Must see tonight ITV(UK)

[ABBAFAN]

7PM LOCKS AND QUAYS
a 9 part documentary series on englands canals.
The barge i used to work on was on the first series last year on the leeds and liverpool canal.

[bradclark1]

I would love to go on one of those barge vacations.

[ABBAFAN]

its great fun.i spent 2001 and part of 2002 working on a passenger carrying one and we always had a laugh.we would sit on the barge from about 9am and chat or smoke a cigar listening to music befor the passengers arrive.then we'd help them aboard and set off befor lunch for an afternoon of music drink cigars and peaceful canal barging interspersed with stops at traditional canalside pubs and getting fed and more drink on board followed by a mellow trip back and dump the passengers.in the hight of the summer we'd have another batch on board for the evening which was nice.watching the sunset and the drunk female passengers gettin on top of the boat and displaying themselves.sometimes tying up for the night and listening to aplay on the radio and crickets in the dusk,nipping to a pub and coming back to the boat to sleep and setting off next morning.Sometimes the skipper Frank would gun the barge for a bit and then shut down the engine so we'd come in to our berth silently not even disturbing the geese and ducks.most of the passengers were old infirm or mental but occaisonally we had stag or hen parties or weekend trippers.the crew were amusing characters too.

Now im at sea i occaisionally go back and help out on leave.

[Melonfish]

worth noting there chaps there's a world of difference between a barge and a narrowboat. usually about 5-6 feet ;)

i LOVE narrowboats. been round the cheshire ring a couple of times, its the most relaxing, peacefull and beautifull journey you can imagine. it makes for a fantastic holiday.

i would however issue this warning. DO NOT under any circomstances go on a 3 week cruise on a narrowboat then try driving a car on the motorway. it'll look like everyone is doing freaking light speed!

i also found the waterways are incredibly friendly! we always carried spare rope for those holiday makers who like to "cast off" from the bank thus throwing their mooring ropes to shore and only realising they can't tie up 20 miles later ;) there's always someone who'll help no matter what your problem is and everyone shouts "Hello!" and "good morning!" to you. unless they're a fisherman in which case they curse for having to pull in their poles as fast as poss ;)
damn i want spring to arrive now.
pete

[ABBAFAN]

I have just purchased a cheap 2nd hand narrowboat.A 20 yr old 20fter.Some work is to be done on it but in the coming spring i will be off gadding about lancashire yorkshire cheshire shropshire and northamptonshire.Its a tricky boat to handle in the wind but its a nice boat for a first vessel.

[Melonfish]

w00t!
used to have a 20footer in the club called the heart of oak. it was like a floating cellar it was that deep. all steel construction. it weighed more then most boats its size. but it was really nice. there's two floating round the cheshire ring i believe. ex manchester ship canal repair boats. not sure what the other is called though.
pete