Canal Boat Holiday With Music

Subject: Canal Boat Holiday With Music
From: Rivermusic
Date: 31 Dec 15 - 07:36 AM

Places are available on two seperate, but contiguous, canal boat holidays in June 2016.

The first will leave the boatyard in Stockton on the lunchtime of Monday 6th June. We will travel east along the Grand Union, and then north up the Coventry Canal and Ashby Canal to its navigable terminus at Snarestone. Along the way we will pass Braunston, Rugby, Coventry and Hinckley before returning to Stockton. The route is very leisurely encountering aqueducts and tunnels, but only six locks on the entire journey. We will return to the boatyard on Sunday 12th June.

The second trip will leave the boatyard in Stockton during the afternoon of Sunday 12th June. We will travel along the Grand Union Canal and then turn south along the Oxford Canal in the direction of Banbury. Along the way we will pass many sites of interest and great beauty along the route to Banbury, and possibly beyond towards Oxford. We will return to Stockton on Sunday 19th June.

Crewing the boat, working locks etc will be optional and always with guidance and, if necessary, instruction from an experienced narrowboat skipper with commercial boating experience. Food for meals, inc full breakfast, lunch and the majority of evening meals is provided for on a communal catering basis.

Each evening the boat will moor up close to a welcoming canalside hostelry where the option to enjoy a delightful session of music and song in a relaxed atmosphere will be available. The venues for the sessions are to be confirmed.

For further details contact
Neil Cardwell 07887 607008
Email [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday With Music
From: Paul Burke
Date: 31 Dec 15 - 08:28 AM

"We will travel east along the Grand Union, and then north up the Coventry Canal and Ashby Canal"

North Oxford surely. The Rose at Willoughby was surprisingly friendly for such a trendy- looking place last summer. Warning - I heard that a planning application has been made to close the Bridge at Napton and build much- needed luxury houses on the site.

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday With Music
From: Mo the caller
Date: 31 Dec 15 - 09:54 AM

"....will leave the boatyard in Stockton on the lunchtime of Monday 6th June. We will travel east along the Grand Union"

Not Stockton on Tees then.
Ah, not Stockton Heath (Warrington).
Stockton Warwickshire
"Stockton's name was first recorded in 1272, the name meaning 'a fenced enclosure'. I suppose that explains why it's common (though I'd only heard of the first 2).

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday With Music
From: Paul Burke
Date: 02 Jan 16 - 09:41 AM

Napton Bridge saved at least for now.

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday With Music
From: Rivermusic
Date: 04 Jan 16 - 03:14 PM

I stand corrected for my omission. Although technically what I said was sort of correct, I did omit that it is of course necessary to travel up the North Oxford Canal in order to get from the Grand Union up to the Coventry Canal before branching off onto the Ashby Canal. However, I did not want to mislead anyone into thinking that this trip was travelling towards the famous City of Dreaming Spires by detailing the name of a canal that included the name Oxford within the narrative! Having renamed the bit of the Oxford Canal that ran from Braunston to Napton as being part of the Grand Union you would have thought it sensible to rename the remaining bit of the Oxford Canal that ran north from Braunston up to Coventry to something more appropriate.

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday With Music
From: Rivermusic
Date: 04 Jan 16 - 07:44 PM

I've just realised I missed the word 'to' out of the narrative. It should have read travel north up TO the Coventry Canal and Ashby Canal!

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday With Music
From: maeve
Date: 04 Jan 16 - 08:10 PM

It sounds like a lot of fun, Rivermusic. Best of luck!

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday With Music
From: My guru always said
Date: 05 Jan 16 - 05:24 AM

Whatever the route this sounds like a fantastic canal holiday! Do we assume that the music depends on who books to come? Or are the hostelry's along the way geared up for sessions or guests?

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday With Music
From: Rivermusic
Date: 05 Jan 16 - 08:19 PM

Predominantly the musical content does depend upon who comes along on the trips, but its great if any other guests come along to join in the fun. Any and every musical genre is encouraged and welcomed. When I have organised canal boat holidays previously we have had a predetermined itinerary. This does have the benefit of facilitating guests to come along and join in the sessions. either actively or passively, more easily than if the venues are not prearranged. However, this does have the drawback of forcing the boat trip itself to be somewhat regimented and inflexible in order to get to the various venues to a timetable. I think for these holidays I will try to mix these two options. The first week will have a fixed itinerary that will be published in advance. The second week will be more ad hoc, but guests who want to come along and join in can always ring or text to find out where we are heading for on any particular night. Hope this helps. Neil

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday With Music
From: My guru always said
Date: 06 Jan 16 - 11:38 AM

Sounds like your planning for the 2 weeks, with the first being more organised, will give crew much music! I wonder which style will work better.

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday With Music
From: Rivermusic
Date: 06 Jan 16 - 03:02 PM

I don't have many strengths, but I'm told that organisational ability is one of my better ones! I'm hoping that both weeks will be organised enabling everyone to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Its just that the topography of the canals on the first week are more amenable to making predictions as to where the boat will be moored overnight without having to bust a gut to get somewhere should there be any hold ups. Enjoyment through music will be a very high priority throughout both trips. That is the whole idea of the thing, ie to combine music and boating for those who enjoy both.