Canal Boat Holiday For Music Lovers

Subject: Canal Boat Holiday For Music Lovers
From: Rivermusic
Date: 10 Apr 16 - 08:24 AM

Due to demand and the enormous interest shown in the boat trip for music lovers I have organised during June, I have been persuaded to organise another trip in September. The itinerary will be the same as for the trip in June, and wherever possible we will host the sessions in the same venues. The original trip was fully booked up within 24 hours of broadcasting the details of it on social media, so if you are interested in coming along with us, get in touch as quickly as possible. Here are the details of this trip which again will comprise of two separate, but contiguous, week long trips.

Week 1 - We will leave the boatyard at Napton, Warwickshire on the lunchtime of Saturday 17th September. We will travel east along the Grand Union, and then north up to the Ashby Canal as far as its navigable terminus at Snarestone. Along the way we will pass Braunston, Rugby, Coventry and Hinckley before returning to Napton. The route is very leisurely encountering aqueducts and tunnels, but only four locks, one of which is only a stop lock, in each direction, on the entire journey. We will return to the boatyard at Napton on Saturday 25th September.

Week 2 - We will leave the boatyard in Napton, Warwickshire during the afternoon of Saturday 25th September. We will travel along the South Oxford Canal in the direction of Oxford. Along the way we will pass many sites of interest and great beauty along the route including Banbury, and we should have limited time to explore the delights of Oxford. We will return to Napton on Saturday 1st October.

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.

The boat has five cabins all accommodating two people in each cabin. However, we will not be using the forward cabin as a sleeping area as this would involve converting the seating area into a bed each evening and then converting it back again each morning. Therefore places are limited to eight people on each trip.

All beds are of the fixed type with sprung mattresses. None of the berths are of the bunk type found on many multiple occupancy boats. Two cabins include a king size bed, there is another cabin with twin single beds that can be combined into a double bed and a further cabin that has twin single beds. Each cabin has a 240V electricity socket and all bed linen is provided.

The boat is fully equipped with regard to safety, and incorporates central heating, which hopefully we will not need to use, electric shower, two fresh water toilets and fully operative galley including cooker, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, sink, pots, pans, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery. The lounge salon has LCD TV and a CD/DVD/Mp3 player. The boat is also equipped with mobile Wifi. However, TV and Wifi reception can be variable depending upon where the boat is at any particular time.

Public liability/third party insurance and a damage waiver for the boat is included in the cost of the cruise. Vehicles are parked at the marina in a secure car park free of charge, but with the usual disclaimers regarding liability. Holiday and personal insurance is at your own discretion.

Total cost including
Boat Hire & Food
17th - 25th September £250 per person
25th September - 1st October £250 per person

First come, first served! The original holiday was booked up within 24 hours of being broadcast on social media. You can contact me by sending me an email to [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday For Music Lovers
From: Rivermusic
Date: 11 Apr 16 - 10:09 PM

Probably because there is a glitch on my Facebook account there are still places available on both of these holidays. Get in touch before it's too late!

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday For Music Lovers
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Apr 16 - 03:30 AM

It's really good to see that your trips are so popular. Keep up the good work. You might be a bit optimistic about not needing the central heating at the end of September but as you've got it, potential participants can look forward to being lovely and cosy no matter what. Should be a fantastic trip. But, as suggested in the song 'Wet Weather Gear' and by innumerable scouts - be prepared.

When holidaying in Britain the climate demands
Appropriate clothing, 'specially on the canals
So when going boating, one thing is clear
If you want to stay dry you'll need wet weather gear

Chorus
Wet weather gear, wet weather gear
Repeat last line of verse, e.g.
If you want to stay dry you'll need wet weather gear

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday For Music Lovers
From: Rivermusic
Date: 12 Apr 16 - 05:39 AM

I do hope GUEST isn't some sort of shaman able to summon up all this bad weather! I do like the verse though, is there any more of it?

VERY IMPORTANT

I've made a stupid mistake on the original listing and put the wrong date in for the end of the first week and the start of the second week. The dates should read 17th - 24th September and 24th September - 1st October.

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday For Music Lovers
From: GUEST,Ian
Date: 12 Apr 16 - 01:44 PM

Wet Weather Gear

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday For Music Lovers
From: Rivermusic
Date: 13 Apr 16 - 11:17 AM

That's brilliant, thank you. I've looked up some of the authors other stuff as well and I like what he's done very much. Might try to learn some of the material to perform on our holiday.

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday For Music Lovers
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 13 Apr 16 - 01:56 PM

I have to admit that the Guests above, with various degrees of anonomity, are me and I'm thrilled to hear that you like some of my songs. They were written in the early years of my retirement and so, clearly, I'm not embarking on a folk singing career. All I have hoped for is that someone, somewhere, might like them so I'm well chuffed and would love them to be sung by others.

Recordings of the songs are on-line but if you'd like a CD Neil (entirely for free) just PM me with your address. By the way the Mudcat name is not my real name which just happens to be the same as a fairly famous folk singer.

Thanks again for your comments.

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday For Music Lovers
From: Rivermusic
Date: 14 Apr 16 - 04:12 AM

Thanks Ian. Message sent.

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday For Music Lovers
From: Rivermusic
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 03:46 AM

Just four places left on the first holiday (17th Sep - 24th Sep) and only two left on the second holiday (24th Sep - 1st Oct)

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday For Music Lovers
From: Wullie
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 05:09 AM

Hi niel I can't make the dates but I would like to say to everyone that I've been on one of your barge trips before and it was one of the best trips I've ever been on

Gail and Billy Martin

Subject: RE: Canal Boat Holiday For Music Lovers
From: Rivermusic
Date: 18 Apr 16 - 10:47 PM

Thanks for that Billy. So kind of you to say so. Now that I'm retired I'm hoping to run a lot more of them next year. I'd like to do a couple on the Leeds Liverpool Canal, a couple on the Forth & Clyde\Union Canals in Scotland, some more in the Midlands centred on Napton and a two week long one around the Avon ring.