kawaton

I think the 4 counties would be ideal for you. Ok, you are pretty new to it all but it's not too much, and if needed, you did state you dont mind the odd long day. I wouldn't suggest LLangollen, as its busy at the best of times in the summer, and i expect this year might be even more so. What you could do is head towards hurleston jct, then review your progress. If your feeling confident keep going round the four counties, if not, take a short trip up the llangollen, but dont attempt the whole lot. If you do keep going around the four counties it would be all rural for you upto the midway point (nearly Auth. jct) Then you could either turn around knowing how long it will take you to get back or keep going. As you specified you like rural-ness, i wouldnt suggest heading to Stoke first.

i remember getting caught on the cill of a lock, panicked, and sent the boat forward as fast as i could. this resulted in the rudder being ripped off. Being half way through the hols, and obviously needing to get back to base, a swift trip to the nearest boat yard was called for. i lost 4 hours (needed drydock), and £100. in hindsight, thats bloody quick, and cheap. But i still learned fast. Just take a look at most cills to see i'm not the only one to get caught. (just the only one to act in such an odd way?) You dont really know how your gonna handle it, until it happens. some peoples mistakes are just more costlier than others. and sometimes its not you who pays for it, so remember that when paying fees. and bite your tongue when your boat takes a bit of a bashing from a novice

..or bike.........or boat.....or whatever the motor is in!!

LOL, like it. And involved in serious motor sport? Do his employers know about this? I wouldnt want him entrusted with an expensive car of mine. But serioulsy though. Poor chap, you'd be gutted wouldnt ya!!!

We have had a few incidents over the years. Most commenly its stone throwers. Which upto now has been always been by young kids (10-13 yrs old) That hasnt bothered me too much, as i havent been hit, and they soon run off when i jump onto the towpath with 2 big german shepherds. Its the spitters who really get to me, and nearly always its from older kids (mid teens). However, these incidents have happened only in birmingham, around midday, during school holidays, and in warm weather. Usually i try to avoid built up areas at that kind of time, but birmingham is a big city to get through. I think the best way to manage that situation is an umbrella. Or one of those cover things that goes over the stern............WHAT are they called?....anyone.....anyone? Its a shame having to resort to a cover when its nice weather, but it sure beats having to clean up after being spat on by half dozen little s***s. The police dont care about spitters. It would be nice to treat them like pirates and hang them from bridges to make an example. Or lock them in cages on the towpath so we can chuck moldy vegetables at em'. but despite these experiences it doesnt ruin things, and there are kids playing up everywhere we go in life. To avoid them would mean resorting to hermit status. On a funny note, after we were spat on we passed another boat travelling in the direction of the bridge. I shouted a warning. It was amusing watching 8-9 grown men and women diving for cover inside the boat. Well, i assume they were diving for cover, they could have been going for the baseball bats. Note - Dont be put off birmingham by my comments. i've spent many canal hours there without incident. note 2 - hanging and use of baseball bats are meant in jest. We were young once.

I always plan my routes based on where i would spend my first and last nights. If i was hiring from there i'd go anti-clockwise. There would be a choice of places to spend my first night, but for my last night i could spend it at Tixall wide

Stoke isnt that bad, and as Dor says, there are a few spots to stop. Personally, i'd tend to go straight through, and spend any extra time you may have taking it easy on the nicer stretchs. Usually we moor by the Wedgewood factory if going north. You should easily be able to get through Stoke and then finish just short of the tunnel or even on heartbreak hill. If you do stop at wedgewood factory then moor just short(northbound), dont go as far as the next lock. Both times i was there walking the dogs, there were kids playing on the lock all night. They were friendly enough, (not sure whether thats because im a six foot skinhead with 2 big dogs or not) but they were very noisy and had tried to sabotage the lock Because we have dogs, we dont like to stop in built up area's, so that puts Stoke out of the question for us It looks as though we'll be doin part/all four counties again in July!!! So i'll keep you posted of any irregularities (SP? wheres Maffi)

I take it you'll be voting BNP then. and all the swans can get lost aswell. one of them had built a nest right where i wanted to moor. the nerve of it

Thats the trouble with most people who do dawdle along and dont allow you to pass Jon. When cruising at 1mph, They seem to think "I'm going at a speed I'M happy with, everyone behind me MUST be going to fast. They need to slow down, and relax". Well the truth is, the people behind probably were relaxed. But the constant need to keep dropping to tick over, to avoid getting too close, puts them on edge. Not everyone needs to go that slow to relax. If you choose to, fair enough, but dont force others to do the same. Just move over. And dont assume they are in a rush, just because they are catching up. The basic rule to live by is dont force anyone to do the same as you, just because it makes you happy, Be considerate. I.e Slow down past moored boats, and if a boat is catching you up, move over!!!!

Andy - Must be a breed trait with GSD's i think. Mine hate the water.....unless its being sprayed from a hose!! They always lie down waiting patiently by the locks for the boats to go up or down. Its a good job really, i havent been looking forward to the time when i have to drag a wet 40+kg dog out of the canal

In agreement with John O again on this one. 99% of the time i slow down for moored boats. The 1% equates to the odd occasion where i have been daydreaming. doesnt happen that often, but you can guarentee, when it does, i am apologetic. In saying that, ive been bashed about by speeding boaters many a time, and have never felt the need to rush up to the deck and shout abuse. I also agree with Nigel. (but not necessarily locks) It's so annoying when people pull out right in front of me, then toddle along at 1mph, and im stuck behind them for 3 hours. All the time, they keep turning around to see if im still there. Don't get me wrong, if it was busy, i wouldnt expect them to wait. But when there are no other boats, why do they choose to pull out in front? I like to go at a snails pace on occasion, but not at the expense of others. The canals are for everyone to enjoy in there own (non-destructive) way, and i wish people would stop trying to put rules down to limit other peoples fun.

We have 2 long haired German Shepherds. One black and one white. Can get a bit crowded at times. Never had any trouble with them jumping in. We had an incident with kids spitting in Birmingham over easter. On that occasion i encouraged them to jump off, needless to say the kids didnt hang around. It did get a bit hectic waiting at locks. They like to be on the tow path, and i dont like to let them run loose if there are kids about. So i just tend to hover in the centre of the canal while the lock is being set. They have to stay onboard then.

Still if you enjoy the getting up at 6am every day!? im assuming thats directed at me ive checked both cruise diaries for last year my start times for the first trip when there were 2 of us was as follows sat - 1400 sun - 0610 mon - 0715 tue - 0640 wed - 0745 thur - 0830 fri - 1000 sat - 0815 not exactly 0600 everyday

John sums it upexactly i think. I never had any days of 10 hours solid cruising. we had long days because we get up early to cruise in the morning, then stop for an hour or so for breakfast. Then cruise some more, and stop for lunch.etc etc The idea is to see as much as possible, whilst stopping for a while to take in a bit of the scenery. To be honest, my personal favourite parts of the trip are the shroppie between Brewood and Audlem. Which is the far corner of the ring for you and then might aswell do the whole circuit For the two routes you mention, they both have equal appeal. However, the trent and mersey would mean 2 trips through Stoke, (which isnt the best mooring area). The best pubs, in my limited (personal)opinion, are south of Audlem (Shroppie fly included) on the Shroppie, and south of Stoke on the T&M.

We did the four counties twice last year, both times starting in fradley. and finishing with time to spare. These trips were taken at end may and mid august There were a couple of long days involved and some hard lock work. However, we are early starters and sometimes started at 0600. Whilst we did not do this everyday, it is a good way to gain a few extra hours cruising when its quiet, and in addition the canal is a different place at that time of the morning. Totally quiet, with lots of wildlife. it all depends what you want out of your week. We are not ones for stopping at pubs. We did visit pubs at night, but during the day we prefer to keep cruising. After all, i can visit a pub anytime, but when you are paying hire costs for a boat, and youve waited all year for that one week, it sort of makes sense to use the boat. I would love the luxury of cruising for a few hours a day, but that time will come. At the moment we prefer to see as much of the network as we can. (without rushing-just doing the hours) there are also quite a few flights on this route where you can make up time if using the lock/miles calculation. Heartbreak hill, Audlem, mkt drayton etc Ps we also managed to get a spot on Tixall wide, on BOTH trips.

I went on holiday twice last year, and during our may holiday i was looking out for you, as we were on the four counties ring. I did'nt see you though, and now i know why. The day we went past Gt Haywood, up to stoke, you had turned down the staffs and worcs the previous day, on route to Brewood for your repairs. This year, our first holiday ends 02/04, and our second starts 11/7. So i guess we will miss you again. Will you be using the same boat this year? I hope you enjoy your 2005 trip as much as the last. Although, from a selfish point of view i do hope there are a few dramas. It all adds to the story!!

Wow!! you've just made my day. i've been reading your posts and have been impatiently looking forward to the next. Each day i worry that your next installment would not be there, and id have to wait another day. Im off work today, and am overjoyed to see so much to read. You've given me a great excuse to get out of the housework!! My only concern is that your almost finished!!!! I wish more people would entertain us with their travels. i think i must have read every blog etc that is available...at least twice. I need to take a leaf out of your book. im going on three canal holidays this year, so i'll see if i can get the other half to keep a log (in between cooking, locking, sleeping etc) its a shame to keep all the memories locked up in your head, when others can take some much enjoyment out of them. (Ive been visiting this site for 3 years, and have never posted before. I felt your story deserved my "cherry" THANKS