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Warwickshire Ring (Combined)
Your opportunity to save a little money with
both the Popular and Bowcam DVDs together in one box at a lower price, and you save on postage too.
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Caldon Canal (Combined)
Your opportunity to save a little money with both the Popular and Bowcam DVDs together in one box at a lower price, and you save on postage too.
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East Midlands (Leicester) Ring DVDs are released
Posted on Monday, 26 March 2012 at 11:25 Comments (0)
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We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series. |  |
No need to keep turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way around the Cheshire Ring as the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for. |  |
The second map on the right shows an extract from the Cruising Map (click to enlarge) |  |
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series. |  |
No need to keep turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way around the Cheshire Ring as the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for. |  |
The second map on the right shows an extract from the Cruising Map (click to enlarge) |  |
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series. |  |
If you are fed up of turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way around the Birmingham Mini Ring then the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for. |  |
The second map on the right shows an extract from the Cruising Map (click to enlarge) |  |
These go well with the Birmingham Mini Ring DVDs |  |
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series. |  |
If you are fed up of turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way around the Black Country Ring then the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for. |  |
The second map on the right shows an extract from the Cruising Map (click to enlarge) |  |
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series. |  |
These go well with our Four Counties RIng DVDs which show a tour aound the ring. |  |
The November 2011 issue of Canal Boat Magazine includes a review of our latest two DVDs. |  |
The second DVD covers the new ring created, combining the Droitwich Canals with the Worcester & Birmingham from Hanbury to Diglis Basins and the Severn through Worcester and on to Hawford. |  |
The Spetember issue of Waterways World includes a review of our Avon Ring DVDs on page 99. |  |
 Another great pair of canal DVDs are released from Waterway Routes covering the Mid Worcestershire Ring, clockwise from Handbury Junction. |  |
 These are 1/2 hour DVDs retailing at £9.95 for the Popular version (rather like a television programme) and £5.95 for the Bowcam version (a speeded up forward facing camera for a little fun). |  |
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series. |  |
These go well with our Stourport Ring DVDs which show a tour around the Ring. |  |
Waterway Routes releases the first of the cruising maps covering the Avon and Droitwich Rings. |  |
 Another great pair of canal DVDs are released from Waterway Routes covering the Avon Ring, clockwise from Stratford upon Avon. | |
 These are 1 hour DVDs retailing at £12.95 for the Popular version (rather like a television programme) and £7.95 for the Bowcam version (a speeded up forward facing camera for a little fun). | |
After a busy week our first set of DVDs for 2011 are nearing completion. The Popular DVDs went to the proof watchers last week and the Bowcam DVDs went this week. | |
 Another great pair of canal DVDs are released from Waterway Routes covering the Warwickshire Ring, clockwise from Braunston Turn. |  |
 The Oxford Canal, with the paired locks at Hillmorton, completes our circuit of the Warwickshire Ring. | |
Our Warwickshire Ring DVDs are ready and we’ll have them on sale at Crick. | |
We always appreciate feedback from our customers and this week it was great to hear of an unusual use for one of our Cheshire Ring Bowcam DVDs. |  |
 Another great pair of canal DVDs are released from Waterway Routes covering the Cheshire Ring. | |
 Our return is along the Macclesfield Canal, descending the Bosley Locks | |
With severe weather warnings issued for heavy rain the prospects weren’t good for today. Sure enough the rain was heavy all night and still heavy this morning.
The forecast is for heavy rain for 4 or 5 days (and probably more) so there was no prospect of continuing our filming by waiting a day or two.
So, on with the waterproofs and off we head back to Sherborne Wharf in the rain and we’ll have to come back again later to complete the filming.
Unlike my last visit to Hatton Locks when there was a shortage of water while the locks were drained for maintenance, there was a surplus this time.
Lots of water flowing over the bywashes which use the former single locks left when the wide locks were installed in a modernisation scheme. Sometimes it just flowed in torrents over the gates as if it was winter rains we’d had.
We’re moored at Kingswood Junction ready to head up the Lapworth flight to reach our home mooring at Sherborne Wharf tomorrow or Monday.
With rain forecast for today we set off from Napton Junction intending to progress as far as we could until rain stopped play.
Much to our surprise it was great weather so we not only made it down all 23 broad locks, to the lowest pound of our journey, but up two locks at the other end.
There’s a 2 lock staircase at Bascote where the bottom lock was leaking so badly I wondered if the boats would get over the cill from the top lock.
Look at the water mark on the walls in the first photo and you’ll see it has gone down 6 inches (15 cm) in the time it has taken the boats to move half way from the top lock.
At Budbrooke Junction we turned very sharp left into the Saltisford Arm. We’ve never been down there before so we weren’t sure what to expect.
It started with a large "Welcome" sign on the bridge, then an arm with boats moored along both sides and a handily placed winding hole.
We received the warmest welcome we’ve received anywhere from the Saltisford Canal Trust who occupy the Arm. They have visitor moorings, a day hire boat, a canal shop an much more.
We winded and moored the boat, visited the supermarket and were all ready for tackling Hatton tomorrow if the weather permits – but the forecast is for heavy rain
We’re moored on the Saltisford Arm aiming for Hatton tomorrow, and possibly Knowle – or staying put if the weather is really awful.
We continued south today, climbing the three paired locks at Hillmorton. The locks were numbered from 2 to 7 which surprised me at first, until I remembered the stop lock at Hawkesbury Junction which must be number 1.
Then onwards again to reach Braunston Turn where we meet the Grand Union Canal from London to join the combined stretch to Napton Junction. Are we travelling South on the Oxford Canal or North on the Grand Union Canal?
There were lots of boats on the combined stretch and I was inside checking the maps to see how far we were going to get today when I glanced out of the front.
Passing us already was Derwent6, crewed by bloggers Del and Al. Not remembers their names on the spur of the moment I stuck my head quickly out of the front of the boat and shouted "Hello, fellow bloggers". Del looked very surprised for a moment but quickly checked the name of our boat and greeted us too.
He grabbed his camera and took a shot of us disappearing in the distance. I did likewise, and was able to retrieve one from our Bowcam showing them approaching.
I hope we get to exchange more than a few words next time we meet.
We’re moored at Napton Junction, hoping to get down most of the broad locks on the Grand Union tomorrow, then up Hatton on Saturday. Any visitors to help with the broad locks will be most welcome to share the work.
There was no blog yesterday as there was no mobile signal worth having – so a double issue today.
Susan joined us at Fazeley Junction where we filled up with water, or at least we put a little into the tank as is was a slow tap with not much flow and we gave up waiting.
We had two attempts to head under the bridge onto the Coventry Canal as a boat appeared the first time we tried.
The first two locks on the Coventry Canal were at Glascote and, like all those on the Coventry, they are quick enough to empty but take ages to fill.
Then on to the 11 locks at Atherstone and it felt like we were waiting all day for them to fill. A brief pause in one of the longer pounds gave us time for shopping and filming in the town.
We eventually stopped a little south of Atherstone for a quiet night, then headed on, passing Hartshill first thing this morning.
With no locks this morning it was comparatively lazy. We just followed the twists and turns of the canal to Hawkesbury Junction, then continued straight on to reach Coventry Basin.
We like to make sure that our DVDs cover the branches so we needed to cruise to Coventry Basin. With the Bowcam DVDs we can’t just cheat and visit Coventry later by car to film the basin separately, but we need to cruise there ourselves.
Then a quick cruise back to Hawkesbury Junction to move onto the Oxford Canal. There’s a stop lock there, where the canals are just a few inches different in levels. Some say this was to stop the later canal stealing water from the earlier one, while others say it was simply a miscalculation and the canals were intended to be at the same level.
We’re moored at Ansty, hoping to pass Braunston tomorrow and be well north on the Grand Union towards Birmingham on Friday.
With Birmingham being built on top of a large hill we’ve been going downhill all day today to escape.
Perry Barr 13, Minworth 3, and 10 of the Curdworth Locks. That’s 26 locks and 17 miles today, with just 2 crew those 43 lock-miles were hard work.
We were filming for the Warwickshire Ring DVD once we had passed Salford Junction so we made the most of the sunshine.
The three Minworth Locks were easy today, then on to the eleven at Curdworth, saving just one of those for tomorrow.
Some of the Curdworth Locks were sporting new red paint on the ground paddles. This clearly shows how far the paddle is up – and when it has been wound fully down.
We’re moored above Curdworth Bottom Lock, hoping to be through Atherstone and near Hartshill tomorrow evening.
We have just released the Stourport Ring DVDs.
Just as for the Birmingham Mini Ring, the Four Counties Ring and the Llangollen Canal there are two DVDs – in Popular and Bowcam format.
The Popular format is a cross between a holiday programme and a documentary with a touch of history – all presented to entertain.
The Bowcam is filmed from a forward facing camera and is edited to provide a continuous high speed view covering all the ring.
Both travel clockwise around the ring from King’s Norton Junction. Birmingham brings the famous Gas Street Basin and Worcester Bar. Farmers Bridge are the first locks – the broad Knowle locks following later. The attractive Kingswood and Lapworth Junctions are followed by the Lapworth locks and three lifting bridges.
There are short extracts onto YouTube so you can see how they look yourself – but please be aware these are low resolution and quality compared to the originals.
Both versions are available Combined in one box.
We have just released the Birmingham Mini Ring DVDs.
Just as for the Four Counties Ring and the Llangollen Canal there are two DVDs – in Popular and Bowcam format.
The Popular format is a cross between a holiday programme and a documentary with a touch of history – all presented to entertain.
The Bowcam is filmed from a forward facing camera and is edited to provide a continuous high speed view covering all the ring.
Both travel clockwise around the ring from King’s Norton Junction. Birmingham brings the famous Gas Street Basin and Worcester Bar. Farmers Bridge are the first locks – the broad Knowle locks following later. The attractive Kingswood and Lapworth Junctions are followed by the Lapworth locks and three lifting bridges.
There are short extracts onto YouTube so you can see how they look yourself – but please be aware these are low resolution and quality compared to the originals.
Both versions are available Combined in one box.
We have just released the Four Counties DVDs.
Just as for the Llangollen Canal there are two DVDs – in Popular and Bowcam format.
The Popular format is a cross between a holiday programme and a documentary with a touch of history all presented to entertain.
The Bowcam is filmed from a forward facing camera and is edited to provide a continuous high speed view of the whole ring.
Both travel anticlockwise around the ring from Autherley Junction. Starting on the Staffs & Worcester Canal, then the Trent & Mersey, the Wardle Canal, the Middlewich Arm and the mainline of the Shropshire Union Canal.
I’ve tried putting short extracts onto YouTube so you can see how they look yourself – but please be aware these are very low resolution and quality compared to the originals.
Both versions are available Combined in one box.
Best Sellers
Warwickshire Ring (Combined)
Your opportunity to save a little money with both the Popular and Bowcam DVDs together in one box at a lower price, and you save on postage too.
find out more
Llangollen Canal (Combined)
Your opportunity to save a little money with both the Popular and Bowcam DVDs together in one box at a lower price, and you save on postage too.
find out more
Warwickshire Ring (Popular)
The highlights of a cruise, like a television
programme, showing the Warwickshire Ring.
find out more
Birmingham Canal Navigations (Combined)
Your opportunity to save a little money with both the Popular and Bowcam DVDs together in one box at a lower price, and you save on postage too.
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