When writing about our canals I try to think of something new to say, but there is nothing new about them; that is their charm. The locks, the bridges, tunnels and aqueducts have changed little in two centuries, apart from nature’s mellowing. There are few better ways of spending a relaxed holiday than exploring our Victorian waterways. There are many companies offering you the use of their comfy boats to wander at leisure where there is nothing new but plenty to discover. The right choice is all important - let me help!
Yesterday’s boatmen never made a fortune on the cut, they carried chocolate from Bournville, beer from Guinness, clay for Wedgewood and coal for London. Canals now carry people and it is folk like you and me who are the cargo of our historic waterways.
To put you in the mood for the timeless atmosphere of the cut, perhaps you would enjoy reading of three completed journeys ... Temple Thurston’s “Flower of Gloucester” first published in 1911 which concerns a horse drawn voyage from Oxford; Tom Rolt’s “Narrow Boat” relates charmingly his experiences thirty years later, and least well known but our best loved, “Maidens Trip” by Emma Smith. It records a narrow boat journey by women who worked narrow boats as part of their war effort. HAPPY READING
TRAVEL THE VICTORIAN WAY
You won’t see Rosie and Arthur Bray but you will see what they saw ....
Delightful bridge holes - living history
rope worn bridge holes, well trodden steps
Enjoy all this with your friends and family ... on the right canal boat you can do exactly as you like, when you like. There is no hurry to go anywhere or do anything! Where you go, what you do, is your choice. You have the freedom to go as you please and act as the impulse takes you .... just let me help you choose the right area, company and boat to use! I am not affiliated to any individual company - with the knowledge of what you want from your holiday I will hopefully ensure you enjoy it to the full. Why is is it that I can help? I ran my own fleet for thirty years, I know the waterways system, the fleet operators, the quality of their boats and how efficiently they will ‘show you the ropes’ so that you feel safe, happy and relaxed. I can link all that is available with your holiday hopes.
Please fill in this form and email it to me and I will advise you on the best place for you start your holiday to fit in with your interests and the make up of your party. It is a given that you will have a wonderful and relaxing time on the waterways, but where to enjoy your special interests is all important. And remember your boat is very personal, not like choosing a faceless hotel room - they are only for sleeping - Your holiday boat is your companion, your home, your magic carpet.
SHARE a canal holiday because it is
S - safe, H - healthy, A - affordable, R - reliable, E - energising
