caspar

Definitely the correct method in my opinion and it seems to be gaining popularity among the doggy loving boaters, I have a plastic garden trowel as my preferred implement.

I would head south for Anderton and Middlewich, you have only one lock before Middlewich, so plenty of chance to get used to handling the boat. Anderton is definitley worth a stop to look at the lift, plenty of moorings and a pub. Middlewich is about four hours further on so you that might be enough for another day, or you might carry on and turn right at the junction and lock up onto the Shroppie. The next section to Barbridge Junction (three or four hours) is a beautiful stretch with plenty of rural mooring opportunities, look out for the Shropshire Union Canal Society moorings where you'll be treated to short grass and mooring rings. There are a couple of pubs and moorings once you have turned left at Barbridge Junction, I would then cruise on for another half hour and turn right at Hurleston Junction up onto the Llangollen Canal. You should get as far as Wrenbury (about three hours) before turning round and retracing your steps (don't worry about this it all looks very different going the other way!. Again it is a lovely rural cruise up to Wrenbury with quite a few of thoe SUCS mooring sites. Take your time and enjoy it, don't worry about destinations it's the getting there that is so enjoyable.

Not far off though, we were both moored in Ellesmere about a year ago as now.

Just before the weather wearmed up we started using Hot Max http://www.hotmax.co.uk/ Gets hot very quickly, little ash and is environmentally friendly. Not sure about the economics hyet as we haven't been using it that long.

Two Jenny Wren's together in Bugsworth Basin two weeks ago...no sign of Sir Christopher though!

Of course you are quite right he could be totally innocent, although I don't think he was coming along to warn me or surely he would have engaged me in conversation, he just wished me a goodnight as he passed.

I disturbed a couple of young local scrotes at 12.30am one night when moored close to Fazeley Junction, apparently they were in the process of setting me adrift. On closer inspection though it looked more like they were trying to pinch the rope as they had removed it entirely from the dolly, it was fairly new and of good quality As I started to re-moor the boat, out of the shadows walking along the towpath came the boater moored a few boat lengths behind me, who had given the appearance of being a bit of a fixture on the mooring...I just got the feeling the scrotes could have been stealing to oreder for this boater, on the other hand of course I may be doing this chap an enormous disservice and he was just out for a late night walk. Has anyone had any problems with thieving fellow boaters?

Decided to give the SO another chance last Friday night as we were passing and had guests on board, fortunately we came up trimps this time as the food was good. The place was really humming and musicians started arriving about 9pm, sitting at tables and taking it in turns to play and sing. All in all a good night was had by all.

Why would you be southern 'cos you get the pronunciation wrong?....we're about 150 miles north of Brewood!

We'll be heading off down the Shroppie again in a few weeks and every time we do I get to thinking about pronouncing names correctly. We have made this journey many times and naturally pass through Brewood (Brood) before turning left or right at Autherley. I had been pronouncing Brewood as Breewud until being embarrassingly put in my place with much laughter when chatting to a group of fellow boaters a few years back. Cholmondeston lock is not far from where we mooor, but as we do not live locally I have no idea how to pronounce it. How do you prounce it and what other names out there on the system might catch us out?

Had mine done yesterday by Mark Edwards at Swanley for £140. He was very thorough (took 4 hours), is very handy for the boat and very flexible with the timing of the appointment...I live 160 miles from the boat!

We'll be passing through by boat probably on Sunday, but maybe Monday. We will definitely want to stop and have a look around, but will there be any where to moor for a minimum of several hours, but possibly overnight?

I was asked recently by a chap walking the towpath if I knew of any hire boat companies that offer an accompanied cruise service. The guy who asked is wanting the autonomy and provacy of a hire boat rather than the more structured and social world of a hotel boat, but would not be able to manage the more strenuous parts of hiring (lock operation, lift and swing bridge operation, mooring, casting off, etc). Ideally he is looking for help only for certain parts of his holiday, so wouldn't want a stranger on board with him. Does anyone know of any companies that might offer this service, either by meeting his boat en route, or by accompanying him on another boat?