Sawley Marina - canal boat

bestyman

Hi,
Just looking for any info or advise about a canal boat we have booked starting at Sawley marina.

Never even been on a canal boat ( or a canal) so any help appreaciated .

Where is the best route from Sawley? ( 3 day hire ) , route with most pubs

Can you BBQ on them or can you BBQ on the bit at the side of the river ?

Can you park anywhere?

Do they have big fridges?

Do you park the boat up then set off walking to the nearest supermarket when needing food and booze?

Any suggestions welcome, we really know nothing ( thats me , wife and in laws)

Thanks

Mark

joe90_jnr

Went on a boat last year for the first time.

You will not get too far in the three days and if you are new, you can normally only go left out of marina - they will take you that way.

Parking is free onsite..
Asda and Tesco a few mile (3?) away - get shopping there. Fridge is a little smaller than your home one.
Yes you can BBQ on footpath - but it may not be liked by passers-by
Lots of pubs located on the map they give you (towards the left)
I took out insurance - good job, involved in colision, nothing to pay thankfully, but if no (extra) insurance would be liable.

Had a great time with friends - stop when you like and do what you like. Supermarket near Burton-on-trent but I expect you would not need it if you go to ASDA at start.

This is a quite, slow experience (don't try to rush it will spoil it) and it took us a couple of days to do this, but it was great experience and would do it again Lots of drinks underway and chatter at the locks :-))
Enjoy!

bestyman

Thanks for the reply,

So would there be anywhere to have a BBQ? Is there like a field at places at the side of the canal?

Whats the direction we head in and name of canal if we turn left ( was gonna google it to find pubs, things to do etc)

One thing thats really puzzling us , when we get half way through the trip how do we turn around? It dosnt look wide enough for a 3 point turn .

) when I wrote park , I meant to park the boat ( moor?)

Cheers

Mark

joe90_jnr

bestyman wrote: »

Thanks for the reply,

So would there be anywhere to have a BBQ? Is there like a field at places at the side of the canal?

Whats the direction we head in and name of canal if we turn left ( was gonna google it to find pubs, things to do etc)

One thing thats really puzzling us , when we get half way through the trip how do we turn around? It dosnt look wide enough for a 3 point turn .

) when I wrote park , I meant to park the boat ( moor?)

Cheers

Mark

The cannal area is based on the Junction with Trent and Mersey Canal - the Trent is the way we went.

You 'turn around' is larger areas, there are a few on the map and so you will have to judge where you can get to - and yes, it is a three point turn! I think we took about 20 - 30 mins to travel a mile - it was great.

You can find information about it here http://www.canaljunction.com/canal/trent_mersey.htm in a week we got to just after Fradley Point.

You may be able to have a BBQ on the area next to the boat, but the pubs are not too expensive <£10 each, and if you have a meal before you leave marina you will fin places around a £5.

You watch a video (most have TV and video onboard) to tell you differnt things, like watering up, speed, passing etc (do watering when ever you can so that if there is a queue you can miss a watering point - also on the map, but you may get away with doing a water fill up just once on your trip). Food will not be a problem - Tea/ Coffee/ wine etc may be needed more often :-))

They recomend that 3 people travel, one to stear and 2 to open a lock - but you may well be able to cope with two people. We saw people on there own who opened, closed and steader through a lock (smart alexs)

Just enjoy and you will - keep a camera as you will see some great shots and also some unusual birds etc.
Enjoy!