In the beginning...

About us
We are three members of the older generation that are determined to grow old disgracefully and to this end and thanks to our long suffering wives we are released from domestic bliss to quietly sail away and wreck havoc once or twice a year

It begins with the planning
We had successfully holidayed on several short breaks with a large canal Boat Hire Operator, Last year we elected to go for a full week and that whetted our appetites for more. resulting in the decision to be a little more ambitious in 2012 and embark on a two week cruise. We determined this would take us to uncharted waters (as far as we were concerned)

Next thing is to book the holiday. To our dismay we discovered our loyalty meant nothing to what had been an excellent company with very suitable and well maintained boats and even better staff that knew their job and the importance of the customer and we certainly wanted to go with them once again - alas twas not to be as a look at the on-line pricing indicated the cost for two weeks was exactly double the price of one - This was disappointing and so we looked around and found a company that were pleased to offer a discount for a second week and so the deal was done and our two week Holiday is awaiting

The company that we chose is based in Cheshire at the newly opened OverWater Marina

The company is: Cheshire Cat Narrowboat Holidays

We know the boat will be equipped to a good standard and there's a nice bonus in that fuel is included in the price - Now that's a winning idea, no fuel surcharge - Beginning to like this firm already

This company is new to us and although the name has been around for a while it is under new, or fairly new, management

Where to go
This question has been rather difficult to answer - our initial intention was to consider the Four Counties Ring and combine that with the Cheshire Ring a comfortable undertaking and more relaxed as one meets with the other for a part of the way. More mature thinking has decided that we should start with the Four Counties Ring heading south from Audlem and depending on how we progress we will consider doing an oft neglected waterway, the Caldon Canal. Rumour has it that it's a little gem and we aim to test this. As we return from the furthest reaches of the Caldon we continue on the Trent & Mersey until Kidsgrove at which point we commence the along the anti clockwise route of the Cheshire Ring by joining the Macclesfield Canal - Arriving at Marple the likelihood is that we shall turn right taking the Upper Peak Forest canal to Whaley Bridge and at the same time have a trip to The Navigation Inn at Bugsworth Basin

Returning to Marple the choice is do we continue for the drop into the city of Manchester and beyond or return along the Macclesfield and continue following the Four Counties Ring when we arrive at Kidsgrove. Have to wait and see about that but assuming we do the latter then the next decision is what happens at Middlewich - do we continue along the Trent & Mersey and take it easy or do we turn left and head for Barbridge junction - if we do the latter then arriving at Barbridge means we can head right along the Shroppie towards Chester or do we turn left and then right at Hurleston junction and follow the Llangollen to Wrenbury perhaps - Its all in the air at the moment but we certainly have choices to make and pleasant ones they are as well