever, when the hydraulic steering packed up (it never missed a beat for the rest of the journey); the boater whose lunch I rudely interrupted and everyone who helped us at locks. Very sadly, one of our dogs died while we were moored up at Hawkesbury. We received very kind and professional assistance from Edward's taxis and Woodlands vets in Bedworth but obviously the second week of our journey was less enjoyable. However, we are now planning our June trip. It'll be slower, shorter, less stressful and hopefully, with a puppy on board!