pomkitanner

Iced Tea is like cold chips . yuk ! But not a tea drinker generally as by and large its past its use by date . In India, Tea, ( Chai ) is fresh and flavoursome , unlike anything i have yet to experience in UK.

Far from being an experienced boater, however over the course of 3 hires on the Oxford/L&L / and the GU, i have to say i have never encountered a volunteer lockie. I do recall perhaps 2 C&RT employees, but in each case they took a very hands off approach. Were i to come across a Vlokkie on my next hire , is it customary to dictate your preferences before entering a lock should their help be offered? I can imagine some situations where i might appreciate help - have yet to scale a flight, but generally i prefer my own company.

Now you have me confused. If you are going clockwise from Middlewich surely you are going up at the Cheshire locks ( heartbreak hill )

I have also experienced such North American temperature change . Landed at JFK New York around mid day, lower 30's deg C . Drove up to Berkshire hills in Western Mass, that night the guage dropped to minus 10 deg C and all the water pipes froze. Within a day or so we got to Ski. Great memories .

To those who answered my question , thank you. As a postscript , i care very much for my grandchildren and hope to introduce them to the land of my birth before i am unable to do so, hopefully including a narrow boat trip. Sanctimonious comments dont sit overly well.

The impediments to ever be able to again travel seem to be increasing by the day . New strains of the virus pop up almost daily, prompting the question, are we ever to be over it. Even though my country is on the UK green list , there is as yet no timetable to again allow travel by the NZ government , our border remaining shut tight for the foreseeable future. Were travel possible , the staycation holiday for UK residents has blossomed, with hire companies seemingly booked out for the next 2 years . Bucket list dreams fast being poured down the drain ?

Dont think i could quite stretch to a private charter ?

Thanks for confirming this, c&rt evidently way off the mark. Seems the 4 counties is a comfortable 2 week trip with time for a diversion too.. now for that vaccine ?

And the translation is ?

Bit of a catch 22 at the moment . Until our borders are again open I cannot commit to a date . I would like it to be this September, but recognise it may not be possible, and as such must accept it may now be next year . The up side is that if and when vaccines begin to make some impact, UK travellers may again opt for overseas travel, therebye freeing up more boats. It is what it is .

Love to know how to pronounce Betws-y-Coed. ?.. Worse than Maori Ha Ha

Having seen recent snowy scenes on BBC, I wonder if anyone has woken to a winter wonderland. Its 40 years since I saw the stuff, and as I again contemplate another bbq on the deck, a bucket list goal would be a winter cruise. Love to see some pictures.

I will only hire from a company that offers armchair seating . At my age bench style seating is not an option , and Chas hardern do not seem to offer this level of comfort. I have yet to find a better equipped boat than those of Napton Narrowboats, but happy to entertain others who meet this requirement.

Excellent idea . Knew about Manchester flights, but not BHX . and not only Emirates, Qatar, Swiss and others all fly into BHX depending on our chosen stopover . Much shorter taxi ride . Thanks for the idea.

Thanks Maggie Patrick. We would want to spend a day in Chester, but would likely take a bus for the short trip. With this in mind, is a trip to Kinver still on the cards ? And what is the attraction of Kinver itself , Pretty village ?

To clarify, if i choose the 4 counties, i would base myself at Autherley junction, also with Napton narrowboats . Or, Countrywide cruisers at Brewood.

I will opt for a 2 week hire but cannot choose. The 4 counties or the Leicestershire ring. When planning on the canal planner I get different answers to the advice from c&rt. I like to keep cruising hours to 6 or 7 and have time for a lunch stop. If we can have a shorter day to explore villages, all the better, and dont want to find our last day is a 10 hour trip. So which fits the bill ? And which the more scenic ? Hoping for next September, covid permitting. Thanks all.

Thanks Roland, no contest the best door to door option and I found £111 was the cheapest. For convenience cant beat it. Thanks to all other posters for their suggestions. It'll be private charter, if and when we again get to travel.

Are you able to give a link ? Thanks

I was unaware there are trains from Reading to Leamington Spa. very much better than going into the city me thinks . A quick google suggests there is a one stop route direct from terminal 3 . Taxi from either Leamington Spa or Rugby i think would be little different . Thanks for the idea .