Your Floating Hotel on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

News about Reed Boats in 2005.

May.

I am taking the chance to write this newsletter at Dunkfield Junction in Greater Manchester. We arrived here at lunch time and the guests are now exploring the museum at Portland Basin.

When I last wrote I said that we were interviewing crew at Market Drayton. We did, but once again we were let down. However finally I have manager to secure the services of two young men from South Africa. They are trained in the hospitality industry, and training up well in handling of canal boats. I am full of optimism that they will stay till the end of cruising at the end of October. Please keep your fingers crossed for us.

At Norbury we took part in a very popular festival. The line up in the basin included eight historic working boats, still set up to carry. Two ex-working boats converted by full length cabins and us! On the land beside us was a beautifully restored gypsy caravan.

We came away from Norbury with tunnel hocks fitted to the butty and a full set of spliced ropes. I asked one of the ex-working boaters if he would splice a new pair of ansor straps for me, and he said no, but he would teach me to splice them myself. He did! I may not have quite the polished look yet, but we are now independent in our needs for ropes.

From Norbury we traveled around to Great Hayward, then from Great Hayward via Stone and Stoke up to Whalley Bridge. Bugsworth basin is now fully opened so we did our turn around last week there. We are now as close to Manchester as we will get this year, tomorrow heading back up Marple locks to Stoke.

Newsletters for 2005
January / February / April

Newsletters for 2004

If you have any questions then do ring us on 07977 229103
or email us at martin@reedboats.co.uk