Your Floating Hotel on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

News about Reed Boats in 2005.

July.

It seems to have been a very busy couple of months since I was last able to put a newsletter on line and now I am writing this while waiting for a train to arrive!

We were joined by two crew from South Africa in the middle of May and they have settled in well and are quite happy to stay till the end of the season. So at least our crewing problems have now been sorted out. They have both been trained in the hospitality industry and although they had never seen narrow boats until they arrived in this country they have learned well and seem to be enjoying themselves.

We then went up around the Stoke on Trent area. Highlights were the country of the Macclesfield canal, especially moored at the foot of Bosely Locks right out in the wilds. Being able to moor in Bugsworth Basin, open at last after years of work, it really is fascinating place to explore, although it is a bit noisy due to the road alongside. Marple locks, we worked them twice. The Harecastle tunnel. The beauty of the Caldon canal, once you get out of Stoke it really is fascinating, just look at the picture on the right.

However we spent far longer on the Caldon than we intended. We arrived down at Consul Forge on the Bank Holiday Sunday evening and as I checked the bilge's I found loose bolts under the engine. The bolts which held on the gearbox had been damaged last Autumn and had now worked loose. We were stuck there until Thursday lunch time partly due to the Bank Holiday, partly due to Beta's failure to put the replacement part on the van for delivery. Fortunately the guests on board were quite happy to 'play' on the steam railway which ran right past the boat rather than have a partial refund, and to have a taxi back to Stoke at the end.

As a result the next cruise started from Stoke not Stone and we had to work through breakfast and lunch for a couple of days to catch up. So we gave the guests an extra days cruising for their money, and once again they were quite happy with it.

After long-lining down the Severn we spent a few days in Gloucester Docks, see the picture on the left, catching up on days off. This is a fascinating place, there is always something to watch as boats pass through and the dry docks have a ever changing procession of ships.

We then went down to Saul canal festival where we moored with Oak as a trader and Ash reserved for guests who had come with us to the festival. As last year Saul festival was very, very busy but this year nothing occurred to wake us up during the night! We gave out hundreds of leaflets to people who had come aboad Oak to look around and had dozens of requests for a full brochure. We have arranged to go back next year and offer this cruise to guests as those who came with us this year enjoyed it so much.

Before we left Gloucester we made tentative arrangements for winter cruses on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal but it looks as if these will not be able to take place due to an early start on repairs to Llanthony lift bridge. This will stop us getting back there after we finish this year, so at present we are planning on going to Worcester for the winter.

We have now travelled up to Birmingham via Stratford upon Avon, another beautiful route, rivers and canals.. It has been fairly quiet here, we were only set adrift one night and stones dropped on a neighbouring boat on a second night! However we are moored right in the centre of the city.

From Birmingham we will now travel to Braunston, then go down to the Kennett and Avon, via the River Thames. As always if you see us on the way do come over and say hello.

Our Routes for next year should be available in a couple of weeks time. I send copies to everyone who has booked with us and as soon as possible I will put them up on the web site. If you would like a copy sent to you rather than wait for the web site, then e-mail me at martin@reedboats.co.uk and I'll put one in the post for you as soon as they are ready.

Newsletters for 2005
January / February / April /May

Newsletters for 2004

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