Bernie

After many years still using IE with no problems. I always say 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'

For as long as we have been boating our dogs have always travelled with us. Scampi my now 11 year old Beardie X was rescued from the canal bank at 5 months old and in danger of being sent to a watery grave by his then owner. He loves the boat and just settles down usually on the bed while we cruise. Dylan my BC now 8 is one of those very sensitive dogs and hates it when the boat is moving and would do a runner at each bridge hole if he could, so we have to keep him inside until we stop. They both absolutely love the freedom of the countryside though and are well behaved. If anyone uses James Wellbeloved dogfood at present they are giving away free Safety Blinkers that can be attached to a dogs collar. We have got one each for my two and they are excellent and can be seen in the dark flashing like a beacon for up to a half mile away and are also water resistant.

If you do use Incralac which the manufacturers say lasts up to 5 years, we will be trying it this year, if you have used a brass cleaner do make sure all traces are removed either with meths or white spirit first, otherwise it will not stay smooth and just sort of gel into lumps when being applied.

Richard, If your permanent mooring is to be at Audlem do please look out for an old retired BW boater by the name of Billy Atkins, he is a genuine lovely chap. His father was the famous Chocolate Charlie Atkins. Billy used to live at Wheelock but just over a year ago moved to Audlem into a cottage, he could often be seen with his little Border Terrier Sam and his large Lurcher Lucy, although he must be 80 years old now he was quite fit and sprightly the last time I saw him. There is nothing he doesn't know about boats and boating, but he is rather reserved and it can take awhile to get to really know him.

I'll add to this thread and behave myself this time. According to the route I got from http://www.mihalis.net/canal/cgi-bin/index.cgi it is approximately just over 44 hrs and will take 4 days + 8 hrs cruising at 9 hrs per day which is almost 5 days.

Sounds perfect Alastair, welcome to your new home.

I agree John, and there is also an introductory thread, some seem to use it and some don't. Also where some topics have been repeated they can be merged by a moderator as well as a previous thread being pointed out.

I have to agree with you there Daniel. We were talking to a couple only last year who had hired for over 10 years and had no intention of buying since they had worked out the cost of hiring against their owning their own and using it for maybe 2 or 3 weeks a year. It certainly costs us more to own one than to hire for these short periods each year with the upkeep etc:.

We were 20 years ago a couple of greenies who bought a boat 'straight off' without having tried it by hiring or ever having even had a canoe or rowboat on the canals. I think we did OK took loads of advice and all help offered as we quietly cruised. OK we may have made a few mistakes but we learnt by them. Working locks was daunting, but we went out a few times just to watch and learn how it was done. We spent many an hour on the towpath talking to people and watching the boats learning all the time.

01948 663274 Phone no of Willeymoor lock tavern