harleyj

I have been a member of this forum since 2006 and have learnt so much from lots of the participants of this forum, it is a great resource. I also watch quite a few vlogs about the canals especially this last twelve months as we could not journey to our boat this year due to family bereavements. These vlogs have given us a lot of joy and in lots of cases great information, especially Narrowboat Experience. They are informative as well as entertaining. Sure they are not everyone's cup of tea but if we all liked the same thing it would be a boring old world. We look forward to all the vloggers that we watch posting their latest vid, it gives us our fix of the canals.

We helped organise a group of four friends, also from W.A., on a four day break from Oxfordshire boats at Lower Heyford. Complete novices, said it was the best part of their holiday. They went to Oxford so that is doable, north is just as good. You will have a ball either way.

We use hard standing for UK winter and save approximately £400 per year as we don't license the boat when out of the water. Other figures are about right.

Sorry I took so long to answer your query, but no we own our own boat. There is a hire company based at Swanley Bridge called Marine Cruisers. Never had any business with them. We have hired from Napton Narrowboats at Autherley Junction and Venetian Hire at Chlomoldsden. Both excellent companies.

As I am 10,000 miles away and have been since Sept '18, I have no idea!

We would like to give a huge wrap for Swanley Bridge Marina. We have used this marina since 2016 for our winter mooring and this year for the whole year as family health issues have precluded us from making our annual sojourn on the cut. From the owners parents, owners ,managers(especially), maintenance contractors, cleaning staff and gardeners the whole team makes us feel incredibly welcome when we arrive. Location wise it is perfect for us as we fly into Manchester airport and it is just a short train ride to Crewe where we hire a car for a couple of days while restocking the boat. Also being so centrally located you can head in so many different directions. The one downside is their wifi is c#@p, such a small thing. Harley & Shelley

Sure was last year when we went passed.

We love them all, that we have cruised, just wished we were there. My favourite is the Rochdale from Sowerby Bridge to the summit, the "boss's" is the Grand Union.

I watched it at lunchtime at Bunbury Senior High School, Western Australia

We travel from Australia every year(sadly not this year)and the first thing we purchase is a pay-as-u-go SIM. You may like to download e-canal maps, I think that's what they are called, which will give you most of the nearby amenities. With you having three weeks you will have plenty of time to do some of the short trips off the ring like up to Chester(simply stunning) and the Caldon Canal. If you don't mind a good walk(about 2 miles) when you get to Wheelock take a stroll to Sandbach. Make sure if you do take that walk visit "The Hall" especially the Ladies facilities, so my wife says. The pictures she took show probably the grandest "facilities" we have seen!

View Street Fish N Chips, Collie, Westernn Australia. Red Emperor & chips, bit of a trek for most of you but well worth it!????

I forgot to mention another bit of advice from this forum was to use OFX to transfer your Australian dollars. Amounts over $10k cost nothing and their exchange rates kick the Aussie banks [email protected]#s.

Hi Ken As others have said we do exactly what you intend to do. I have been a member of this forum from 2006 and while I don't contribute that often I can assure you that when you need advice this is a wonderful resource. We have owned our own boat "Lazy Bee" since 2015 after hiring from 2006 and would thoroughly recommend buying your own boat. Prior to purchasing we asked for some rough costings from the forum members which have proved quite accurate. Currently we moor at Swanley Bridge Marina or more accurately leave her on hard standing there. This saves us approximately 400 pounds per year because we don't pay license while out of the water. Also we fly into Manchester Airport with a half hour train trip to Crewe then 10 to 15 pound taxi ride to the marina. The owners and staff at Swanley Bridge are wonderful and at the moment we have no intention of mooring anywhere else. We also went down the HSBC option with excellent results in the UK, not so at home. I will explain, we were advised by another forum member to use them. We had to open an account in 2015 with there Australian arm, which we did and deposited a $500 which w have since withdrawn $200 of that but the other $300 has disappeared in fees. To open the UK account cost us $200 and about an hour talking to a person from India about why we needed a UK account. That has been one of the best things that we have done since owning "Bee". So easy to use and no fees(24p for a international transaction in Doha) Harley

How sad, it was the last of the Seven Wonders of The Canals for us to do. We probably thought it is equal to the Pontythingy as the most stunning. Even a drive there to see it would be well worth it.

Caen Hill, simply stunning!