The answer to the stoppages

I TRUST you will not mind me telling of something more reliable than attempting to cruise our waterways, writes Phillip Bates.

Though we have had weeks' holidays on our waterways in the past, four of us took four weeks during 2001, 2002 and 2003, and were not only stopped every time but the last cruise on the northern waterways was a complete disaster, our being stopped by broken locks and swing bridges to the extend that our month's holiday was three weeks actual cruising, and even then unable to get the boat back to its base.

The cruise before we had a four days stoppage as (unseen!) contractors supposedly worked on a broken cill, we were told, arriving just to clear-up on the Friday, and allowing us through.  With our planned cruise spoilt.

Taking to the Grand Union on the first cruise wasn't too bad with just a couple of delays, but as seen, getting worse as the years went by, so were not risking it this year, but had the answer to the stoppage problems.

We took Eurostar to Paris then a real luxury boat, following Timothy and Pru's cruise on the Canal du Midi.

Four marvellous weeks without  a single stoppage.  And booked to explore more of that wonderful canal next year.