Couples? Why not, they'll be double beds after all

So, are you for or against couples coming along?

My opinion? I don't really see a problem with it, the canal boats often have double berths after all.

Purchased: One map

Said Map (via Amazon)


Also, I heard a rumour (from Jons) that Olly has done this trip recently... any chance of having a word... Jons?

Where should we actually do it?

Whilst the first drunken ramblings were about doing the trip through Stratford-upon-Avon, there are a number of routes - I've picked the shortest route I found which is credited to take 68 hours of travelling time to do.

(I have no idea if this includes the time taken by either octogenarian or young agile hands to open the locks, eat, sleep, etc, but I'd guess that it overestimates. The last time I did this, I... erm, let's just say I was a little addled and cannot remember, right?)


Anyway, here's a handy-dandy summary of the two stratford routes:http://woodville-hotel-rugby.com/canals.htm
But seriously, if we are all settled on having a canal boat holiday, we could do other more relaxing routes (i.e. fewer locks to navigate through) I mean the Norfolk Broads are very um, rural, and a bit cheaper.

Just have a poke through the Blake's Boat site for canal boat trips and tell me what you think.

Don't forget, other countries (Ireland, France, Germany...) have waterways to travel through...

What dates are good for you?

Right, I am thinking about the trip happening from the 28th of June til the 4th, leaving the 5th free (a Saturday) in case we fuck up the timings. (The Sunday will give you time to wash properly and get used to being on dry land.)

What do you think? Shift it a week to the left or right? More?

Yes, I'm a procrastinating motherfucker

But at least I've looked up something right?

Here are some cold, hard, shiny facts:

• The trip will work out to £30-£33 per person per day (based on 6 people)
• (~£1250 for the week for a 6->9 man boat) (via Blake's Boats)

So, not bad I think. (Yes, yes, well done. A cheap trip out to somewhere hot is possibly around the same price, but I have a few words for you, my friend - "carbon footprint", "stress", "airport gang rape by officious people in suits" - a jaunt through the English countryside, with all the nail clippers and bottles of drink over 100ml we can carry is looking better and better ;)

• Travelling time for the Severn-Avon ring is said to be 68 hours - that's travelling time, people. 68 hours, or a little under 10 hours a day of moving at the truly awesum top speed of 4mph... if we don't act like drunk, stoned and wired muppets flailing at the 18th century technology of 'locks', that is. As it is, we'd be lucky to make it out the boat yard, but I digress...

If we leave our moorings at 8am, we'll be travelling til 7-9pm every night (pub lunch figured in) - having checked sunrise-sunset times, we should be alright.

Don't forget that the hours of travel is probably an over-estimate; if we travel 'fast', we could hit Stratford-upon-Avon and have a decent amount of time to appear cultured while taking in the sights... or we could hit the pubs hard. Choices, choices...

But, with 6 people on board, each taking turns for a couple of hours to sleep while holding the tiller (driving) and being a lock monkey (walking to the next lock, prepping it for the boat) then most of the time, we can be sunning ourselves on the top of the boat, or recovering from the previous night.

I'm, going to put up a few questions in the next couple of posts, so feel free to write what you will as a comment.