haggis

or manchester

Where do you get the idea that paying money gives you access to all canal? Your licence fee to C&RT allows you to put a boat on C&RT water. It doesn't allow you access to all canals. Perhaps if such a licence existed it would cost an amount which would enable all canals to always be open which would be several times (10 times?) what licences currently cost.

As it appears it is the base plate is your major cause for concern, make sure that wherever the boat is lifted out for survey that the surveyor can actually access the base plate.

Having just done the Llangollen and Montgomery here are my thoughts. There are a lot of hire boats and some of the larger ones are proving a bit difficult for hirers to handle on the narrow twisty bit between Trevor and the end but given time and space they managed . The worst boat handling we saw was from some private boats and in fact it was sad to see the attitude of some of them to hirers. I took one boater to task for the way he had spoken to a hirer and his response was " they are only a hirer ". Not nice We enjoyed our trip despite me having a head cold 😀

Makes sense

Is that on the pub page or on a page by someone who has been charged? If it is true that some boaters have used the pub tables to eat their own food then I can see why they have introduced a charge. I am trying to find out if this is a new policy

We were lucky both going up and coming down Grindly Brook as we went straight in both times. There was only one volunteer on when we came down yesterday and only one at Hurleston today.

Ah, you should have shouted hello. Perhaps you did and I didn't hear you! We set off a bit earlier than we usually do as the shared boat and pratt driver was moored behind us and we didn't want to be behind him again. We got the impression that if he saw us behind he dropped to tickover. His parents were on board with him and we found them nice chatty folk but not the son.

Another interesting day. From Willymoor to Wrenbury we met lots of private boats which I assumed was because they had moored at Wrenbury but when we got to Wrenbury almost all the moorings between the lift bridges were occupied. After Wrenbury it was much quieter At Hurleston there was a boat in the pound above the bottom lock tied with at least 3 ropes. There were two guys on board who said their boat was too wide for the locks and they planned to reverse back through the bottom lock later. The boat looked fairly new and was called UNMISTAKABLE which I thought was appropriate 😀

It was as good as I remember ! We had our first rain of the holiday today. After we moored we had quite heavy rain for an hour or so.

No problem. Already booked.

I think Ray Bowern does the complete package. Good idea to get one company to do everything as that means a one insurance company covers everything

We haven't been to the Wilymoor pub for several years and that is about to change! Had quite a long day for us what with lift bridges where we seemed to draw the short straw. The plan had been to stop at the top of Grindlay Brook tonight but I found myself asking the lockie if we would follow the boat in top lock down. Seven locks further on we were at Willy moor and as there were some spots of rain we moored

Just ordinary ducks do far and not as many as usual. Bird flu has hit them hard I think. Very few moorhens too there used to be an aggressive swan at the lift bridge on the Monty and no sign this time. Back on the Llangollen and although it is busy, things are moving nicely in both directions

Isn't it just ! I love how my posts about what I see as we cruise along develop . Much better than googling 😀 When not steering or doing housewifely things I sit out the front and enjoy the view. After years of looking for suitable seating , I have found one. Gardeners kneeling pad.

What a good Idea. You could wind them up with a key. That would be novel

It has been said before that he has had the boat for two years and he pointed out that he had just bought it. The two years referred to something else

No sign of an otter but have been watching dragon flies (? The electric blue ones ) along side the canal. I met a dog walker along side the new bit in water ( but not navigable) watching what looked like a very small mouse swimming round on circles. We had no idea what it was - too small for a vole.

Me too . I like it so much it never leaves my hand and I have a sticker with the boat name and my phone number on it 😀

Nope! The fairly slow BP boat was last seen at Marton locks 😀

We are on the Monty and it is so peaceful after the congestion on the Llangollen yesterday! This is what boating should be all about. Wonderful. Yesterday's better noir is coming down today but hopefully out paths won't cross. It's a share boat apparently.

Since it appeared to be finished the only boats we have seen there are what appears to be one residential and a few of what looks like narrow boats for sale. A length of towpath has been pathed with water and electrics

I knew about the plans for Park Farm but hoped they would not start till Orchard marina is operational. We are probably being selfish as all we need is somewhere safe to leave the boat or car. It is a bonus having water and electricity on the pontoon. The fact that the price hasn't gone up since we moved there makes it perfect for us 😀

Hopefully we'll be on the Monty when they pass. Just come through Chirk tunnel and aqueduct preceded by a paddle boarder . He is waiting to precede boats going the other way. Great fun, he said.