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Carry on Cruisin’ |
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CaptainJ |
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Cruisin’ |
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Canal Boating |
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Boating on the Inland Waterways network of the British Isles is a pastime enjoyed by a great many people. The canal system in England was built many years ago for the transportation of freight, but first the railways and subsequently the road system have taken the business away from the canals leaving them available for a wide variety of recreational pursuits.
Narrowboats and cruisers are available for hire from many boatyards and a great number of people of course have their own craft. Some, like myself, have trailable boats which enable us to travel to isolated waterways in many other parts of the country and even further afield.
We have spent several holidays aboard our Wilderness Beaver having ventured across the English Channel aboard P&O & Brittany Ferries with Snapdragon in tow to join other Wilderness boats for leisurely two to four week cruises on many of the French waterways.
Our excursions to France have included cruises in Bretagne on le Canal de Nantes à Brest, le Blavet, le canal d’Ille et Rance et la Vilaine. In Pays de la Loire on la Mayenne, et la Sarthe. In Bourgogne et France Compte we have navigated le Canal de Bourgogne, la Saône, le Doubs et le canal du Rhône au Rhin almost to the Swiss border. This summer (2006) we are returning to complete a circular cruise first enjoyed in 1998 on voies navigables de Bourgogne et les canals du Centre including l’Yonne, le canal du Nivernais, le canal latéral à la Loire, le canal de Braire, le canal du Loing, briefly joining la Seine to return to our starting point on l’Yonne.
All this in addition to extensive cruising on the British canal network. From Birmingham, to Liverpool, From Milton Keynes to Bath, plus visits to restoration projects on the Wilts. and Berks. Canal, The Ashby Canal in Leicestershire and the Crumlin arm of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal at Cwmcarn in Wales, "The Forth & Clyde and Union Canals" in Scotland and many others besides.
We also spent three wonderful weeks cruising in Ireland on the River Barrow and the Grand Canal in 1999 eventually joining a fleet of small boats to join in the jubilee celebrations on the Royal Canal. This event was a truly magical experience.
For more details of our cruising exploits and those of our friends visit the fine website of the |
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in France |
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& Scotland |
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with friends |
