[Flags on Boats]

Being an Aussie with a bit of convict blood which means we basically do as we please, we intend to fly our flag on the timeshare boat we will be using in April 08. We will repell you "poms"(I know that is not P.C. but as I stated I am an Aussie) if you try to bourd us.

[Four Counties Ring]

Hi Harley, I make Brewood to Market Drayton 22 miles or 7 hours. On top of that you've got the lock at Wheaton Aston where there could be a queue (it took us 3/4hr last week) and the 5 locks at Tyrley, so that stetch is probably do-able in around 9 hours. There's not that much to see, though you might want to stop a while at Norbury. Personally, I'd stop short of Tyrley and Market Drayton at Goldstone Wharf (bridge 55) as we have been very impressed by the Wharf Tavern.

 

edit: here you are, a couple of pics and pub mention towards the bottom of post#21

We're still relative newcomers, but have done Goldstone Wharf to Nantwich in a day. From our log, Sat. 19/8/06 (rainy), 15 3/4 miles, 27 locks. That's about 5hrs cruising + 5hrs locking, so it's a good day's work, but possible. Would certainly have included a pint or two at the Shroppie Fly at Audlem. If you're in no great hurry, why not break your journey there.

 

As complete novice hirers, we did the ring in 9 days, and were able to detour and mess about for another 4.

No. Sorry, no rules. This April has been glorious and it looks set to continue, but I seem to recall April '06 was pretty foul and Spring was very late.

Thanks, and so do I, and welcome

 

 

Thanks Moley

Using Nicholson"s and canalplan I have come up with an itinirary which goes something like this;

Fradley Junction

 

Great Heywood

 

Penkridge

 

Brewood

 

Market Drayton

 

Nantwich

 

Middlewich

 

Hassall Green

 

Hardings Wood

 

Etruria

 

Stone

 

Rugeley

 

Alrewas

 

That gives us 13 nights so we have a spare night so a recomendation for another stop would be most appreciated.

And for any Aussie's out there in Canal World "Go The Eagles"

[Four Counties Ring]

done the four counties four times in last 3 years.....will be 5 in july.

Always done it in a week......

Keep coming back....

Never get stressed......

And others ive taken have enjoyed it too.

 

Its each too his own, and im guessing as you've been 4x on a nb you dont need telling how much time you should/nt be spending at the tiller.

 

Do a search there is plenty of similar threads.

 

For me id do as follows

 

wheelock

harecastle

tixall

brewood

mk drayton

Audlem

nr middlewhich

 

only a rough guide though

 

i can see a least 3 sub 9 hour days in there..

 

being summer you might get delays at cholmondeston lock

 

 

We are planning to travel the four counties ring in April 2008 starting at Barton Under Needwood. We will be taking our time, two weeks but we are wondering about the section between Brewood and Market Drayton. How comfortable is it to travel that whole section in one day and is there much to see around there that will slow us down. Also between Market Drayton and Nantwich we are planning to do in one day, so have the same queries for that part.

We know the weather can be pretty unpredictable in "pommy land" but can anyone give us an idea what to expect around this time.

 

P.S. love the forum

[Barton on Trent routes]

My wife and I also have a timeshare with Classic Narrowboats @ Barton Under Needwood. In 2004 ( our first year) we traviled up the Trent & Mersy from Barton Under Needwood to Kidsgrove ( far side of Herecastle Tunnel) and back in 7 days.

 

There is a very good farm shop on the other side of the bridge at Great Haywood and the Wedgwood Pottery & Visitor centre at Baraston is not to be missed.

 

The Trent & Mersy pases through some very buitfull contry side as well as some interesting industrial areas.

 

When are you booked in ? We will be returning on the 5th April 2007 if you are about.

Great to hear from you that we will be able to get to Kidsgrove & return in 7 days. We hope to get to Macclesfield and back in 14 days depending on the sightseeing and antique shops along the way. My wife and her brother and sister in-law will be the problem in the antique shops.

We are not booked until 11th of April 2008 so have plenty of time to plan our trip with some help from the correspondents on this forum.

Thanks again for the info and we may be able to catch up in 2008.

Hope the winter over there is not too rugged, currently about 35c and not a cloud in the sky here.

[Barton on Trent routes]

This is my first go at using the forum so I hope I don't stuff up.

My wife (Shelley) and I together with her brother and sister in law have just booked on a timeshare narrowboat thru Classic Narrowboats @ Barton Under Needwood for 2 weeks in April '08. We have had previous experience with Ethos Narrowboats out of Evesham where we met one of your contributors Neil Dudman ( we are the Aussie's he asked about Chester for. P.S. we won't mention the cricket) and his lovely family.

We would like to go to Macclesfield and back and have used canalplan to plan that which tells us that it will take about 12 to 14 days leasurely cruising @ 5 hours a day. Can anyone tell us if that is feasable and also some good pubs and places to see.

Thanks Harley