purplehaze

Thats really good news for Pav hope it continues. Julie

The problem we had last year was the fact that Waterscape shows the winding hole we tried to turn in as a 70ft, it wasn't, we got stuck and had a heck of a time getting free. Why I've asked about these two is that we are off on a short break in May heading out from Autherley Junction, last year we reached Kiddeminster ok and managed to turn in an unofficial winding hole but this year we have additonal new crew and want to take it easier So any advice re windng holes along this strectch much appreciated. Julie

Hello everyone After having problems last year, twice, turning the boat, advice and help please, is it ok to turn a 69ft at the winding hole just before the Wolverley Lock on the Staffs and Worcesteshire canal, if not ok to turn after Wolverley Court Lock? Anyone been there done this? Julie

Hi everyone how are you all doing with all this rain? Flood warnings seem to be everywhere are any of you badly affected? Julie

Stewey I will leave comments on the web site. Good idea to ask other forum users but we usually are fine this time we were turning at new places, the last time we were at Kiddiminster we did want to go to Stouport, especially when we do rings, no turning round!! It was just that it to happen twice in one year was a bit much for us, and the second one is def BWs fault as the bank was very overgrown and lots of silt etc. Julie

Stewey I have a look and surprise surprise the winding holes along this stretch (apart from Kidderminster) show no length restrictions! Which as already said we know is not true, I did get the one where we got stuck wrong it was actually by bridge 10 which on the waterscape site clearly shows as a full length winding hole so I am afraid we cannot trust this info either. Which for all of us with big boats is a proverbile pain in the **** Julie

Thanks Stewey I will have a look Julie

Last year we attempted to turn our 69ft boat at Kiddiminster, clearly shown on the map as a winding hole, in reality not able to take a boat of our size, luckily we were able to turn just after the next lock (no winding hole shown but plenty wide enough plus deep enough to safely turn) otherwise we faced going all the way to Stourport not that far but we didn't want to go all that way just to turn round. Then in September we went past Wenbury, we had hoped to do a quick turn in the boatyard but 1 most boatyards don't like you to do this and 2 a boat was in taking on fuel so we decided not to have a go. On the map it showed a winding hole just after bridge 22, well we tried to turn and failed, nearly turned into a bit of a nightmare as at one point we were a bit stuck!! Luckily further on there was a newish marina, not on the map, and we turned there with no problems. My gripe is this why aren't all winding holes big enough for the largest boats ie the 70 footers? To show places where you can turn your boat and you can't is a real issue, especially if places are few and far between, surely BW must ensure that these are dredged properly? Your thoughts Julie

I too can recommend the Cotton Arms at Wenbury, log fires and really good food last time we were there, lamb shanks on creamy mash delicious, would have stopped there this year but needed to turn (we had planned to turn at the boatyard but a boat was in the way!!) Also recommend the curry house in Ellesmere and the Sun Trevor by bridge 41, I would book if it is at the weekend as it was very busy when we were there last September (07). Julie

a couple of years ago on the Four Counties sitting in the front well we came through a bridge and there on the towpath a very young kingfisher with a fish in its beak, not knowing quite what to do with it, needless to say my camera was at the back of the boat!! Typical Julie PS by the way he dropped the fish back into the canal!!

I live in a village with a very very busy High Street, loads of hgv's etc. I very rarely ride my bike on the road as it is very dangerous. So I ride on the path, but always get off my bike if I meet pedestrians. When I spoke to our local beat officer, he said he did the same!!! By the way its not safe on the pavements either earlier this year a tragic accident happened in our village where a cyclist was killed whilst riding on the cycle path. As to cyclists on towpaths some are great, slow right down or give lots of notice they are behind you (lots of bell ringing) whilst others seem to want to mow you down!!! Nothing very different to every aspect of life, some people are considerate, others aren't.

We usually go first full week in September, ok not as cheap as October but longer days plus the weather is usually quite good, often better than August!! Plus the schools are back so no watching children dicing with death in locks and possibly a few less boats about. Mind you I think that those who own boats also avoid school hols so we usually see lots of private boats about. We often go for a short break and plump for a week in May, not half term, and love the contrast with September, baby ducks/swans/lambs etc etc. But go in September and you will see other exciting sights, our best one was a swan, with her partner and 5 cygnets, showing how to take off with very low flying on a long stretch of canal right past our boat, over and over again. Mind you it may just have been her morning workout!! Julie

Boat hols are not cheap but after paying all the extras you are basicaly floating in your own hotel room. What extras you spend are up to you, we tend to eat on board all day and twice in the evening. I would suggest that having a bigger boat and sharing costs works really well, as a group of 6 we hire a boat (Sept) £1268.00 (first week of sept) ends up as £211 per person plus £25 per person for the kitty (for breakfast/lunch/coffee/tea/cakes) so in fact ends up a really affordible holiday. But the whole point is that we are on the canals a place we love to be

Hi All I have been with Kate Boats, Ashby and Stone, all lovely boats, clean, good to handle and friendly boat yards, Black Prince, excellent boats but as they are a franchise boat yards differ. Would also highly recommend Napton, very nice boats and a very friendly reception. With the exception of Black Prince you can usually get away earlier than expected, a real bonus, I usually ring and ask, very nicely what time they could let the boat go or turn up early and say 'we know we are early and plan to find a pub for lunch any recommendations etc quite often we are told that the boat is ready. Best result so far Napton arrived at 12.15, boat usually available 2.30, and then told feel free to go on board now, we were away by 1.30pm, result!!