great canal journeys on 4

[mlines]

What a neat idea....can I mention to my wyfe that you suggested it ?

I actually thought she was going to murder him, the locksides were crowded with spectators. Everyone in the other boats cringed.

 

[NormanB]

They did make it very appealing didn't they. And they were 'paid' for going on a boating holiday! I don't think he said anything partiularly aweful about his wife though - even though he was a gruff occasionally as we all get on times.... He's no spring checken either - good luck to them....

I was referring to the series rather than any one specific episode.

 

[boatmike]

I too have been entertained by them and at 10 years younger than Pru I am happy that they are still going. The problem is I am setting off down the French canals in June with "crew" who has never done it before, so I think she is a bit apprehensive about getting there without completely smashing up the boat or demolishing someone else's ..... She is 12 years younger than me but apprehensive about all this talk about divorce ditches so I have suggested that she should steer and I will do the rope work. I don't think that suggestion helped either..... With twin screws and a bow thruster on a 33ft boat I am happy that I can manoeuvre successfully but with 400HP to play with I am a little apprehensive about her using big lumps of throttle in locks..... In a previous life I trained my late wife to steer and I did all the heavy rope work. It worked well then so I guess I will just have to be patient....
Never really understood why "skipper" has to be helmsman all the time actually. I think Pru would make a better job of helming that he and perhaps he should have reversed roles years ago......

 

[Jegs]

It is a really interesting TV programme and so in those terms it is a great success, it will certainly have paid their 'pension' for a few years.

It is has also been a bit of 'car crash tv' in the sense of how many times is he going to pile it into the bridge/bank and just how many awful things is he going to say about his wife.

But - it has certainly sparked my interest in the Canal du Midi - I never have been able to muster up enthusiasm for UK canals ( too narrow boats/ too many locks/ insufficient compensation ) but the Midi offers the prospect of more comfortable boats, less locks and you do not have to operate those either,married with the compensation of better weather, good food and good wine, it sounds right up my street for a slow holiday.

Anyone done it - any recommends or warnings?

I've travelled about 60% of the length - eastern section. Preferably do not use your own boat - hire boats with six to eight males 17 to 60 drinking @ ten in the morning & not bothered about using the warps in locks: it's not going far is it?

OTH - late April morning, pegged to the bank, croissants, coffee, juice on aft deck with Golden Orioles singing & occasionally dipping in the water for a drink.

ATB,

John G

 

[oldgit]

Or read all about it here

A nifty read about the travels of a Princess 30 DS over all Europe.
Paris,Berlin,The Channel Isles,The Scilly Isles.The Baltic and down to the other "MED".
All the adventures started and finished at Rochester Cruising Club on the River Medway of course.
.
The crew of the "FELIX" by the way are probably about the same vintage as Pru and Tim.

 

[ds797]

Re: Or read all about it here

Where do you get that book??? Looks interesting but Amazon doesnt have it, and google reveals nothing!

Thanks.

 

[Capt Popeye]

It may not be the most riviting thing on the box at the moment but is welcome relief from the constant drool of dire bake off /caterwauling and howling competitions/watching people with no obvious talent quiz shows and endless and endless derivative detective show prequels....
Nice gentle drift cruising trip.
Having been to Sweden,was not aware they even had such an extensive inland canal system.
Something in the back of my mind is wondering about the cost ?
It looked wonderful.

Humm, agreed, I wrote the details in my 'Bucket List' before the prog had finished playing.

 

[Capt Popeye]

What a neat idea....can I mention to my wyfe that you suggested it ?

Humm, just be very careful, She just might store it somewhere, err, safe from harm for you

 

[oldgit]

Re: Or read all about it here

Where do you get that book??? Looks interesting but Amazon doesnt have it, and google reveals nothing!

Thanks.

H,mm.Has got me wondering. No IBSN number inside.
Got signed copy for my most recent 21`st birthday.
Kathy and Dennis may have published this privately....will find out.
It contains detailed info on every 15 M deep "ecluse" and hidden mooring they encountered and enuff disasters to last most folks a lifetime.
It took three attempts to get to one destination the very least of which involved a plastic sheet and a lift out at Dover.
Also various accounts of trips up The Thames and East coast.
On club cruises everybody tries to stay immediately behind their boat knowing their ability to collect anything capable of going round your props for miles in any direction,

 

[symondo]

I think it's a great bit of TV. If anything is made me think if he can bounce down a set of locks, I should be able to manage it hopefully without bouncing off the sides.

I also like the fact they leave the hiccups in, it shows realism but it still looks so relaxing.

 

[oldgit]

A glass of vin at the end of the day can most certainly smooth most troubled waters .

 

[boatingdave]

And that was another thing we noticed - the amount of alcohol that was consumed was quite interesting although maybe it contributed to the bouncing off the walls? Either way, I like the series. Anything to do with boats or water (and possibly sensible alcohol) interests me ).

A glass of vin at the end of the day can most certainly smooth most troubled waters .