Is there a Tugger with UK Narrowboat experience? I have an exchange for three weeks Apr-May2020.
RCI thru Worldmark corporate acctWhat company did you get the exchange with and what did you use? I would love to do this one day,
You can also rent these through the two UK companies that sell fractional ownership of canal / narrowboats.Thanks I have worldmark but have never joined RCI. I might have to think about it.
If you have Worldmark maybe you have a corporate RCI account ??Thanks I have worldmark but have never joined RCI. I might have to think about it.
Yes!! We did it. I think 2012. We exchanged thru RCI. We flew from BWI to London to Manchester. Took the train to Chester then picked up the narrow boat near there. It was just DH and I. We went to Llangollen Wales, stayed there two nights and returned. We picked up groceries at a nearby store and ate most nights at pubs where we tied up.
It was very scenic. People were nice and helpful.
We are campers and RVers. This was similar. However I have no desire to do it again. Because I have better vision than DH I was the one who did all the navigation. Many areas were quite narrow. I needed to be very precise on my navigation and often passed very close to privately owned boats. Also there was no place to sit on the outside of the boat, so it was standing in all kinds of weather. We only had rain one day (July) so we’re lucky.View attachment 25673View attachment 25674
Judy, I’m curious. Were you given a map of specific docking locations for over nights? Are you expected to reach a certain place each afternoon/evening?Yes!! We did it. I think 2012. We exchanged thru RCI. We flew from BWI to London to Manchester. Took the train to Chester then picked up the narrow boat near there. It was just DH and I. We went to Llangollen Wales, stayed there two nights and returned. We picked up groceries at a nearby store and ate most nights at pubs where we tied up.
It was very scenic. People were nice and helpful.
We are campers and RVers. This was similar. However I have no desire to do it again. Because I have better vision than DH I was the one who did all the navigation. Many areas were quite narrow. I needed to be very precise on my navigation and often passed very close to privately owned boats. Also there was no place to sit on the outside of the boat, so it was standing in all kinds of weather. We only had rain one day (July) so we’re lucky.View attachment 25673View attachment 25674
Glynda no map. I knew from research that there were only 2-3 locks on the way and that there were several pubs. When we got to Llangollen I knew there was a marina with hookups for 48 hours. What I didn’t know was that the last mile into Llangollen was one direction only. I was in front of 5 narrow boats pulling in for a limited unknown number of spaces There was one boat coming towards us. All 5 of us couldn’t back up so my DH had to jump onto this guys boat and help him back up, in pouring rain. And when we had to go thru long tunnels and over that very high viaduct, there was no way of knowing if another boat was coming toward us.
People with private boats stayed real clear of our royal blue rentals. They were smart.
At the time I believe I had a navigation map of the canal marking the spots. We would stop about 4 for the day. The only one I stressed about was the marina at the Wales end of the canal. It was during this BIG international music festival so I was even more stressed. But it really rained during the days I was there so I was glad to be docked and it probably kept the crowd down.Yikes! An adventure to look back on that, at the time, must have been a bit stressful. I wondered how one would know where they were allowed to dock and how available those places would be.
I was there in July. Bugs were not an issue. I don’t remember about gasing up. Must not have been an issue. No. I was not guaranteed a place to tie up. We got to each pub about 4 pm. With COVID I do not know how many are still open. It was chilly when it rained. We probably had heat on. Windows didn’t open as I recall. Probably some kind of vent on the top as well as an escape door.
Apparently 3-4 mph, according to visitbritain.com ... one of the reasons I was unsure whether I would enjoy, though for many that would definitely be relaxation.I have a few questions if you don't mind answering.
2. At what speed is the boat going.
Thanks for sharing these - so far I watched the Great Canal Journeys episode, which is also a very touching personal story about this couple.Canal History
Great Canal Journeys, lots of PBS type episodes