We are SO excited to be traveling the canals in England for two wks in May of '06!! It has been 18 months and we are FINALLY able to go back. Our destination from the States is the Birmingham airport, then on to the Daventry area for a B&B. Our narrowboat will be ready about noon on Saturday the 6th and we are off to see the Battle of Bosworth fields and the updated Visitor Centre. We hope to make the town of Coventry and the new Coventry Canal terminus. Our narrowboat base is at the small village of Napton on the South Oxford canal where all this narrowboating, for us, started some twenty-one yrs ago!
I am posting from a position of ignorance but I wonder if you are going to have problems with the canals. I base this on two things 1) a very dry summer last year followed by a dry winter. 2) Last year, admittedly in August time , many canal trips on certain routes were curtaled because they were unable to keep enough water in the system to keep the locks going.
I know the water companies in the UK are thinking of hosepipe bans, and asking permission to take far more water out of the river system. I am hoping this wont have any knock on effect on your trip.
Posts: 833 | Location: Hampshire, UK | Registered: 28 March 2005
Hi Tim--thanks SO much for your inquiry. We will be in the Midlands, the least effected by low water on the canals, so unlikely to have shutdowns. We are not aware that any of the main canals were closed last summer--there are some who experience low water and it takes a bit more time to get through. None of our hireboat companies posted any closures last yr, spring, summer or fall. We will take the Coventry canal into Coventry and that canal can be low, but is still open. Keep an eye out--I will get back to you when our next closures information comes through. Lucille and Orly
Yes - that canal passes through Stroud (just below the Waitrose car park: I'm sure you've seen it, Pauline!). The restoration will take some time - since the canal was decommissioned (some time in the 1950s) there has been a fair bit of infilling and roadbuilding. But it would be good to have it back in operation.
I grew up in Birmingham - reputed to have more miles of canal than Venice. But in the 50s & 60s, the canals were pretty grim, and often inaccessible for the walker. Now, of course, they're an important part of the urban regeneration: all spruced up, with canalside bars & cafes.
We had several narrowboat holidays in the 80s&90s (bofore becoming obsessed with Italy...). Marvellously relaxing for most of the time - puttering along at the legal maximum of 4mph - and then a great flurry of activity when you approach a lock. Must do it again sometime!
Jonathan
Posts: 2941 | Location: Stroud, UK | Registered: 18 November 2001
We have a bunch of trip reports on the website that deal with these types of holidays. I'd never heard of them before reading the reports but added them to our 'some day' list.
It's a British-built narrowboat that travels the Blackstone River in Rhode Island for tours, teas and overnights. If you absolutely can't travel overseas, or are concerned about committing to a month in an enclosed space sight unseen (or if you're just stuck visiting your cousins in Attleboro some weekend), someone out there might consider it.
I must tell you that the drive to the ferry landing might make you turn back, but once you get there, 100 feet from the dock you'll find it impossible to believe you're in the city.
Interesting historical note: When they were talking about having this boat built and brought to RI, they discovered an old law (from 1914?) that declared it illegal for a boat built outside the US to travel navigable waterways inside the US. Good thing someone determined the Blackstone isn't a "navigable waterway".
*fixing link*
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jonathan,
We did this trip last Easter. We collected our boat and went down to Oxford and onto the Thames and back. We loved it, stopping each evening at a country pub and being luuled to sleep by the sounds of the water and wildlife. It is so relaxing. The people at the Napton were very nice as were all the other boaters, boating is a very sociable affair. Enjoy your trip. Our favourite stop for a meal was the Trout at Wolvercote nr Oxford (it featured in many Inspector Morse episodes on TV)lovely food and great setting. It seemed to be a favourite of lots of US visitors when we were there.
Posts: 1222 | Location: UK | Registered: 12 June 2005
I think we will!! Lets plan a day when we can come up to visit you on the canal boat. I would love to see one "close up" plus get to meet you. (When I met your daughter Jan several years ago, we were wearing the exact same shoes - we will have to coordinate so that does not happen. )
If you wear New Balance 606 we might have a problem!! Knowing how well dressed my daughter is, you must be a fashion plate for walking.
Right now I am up to my nose in tax prep for the accountant. Once that is behind us I will be looking for a mobile phone. Then, we will be able to communicate, over there, by phone, for the best possible spot to show off our narrowboat. We are excited!!
We have returned! The canal trip in the Midlands was very good for us. We took a one wk trip and did it in two wks. Truly SlowTrav! Pauline and Steve joined us for a short afternoon. Overcast and then some showers, but for people who do the narrowboat thing, weather is not an issue. When we returned we were happy to find an e-m asking us to help with trip arrangements in August! Found us on SlowTrav! To TimW, we had no water problems.
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