Zoe

If you decide to come down the Tardebigge flight then make sure that you moor near the Queen's Head - http://www.queens-head-inn.co.uk/ - the food is superb. Make sure you book a table. There are just a few locks you'll have to do the next morning. We did the Stourport Ring a few years ago and went down to Worcester first, the thought being, as others have said, that the river might stop us doing the ring if it were in flood. Then last year we went from Stoke Prior and did a short ring around Birmingham so we did both up the flight and then down again! There are just the two of us (and we are both early 50s) so it was hard work. On the way up we did not quite get all the way up, there are a few stretches where you can moor between locks. On the way down it was really hot and it was completely exhausting, but as a reward we had a wonderful meal at the Queens Head. Also, when picking up our hire boat we always employ the following strategy: Before we go we find out a good pub for meals near to the base. Get there in good time and get a proper meal. If possible we check with the base when the earliest is to collect the boat. When loading the boat we only pack away the essentials (ie food in the fridge), the rest can wait. We get the boat 'tour' and checks and go. We aim to be the first or second boat out. Because we've eaten we can then cruise on a little longer when others are stopping for their evening meal, although the evenings will be 'drawing in' in September. Have a good trip.

My family did the Four Counties in a week three years ago without a problem. We got an earlier start than you were able to, but this was more to do with avoiding the large numbers of boats leaving Black Prince's Etruria boatyard. We were the second boat to leave and it meant we were at the head of the queue when it came to the locks (which are literally just a minute or two along the canal). One thing we do on our pick up days is to have a 'proper meal' out at lunchtime so that we just have something easy to prepare for the evening meal (and a few beers). With a crew of four we also get showers while we are on the move - not generally while going through locks though!! Wheelock and Market Drayton are a couple of our favourite stops. We have been up Heartbreak Hill twice, the best, and worst, was when we started out very early. Best because we could send people ahead to prepare the locks the worst because it poured down the whole time - we made a brief stop at the Golf Club to buy waterproof trousers for our teenage sons! I'm sure you will enjoy the trip. Zoe

Tony, thanks for the recommendations. We'll be sure to try to work some of them into our timetable. Regards Zoë

So we have two weeks booked from Saturday with Black Prince from their new base at Napton, and we intend to do the East Midlands Ring. We've been looking at the Nicholson guide and fairly arbitarily we decided that we should do it anti-clockwise. Is this the right choice? Would navigating the parts on the rivers Trent and Soar be easier in one direction than the other? Nicholson's guide issues some rather bland warnings about flooding and strong weirs on the river sections. Are these actually a problem at this time of the year? I know things could change if there were a few days of heavy rain but otherwise will there be any problems on the rivers? We have been on the Severn when we did the Stourport Ring so we are not complete novices at rivers. I didn't like the Severn but that was more about it being very wide and without a towpath rather than problems with the flow. I've already read here that stopping in Leicester is not advised, so has anyone any suggestions of good places to moor (on the whole route, not just near Leicester) - preferably with a pub with food or restaurant nearby (say within a mile's walk) - this is a holiday and I'm not planning to do much cooking if I can help it! Thanks in advance for any suggestions Zoë

That could have been my family - except that my Dad would not have been seen dead stripping to his swim shorts (not that he had any)! I don't think it rained much actually, the water levels were very low. In 1968 we hired a blue and white fibreglass boat from a company in Silsden. It was called Lady something-or-other - I might even have a photo or two somewhere. It had 2 separate cabins, and you stood in the space between to 'drive'. It had a steering wheel rather than a tiller, and an outboard motor, as far as I remember. Everyone was really friendly and helpful, someone gave us a windlass when I lost ours in a lock. When I look at the route now we must have gone VERY slowly, although I put this down to my Dad wanting to enjoy the hospitality of any likely looking pub (bless him!). Anyway, it was great fun, and now my own family holiday on the canals every year. Zoë

You don't really need a webcam to appreciate Venice. Go to http://www.smith.karoo.net/italy/Eleanor1913.html and see photographs taken when my grandmother visited in 1913. Zoë

Well, I haven't been and information for boaters using the wheel is really hard to find (everyone is far too busy promoting tourist trips, it seems ) but I finally found this on the Alvechurch website: There is no charge for the Falkirk Wheel but it is advisable to book beforehand (01324 619888). Trips operate approximately every half hour from 8.30am to 7pm daily, each 'revolution' taking one narrowboat and the British Waterways trip boat. However, somewhere else it said that the wheel took 8 or more boats - so who knows. Zoë

Last summer we did the Four Counties Ring in a week, from Stoke on Trent. From previous threads on this forum I had thought it might be a rather busy week but the boatyard told us we just needed to be at Market Drayton as our halfway point and if we were, we would be fine. On this basis we planned the whole route on our first night. And we had a great week and didn't feel pushed at all. In fact, the last day we reached our stop with time to spare, and that was after queuing for an hour and half for the Harecastle Tunnel (do allow plenty of time for the tunnel, it can hold you up a bit). We did get an early afternoon start from the yard - we were the second boat out of the yard. We also had a 'proper' lunch before we left so that we could cruise longer on the first evening. We ate out most evenings, I only cooked one full meal for the whole week and we found some lovely pubs and sampled a lot of good beer - for me this is an important part of what makes a holiday relaxing and a proper break. Of course, not everyone wants to or can afford to do this. We are quite an experienced crew of four, with my husband and sons providing the muscle, and usually me doing the driving. But if you have not done this before, then you might want to try a shorter route. The other tip I have is that we always took our showers when the boat was on the move! This is a great time-saver and it also means the supply of hot water shouldn't run out in the evening!! Which ever route you choose, have a really good time! Zoë

Here's a few things for hirers: How to get the best out of the fridge so that it keeps everything cold - turn it up 'high' (that is, very cold) when you are moving and 'low' when you are moored. Before leaving the boatyard check that you have sufficient mooring pins and windlasses (if there are 4 people on the boat having 3 windlasses is much better than 2), and that you have a third rope if you have a longer narrowboat that you can tie on a central point on the boat. Find out a good place to stop on your first night before you start your trip and make sure you have enough daylight to get there comfortably. If you are fussy about sharp kitchen knives and potato peelers take your own! If you are taking young children take colouring books, cassettes or CDs, games and other things to keep them amused if they have to be inside on wet days. Zoë

Well I could try that with my lot too, but I might end up cruising single-handed! I will admit to making the bacon butties...nobody else seems to have quite the 'knack'. Or so they tell me.... Zoë

(selective quoting, I know, but all the newspapers do it, so I can too ) Paul are you the guy who told me I should be cooking the tea at Tyrley Locks last summer? I hope not. We were queuing at the first lock and my menfolk had gone ahead to assist at the locks. Cook tea? Not if I can help it - we found an excellent Indian restuarant in Market Drayton. And who the heck did he think was about to steer the boat into the lock? Wyeman - let your wife do the driving, then you can have a hearty laugh when she gets it wrong. I've had a few problems 'shooting the rapids' on various canals myself, it would all be so much easier if that darn wet stuff didn't flow downhill so readily, wouldn't it? Zoë

And once you've got your headroom sorted out don't forget the size of your bunk. All three of my menfolk come in at 6ft or taller, my younger son is about 6ft 3ins. In the past we have had problems hiring boats where we have been unable to fold our sons into their bunks at night. One year we had to use the bunk made from the dining room table when we had specifically hired a boat that had enough fixed bunks. We are a little more wised up on what to check now. Sharing a double with a 6 footer is not necesarily much fun either. He has ample room for his legs but in my space!! Good luck with finding a suitable boat. Zoë

My sons, now 18 and 20, have just opted to come with my husband, Nick, and myself on our 6th consecutive canalling holiday. I think they are truly hooked even if it is for different reasons. Beer and good food seem to feature quite a lot. Of course, the lure of someone else paying will always be attractive to students, but they have to work hard at being 'on holiday'. Andy and Matt actually stipulate that there have to lots of locks, so Nick and I are saving the 'easy' routes for when they finally decide holiday without Mum and Dad is a better bet. As has been said many times there are all sorts of people on the canals, and watching from afar I have seen many different reactions to Andy and Matt. As knowledgeable, willing and able crew they often help out other boats, but we have found that some people are really rude to them (though they will happily talk to Nick and myself) refusing help, letting them do everything (!) or simply not saying thank you. Other people we have got on really well with, all from chatting to our boys. Jumping between lock gates was mentioned in the original message and Andy and Matt would not dream of doing this - they are probably not fit enough for a start. But we were all horrified to see someone on the boat ahead of us do this. The woman should have known better - we reckon she was in her late 50s!! Her husband placed the bow underneath where she jumped to 'catch' her if she fell, although it struck me she probably have been better off falling into the lock rather than on to the boat. Wolverhampton? I'd rather not have to go there again! What a badly kept, unloved canal. Trying to clear the propeller of weeds and plastic tape while drifting because the shopping trolleys prevent you getting near the bank just ain't fun. We also saw a police car draw up by a mobile sandwich van, we thought they were going to have a tea break until they got out of their car, pulled on bulletproof vests, got their guns from the boot and drove off again....! Happy holidays! Zoë

I've finally taken the plunge and registered so that I can put in my penny's worth. I've been 'lurking' for sometime and enjoy your topics. My geeky son tells me that a lurker is someone who just reads forums rather than participating, I always think it makes me sound like someone rather 'dubious' though. I first went on a canal holiday in 1968 (as a child) and have managed to do some canalling every decade since! Recently this has really taken off with my family and we have been on canal holidays 5 summers running and we are currently planning next summer's trip. Our chosen hire company seems to have become Black Prince. A little pricey but the boats are good. We are going to book a fortnight and as long as we book early we will get the second week half price. We like the layout of the dining/sitting area of the boats we've had from them. They all have a free standing table and chairs. This means I can get enough space to lie on the floor so that I can do my exercises (to ward off my bad back!!). Also, as we like to do different canal routes having different boatyards to choose from is really good. Alvechurch would be our second choice. We went with them one year (2002) as we could get a boat that started on a Monday - the day after the World Cup final! I'm afraid we had a bad experience with Clifton, though this was back in 2000. As well as the most appallingly uncomfortable bunks the boat needed an unexpectedly early pump out. We were on a 2 week cruise so were expecting to have to call at a yard for a pump out at the half way point but we needed one after 4 days! We then had to get another pump out in the second week, and the bloke muttered about how badly the previous pump out had been done! Zoë