Thanks very much for your opinions.The canal doesn't seem too inviting from your comments and at the western end it appears to have big city issues with no moorings available just like London. The only real problem I can see is with the poor state of crt maintenance whilst boating down the K&A your boating into a cul de sac (better half doesn't fancy the Channel) if a major canal repair is required. I made a bad call 2 seasons ago we went down the Rochdale?? so I need a good trip to recover brownie points. Thanks for your help. Will enjoy the Thames.