Mrs Panda

Exactly what my Hubbie said today as we were walking the dogs in the New Forest, (shorts and t-shirts at the beginning of April) but wishing we were on the boat!!!!! Oh well only 27 days to go and counting!!!! Mrs Panda

I subscribe to Canal boat, have done for about the last 7 years. Which keeps me up to date during the winter months when I am no where near the canals. Need the Fix!!! I look forward every month for it to come through the door, so much so, my husband does not get to see it until I have read it from cover to cover. When I am on the boat, then I will buy the other mags especially if there is an article on the front cover that catches my eye. Mrs Panda

My hubbie says the correct length for any gang plank is one that reaches from the boat to the towpath!!!! Ours is an aluminium ladder with a layer of sheet metal over it and railings!!!!!! very heavy and only used in extreem circumstances!!! when lifting from top of boat, if it has been raining all the water comes running down towards you and gives you a cold shower - not for the faint hearted! Someone in our party thinks it's a gang plank for the QE2. Mrs Panda

We also got stuck a few years ago. The boat we went down with had an experienced crew and persuaded me to rope the boats together. The first few locks we managed brilliantly and I was getting the hang of it. Then we got stuck...... after that we paired up but not tied together. We went through those locks 5 times that season. Mrs Panda

Here are our two. They luv the boat they have so much more freedom than at home. I have made covers for all our furnishings so when we go home all I have to do is take them off and I am not trying to de fur the sofas for when my in laws have it! we also have our own carpet that lays on top of the original one so we can do the same with that!!! less work. Mrs Panda

We have two dogs, Labrador x deerhound. They are nearly 9 now and have been on the boat since 9 months. Our two wear harnesses so that when they fall in they are easy to pull out, as you are not pulling them by the scruff of the neck but by the handle between their shoulder blades which enables you to have full control. They no when it's holidogs when we get the harnesses out!!!!! They have not fallen in many times but when they have it has not caused them any ill affect. They also frequently drink from the canal as they seem to prefer this to the fresh water we put down. Last year one of them actualy fell from a lock gate into an empty lock which gave both myself and my husband heart failure. I was on the lock side at the time and he was in the boat. To cut a very long story short he hauled her out, and when she jumped off the boat she ran straight across the lock gate again!!!!! Also when we moor they seem to know that the length of the boat is their territory and are quite happy just to lay on the tow path watching the world go by. In fact when they are on the boat they very rarely have their leads on! Our vet says that it is the best thing you can do with dogs. So have fun with your dog on the canals I'm sure the dog will. Mrs Panda

Hi Everyone, I'm new and have been reading all the posts and had to reply to this one. We went to LLangollen a few years ago and fell in love with it. In fact we were there the day after the new marina opened and stayed 4 nights, thanks to a friendly BW man. When we got back to out winter moorings after a season in wales we got out hull checked and in some places we were down to 5mm!!! Our hull is newly plated now so we are prepared for the shallow welsh canals. We are going again this year but we will be there the last 2 weeks of August - not the quietest of times. One of my favourite places is walking from llangollen to horseshoe falls it was a boiling hot day and my husband, myself and the 2 dogs had a lovely time walking there and back.