In common with many others, we intend going on a cruise in our retirement, albeit a DIY affair. There will be no dressing for dinner at the Captain's table because she's fairly laid back about that sort of thing.
My intention is to write a travel log but I have no idea if we will have adequate broadband accessibility on a daily basis and indeed whether I shall have anything worth saying. Please paste the link below into www.maps.google.com for our projected route plan, which is subject to change depending on:
The red line is the minimum route and the purple lines are extras which we hope to travel if all is going well. We set off on 16th May and aim to be back at Caen Hill sometime in October, although we have the option to over-winter on the South Oxford Canal if necessary.
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?authuser=0&vps=3&ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&output=kml&msid=200470318429832524739.0004d23cb7cb2483ccb00
With luck our actual route will be updated each evening using the mapping tools on this website.
Visitors are very welcome if we're anywhere near you, as are offers of laundry facilities and battery charging. Obviously we cannot be certain of locations more than a week or so in advance and I will tell you now that 16-18th August is fully booked.
| Date | Blog Title | Location |
| May 16th 2013 | Day of departure..... | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Wiltshire |
| May 17th 2013 | Day 2 - Caen Hill flight plus a few other locks. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Wiltshire |
| May 18th 2013 | Day 3 To Devizes and beyond. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Wiltshire |
| May 19th 2013 | Day 4 to Crofton | Europe » United Kingdom » England » West Midlands |
| May 20th 2013 | Day 5 - and on to the very pleasant Hungerford | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Berkshire |
| May 21st 2013 | Day 6 - staying in Hungerford | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Berkshire |
| May 22nd 2013 | Day 7 - things are looking up. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Berkshire |
| May 23rd 2013 | Day 8 - guess where! | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Berkshire |
| May 24th 2013 | Day 9 - Outskirts of Newbury, home to the first belisha beacons I believe. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Berkshire |
| May 25th 2013 | Day 10 - the Far Side | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Berkshire |
| May 26th 2013 | Day 11 - There be dragons | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Berkshire |
| May 27th 2013 | Day 12 - what happened to the rain? | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Berkshire |
| May 27th 2013 | Day 12 - PS | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Berkshire |
| May 28th 2013 | Day 13 - oh, so THAT'S where the rain went!!! | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Berkshire |
| May 29th 2013 | Day 14 - onto the Thames at Reading | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Berkshire |
| May 30th 2013 | Day 15 - mooring at Goring! | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Berkshire |
| May 31st 2013 | Day 16 - on the Thames at Days Lock | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Berkshire |
| June 1st 2013 | Day 17 - Abingdon and then Sandford Lock | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Oxfordshire |
| June 2nd 2013 | Day 18 - finally at Oxford and back onto the canal network. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Oxfordshire |
| June 3rd 2013 | Day 19 - maintenance and sightseeing | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Oxfordshire |
| June 4th 2013 | Day 20 - as day 19! | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Oxfordshire |
| June 5th 2013 | Day 21 - 3rd day in Oxford | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Oxfordshire |
| June 6th 2013 | Day 22 - to Thrupp | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Oxfordshire |
| June 7th 2013 | Day 23 - to Lower Heyford | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Oxfordshire |
| June 8th 2013 | Day 24 - Aynho | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Northamptonshire |
| June 9th 2013 | Day 25 - to Banbury, and not by cock horse either. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Oxfordshire |
| June 10th 2013 | Day 26 - Banbury, Copredy and Elkington's Bridge | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Oxfordshire |
| June 11th 2013 | Day 27 - Fenny Compton | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| June 12th 2013 | Day 28 - mid Napton flight. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| June 13th 2013 | Day 29 - to bottom of Napton Flight. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| June 14th 2013 | Day 30 - onto the Grand Union and down Stockton Flight | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| June 15th 2013 | Day 31 - to Royal Leamington Spa, home of lawn tennis and host of women's national bowls championships every summer. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| June 16th 2013 | Day 32 - Saltisford Arm, outskirts of Warwick | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| June 17th 2013 | Day 33 - The Hatton Flight, aka The Stairway to Heaven | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| June 19th 2013 | Day 34 - onto the Stratford on Avon canal, joining mid Lapton Flight | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| June 19th 2013 | Day 35 - to Lyons Boatyard on edge of Birmingham suburbs. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| June 20th 2013 | Day 36 - cover me, I'm going in! | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| June 21st 2013 | Day 37 - still in Birmingham. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| June 22nd 2013 | Day 38 - Dudley 2, Netherton Tunnel and Dudley 1 | Europe » United Kingdom » England » West Midlands |
| June 23rd 2013 | Day 39 - lots of locks and a new canal - the Stourbridge. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| June 24th 2013 | Day 40 - onto the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Stourton and up to Wombourne | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| June 25th 2013 | Day 41 - and onto the Shropshire Union. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| June 27th 2013 | Day 42 - to Breward on the Shroppie. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| June 27th 2013 | Day 43 - to Gnosall on a not very interesting day. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| June 28th 2013 | Day 44 - an upgrade on yesterday! | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| June 30th 2013 | Day 45 - to Market Drayton - finally in Shropshire, despite the canal name. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Shropshire |
| July 1st 2013 | Day (46&) 47 - a little bit of comfort for the old bones! | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Shropshire |
| July 2nd 2013 | Day 48 - to Audlem and out of Shropshire. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 3rd 2013 | Day 49 - when did the Shroppie water change from black to brown? | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 4th 2013 | Day 50 - just my dog and me in Nantwich. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 5th 2013 | Day 51 - very warm in Nantwich. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 6th 2013 | Day 52 - now very hot in Nantwich. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 7th 2013 | Day 53 - when Hattie knocked a full mug of tea over the carpet! | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 8th 2013 | Day 54 - onwards towards Beeston Castle | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 9th 2013 | Day 55 - and still sizzling. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 10th 2013 | Day 56 - to Chester | Europe » United Kingdom » England |
| July 11th 2013 | Day 57 - where 'Hollyoaks' is filmed - *yawn* | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 12th 2013 | Day 58 - back to Calveley, still very warm. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 13th 2013 | Day 59 - Middlewich plus another little challenge to overcome. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 14th 2013 | Day 60 - Thank you Middlewich Narrowboats. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 15th 2013 | Day 61 - our sick boat is better, thank you. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 16th 2013 | Day 62 - Northwich, where polythene was invented in 1933, and beyond. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 17th 2013 | Day 63 - the Cathedral of the Waterways aka Anderton Boat Lift. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 18th 2013 | Day 64 - slightly red-faced after an incident in a tunnel but I daresay I'll get over it. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 19th 2013 | Day 65 - and onto the Bridgewater Canal and we moor at Moore! | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 20th 2013 | Day 66 - my first sight of the Manchester Ship Canal. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 21st 2013 | Day 67 - family day in Lymm. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 22nd 2013 | Day 68 - into Sale, Greater Manchester | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater Manchester |
| July 23rd 2013 | Day 69 - to Manchester, once the home of the largest cornflake factory in the world. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater Manchester |
| July 24th 2013 | Day 70 - a long hard slog to outskirts of Hyde. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater Manchester |
| July 25th 2013 | Day 71 - a gentler option than yesterday. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater Manchester |
| July 26th 2013 | Day 72 - to Marple Junction | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater Manchester |
| July 27th 2013 | Day 73 - Upper Peak Forest, the antidote to the Ashton. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Derbyshire |
| July 28th 2013 | Day 74 - back to Marple and onto the Macclesfield Canal. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 29th 2013 | Day 75 - past Macclesfield to Bosley. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 30th 2013 | Day 76 - Bosley Flight and a little local difficulty. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire |
| July 31st 2013 | Day 77 - onto the Trent & Mersey canal again, Harecastle Tunnel to Middleport. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 1st 2013 | Day 78 - onto the Caldon Canal and I'm melting in this heat. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 2nd 2013 | Day 79 - Stockton Brook and beyond on the Caldon Canal | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 3rd 2013 | Day 80 - back to where we started this morning. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 4th 2013 | Day 81 - returning to Engine Lock on the Caldon Canal | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 5th 2013 | Day 82 - disappointment at Etruria. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 6th 2013 | Day 83 - leaving Stoke, home town of Stanley Matthews. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 7th 2013 | Day 84 - into Stone, a busy and compact town, home of Admiral John Jervis. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 8th 2013 | Day 85 - in Stone and watching all the boats go by. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 9th 2013 | Day 86 - and we leave Stone behind, but not very far. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 10th 2013 | Day 87 - and onto the Staffs & Worcs again. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 11th 2013 | Day 88 - to Milford, edge of Cannock Chase, and back to Tixall. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 12th 2013 | Day 89 - the Trent & Mersey, almost to Rugeley. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 13th 2013 | Day 90 - Handacre via Rugeley and Armitage. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 14th 2013 | Day 91 - onto the Coventry Canal at Fradley Junction. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 15th 2013 | Day 92 - Coventry Canal to Whittington | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 18th 2013 | Day 93-95 | Europe » United Kingdom » England |
| August 19th 2013 | Day 96 - to Fazeley Junction, where I'll stay until John returns. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 20th 2013 | Day 97 - at Fazeley, in the sunshine. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 21st 2013 | Day 98 - alive and well, still in Fazeley. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 22nd 2013 | Day 99 - Lichfield, home of David Garrick and Erasmus Darwin. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 23rd 2013 | Day 100 - how did that happen? Plus a change of schedule coming up. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Staffordshire |
| August 25th 2013 | Day 101 - Toni and Stewart arrive and the Alvecote Boat Festival. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| August 25th 2013 | Day 102 - Toni, Stewart and the flies. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| August 26th 2013 | Day 103 - to Atherstone - 100 miles from London, Liverpool and Lincoln. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| August 27th 2013 | Day 104 - history lesson and then southwards past Nuneaton | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| August 28th 2013 | Day 105 - onto the Ashby Canal, home of the strange ducks. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Leicestershire |
| August 29th 2013 | Day 106 - on a battlefield near the Ashby Canal. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Leicestershire |
| August 30th 2013 | Day 107 - slow boat to Coventry. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| August 31st 2013 | Day 108 - Coventry Cathedral | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| September 1st 2013 | Day 109 - onto the North Oxford Canal at Hawkesbury Junction - Sutton Stop. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| September 2nd 2013 | Day 110 - to Brinklow | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| September 3rd 2013 | Day 111 - around Rugby, a surprisingly non-urban experience. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Warwickshire |
| September 4th 2013 | Day 112 - to Braunston in the sunshine. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Northamptonshire |
| September 5th 2013 | Day 113 - back onto the Grand Union canal, heading eastwards. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Northamptonshire |
| September 6th 2013 | Day 114 - through Braunston Tunnel and heading south. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Northamptonshire |
| September 7th 2013 | Day 115 - Weedon - where it all began. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Northamptonshire |
| September 8th 2013 | Day 116 - to Gayton Junction | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Northamptonshire |
| September 9th 2013 | Day 117 - back to Weedon. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Northamptonshire |
| September 10th 2013 | Day 118 - back up most of the locks towards Norton Junction. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Northamptonshire |
| September 11th 2013 | Day 119 - up the Watford flight. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Northamptonshire |
| September 12th 2013 | Day 120 - bats in the tunnel. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Northamptonshire |
| September 13th 2013 | Day 121 - and the sad tale of Matilda. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Northamptonshire |
| September 14th 2013 | Day 122 - back to busy Braunston on our penultimate day. | Europe » United Kingdom » England » Northamptonshire |
