http://www.great-canal-and-river-holidays.com/Canal-blog.html Love your Canal Holidays? All the latest news you need is right here in this Canal Blog! en-us Canal Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:10:20 GMT Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:10:20 GMT great-canal-and-river-holidays.com http://www.great-canal-and-river-holidays.com/Canal-blog.html#Canals-in-Ontario? Did you know there are canals in Ontario? Nor did I, but Peter Neville Hadley, from the Horizon Writers Group, not only found one, but cruised it! Apparently the Rideau canal, completed in 1832 was the most expensive construction project the British Empire had undertaken in its colonies. Lt. Col. John By of the Royal Engineers arrived in 1826 to supervise construction. After 125 miles of waterway, 47 locks, 52 dams and six years, he had managed a truly Olympic-scale overspend. At roughly $90 million at today's prices, the canal cost almost five times its original budget. Read his interesting story at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/travel/thisweek/stories/DN-rideau_0808tra.State.Edition1.564a81.html And more on Canals and Canal Holidays at: www.great-canal-and-river-holidays.com Wed, 11 Aug 2010 01:49:30 GMT http://www.great-canal-and-river-holidays.com/interestinglinks.html Links ton other interseting sites Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:31:51 GMT http://www.great-canal-and-river-holidays.com/ashbycanal.html The Ashby Canal , beautiful Sat, 03 Jul 2010 01:02:30 GMT http://www.great-canal-and-river-holidays.com/bestcanalboatholidayspots.html If your planning a canal boat holiday, here are the some of the best mooring spots, best villages, and best pubs to visit. Fri, 02 Jul 2010 04:26:11 GMT http://www.great-canal-and-river-holidays.com/FourCountiesRing.html Thinking of Cruising the Four Counties Ring?Find all you need to know here. Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:01:35 GMT http://www.great-canal-and-river-holidays.com/staircase-locks.html Hi Canal folk everywhere. The term staircase locks. I think it means one lock after another? We will be off for our first trip next April, and come accross Wed, 26 May 2010 00:53:26 GMT http://www.great-canal-and-river-holidays.com/Canal-blog.html#Ownerships-Collapse It was with great sadness that we read of the collapse of the Ownerships group. Jen and I were proud members of the group for 3 great years. We had a one twelfth share in the narrow boat Stella, and had some of our best canal journeys with her. We met some great co-owners with whom we still keep in contact. Even sadder, was the news of its founder and owner Allan Mathews. We met Allen several times, and found him and his staff extremely helpful, friendly and efficient. I thought he was a quiet and smart businessman, but as it turned out, the latter was incorrect. The future of the owners in the group is uncertain, but a proposal has been put forward that could see the company re launched. I hope so. For an insight into Allan Mathews and Ownerships, written by one who was there, see http://www.boatshare.co.uk/allenmatthews/index.htm Wed, 26 May 2010 00:46:36 GMT http://www.great-canal-and-river-holidays.com/Questionsandanswers.html Want your questions about canal and narrowboat holidays answered? Here is the place! Thu, 13 May 2010 07:21:45 GMT http://www.great-canal-and-river-holidays.com/Canal-blog.html#All-Paws-on-Deck! All Paws on Deck! As we all know, the dog is an integrall patr of the family, right? With this in mind,quite a few British Boatyards are offering dog friendly holidaysn on selected cruisers and narrowboats. And, for free! What could be better than cruising the canals and rivers with your family, AND dog. All will love it! Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:01:52 GMT http://www.great-canal-and-river-holidays.com/canal-and-narrowboat-books.html There is a great deal of history and tradition belonging to the Canals of the U.K. Luckily for us, quite a bit of it has been recorded in word and picture. Every now and then I come across a book telling of the days gone by, and I cannot resist them! Here are a few of the books I have that are worth getting hold of, if you can. The Number Ones, by Robert J. Wilson Number Ones were owner operators. They actually owned their own boat, and had crews work for them. Some of the well known number ones were Arthur Bray, Joe Skinner, and Charlie Atkins. This little book I picked up at the Canal Museum in London, and give a look at the lives of the Midland Canal owner boatmen. It is well written, and has a host of photographs of the Number Ones, their boats and families. Canal Narrow boats and Barges, written by Tony Conder. This is a Shire Publication, and is an introduction to narrow boats, while also looking at a variety of other canal and river craft. Photos and illustrations, (in colour and black and white) show boats on the inland waterways today and older working boats with the background of industry. The author, Tony Conder, worked at the Stoke Bruerne canal museum, before opening the National Waterways Museum at Gloucestershire. A Canal People, featuring the photographs of Robert Longden, by Sonia Rolt One of the best books on canal boats, and canal folk. I just love the canal history and culture, and this book is just packed with excellent high quality photos of the canal. The photos were taken around Hawkesbury Junction between late 1940 and early 1950. The photographs are of a close community and represent its members in an intimate way, at work, at play, in their domestic affairs, and how they lived on their colorful narrow boats. Sonia Rolt, who worked on the canals, and new the photographer, tells how she came by the pictures, and provides informative captions to the pictures. Highly recommended to all narrow boat enthusiasts. Canals of England, Martin Evans and Robert Reichenfeld This is a lovely picture book, part of the Country Series put out by Phoenix some time ago. Martin and Robert toured the canals, and documented the waterways in all aspects - in all weathers. There are over130 great photographs, and plenty of rich text in the history, people and legends of the canals. This book captures the beauty of the canals from stone bridges in Bath, to the magnificent sweep of the Rochdale Canal. Check availability of these books at: www.Great-Canal-And-River-Holidays.com Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:34:28 GMT