cindyabs

I've got a mule and her name is Sal, 15 years on the Erie Canal..........

elfman

OK but do they have canalside pubs like the one in Coastieexpats photo?

coastieexpat

I think I would enjoy that also.

GeoffM

Good point!

Sue

Second that, went on a couple of those holidays when I was a kid, absolutely loved it.

Gannett

Love narrow-boats. I did a lovely narrow boat holiday about 10 years ago. I went with a university friend and his best mate, whose family owned an old narrowboat - diesel engine, but no electricity, just oil lamps and a big metal wood-burning stove to keep us warm.

We did a 3-day run, from Beeston in Cheshire to Ellesmere Port and back. We stocked the boat up with beer and frozen pizzas, and set off. It was great just cruising along, mooring outside pubs on the way.

One night we moored up in Chester city centre. I woke up and noticed the boat was rocking a bit more than it had been, and we found that some scallywags had undone the mooring at one end of the boat and the boat was sticking out into the middle of the canal!

It was very low-key, low-stress, great company, and plenty of beer. the locks gave us a great workout. I would really love to do it again.

coastieexpat

Same thing happened to our boat in Portland basin. But mostly it was just serene, and I do enjoy the canal culture.

I may have to go back to the UK for a couple of month's, I am considering trying to hire one privately rather than stay with the family, ( after 1 week , I remember why I left Bless them ! ).

There's a canal about 10 minutes walk from my mums, or I could go a couple of miles into the country where there are less people, and cycle into town.

I would love to own a narrowboat, I looked into it but it just doesn't make sense if you live over here.

If I was just renting a boat for a few days or a couple of weeks, I would go with these people. http://www.black-prince.com/

nettlebed

+1 for Black prince.

I used to do at least a week's narrowboating a year back in the UK (when I had 32 days holiday a year!).

Marvelous way to relax. Loved the K&A from Devizes down to Bristol, especially the Caen Flight of 22 locks.

There is a pub just to the West of Devizes on the south side of the K&A called The Barge. Wonderful place.

The other place that is magnificent beyond description is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Llangollen.

GeoffM

And if you go a few miles east of Devizes on the canal you'll get to see what aliens have done - it's crop circle land apparently.

coastieexpat

Built Between 1795 and 1805. by Thomas Telford....

cindyabs

My husband would be creaming his jeans.