Canal archive

Many years ago we became friendly with a very good Spanish restauranteur he always maintained that some of the French wineries bought up Spanish wine to bulk up their output. Then it just might have had a smidgen of truth.

Could the stopping of the Viking vessels that claim to have a draught of 1.6, similar to other companies vessels have something to do with the quality or qualifications of their ‘Captains’. I’m not knocking them but experience is acquired and the more you have the more your paid.

I’m pretty sure that cruise companies are really helpful where dietary concerns are expressed apart from a pretty weird wine one I’m no problem but various cruisers I’ve met have had their challenges met successfully with Scenic so I’m sure if you talk to your restaurant/hotel manager your dietary concerns will be met.

Haqdeluxe have you actually cruised with Scenic and if so when and where?

Yeh silly me. There was a TV piece about this cruise, well not so recently but it must be floating (ha ha ) around the ether somewhere DH and I where really impressed. Note must look into adding it to our yearly excursion to Bonny Scotland, not this year as we leave in less than two weeks for our highland sojourn.

As far as I can see he is on board Amadeus Imperial.

What a superb marketing ploy we’ve so far doubled up on two Scenic cruises and hopefully will be doing another next year they also add and change excursions for example the submarine pens are very new so only recently included.

I love Vienna and especially the trams so easy to use.

CPT silly question but are you on the US site or the U.K. site?

In the past when enjoying wine tasting with Scenic if we were interested in following up on a particular wine we would enquire as to the U.K. importers, as we have done on land tours around the world. We’ve discovered many wonderful wines usually only imported by London vintners but no problem although usually just a little expensive.

Fran may I correct you it should be, is, not, can be!

Basically on Scenic if you want something or to do something ask it doesn’t phase them and the crew will do their best to make it happen. On our Bordeaux cruise so many wanted to do one bike event they hired loads of extra bikes locally. Unfortunately some cruisers memories of bike riding was just a tad out of date but it made a very interesting viewing hour.

Scenic includes a trip to Hockenheim absolutely brilliant good little museum with a special bit about Jim Clark, stand on the winners podium, wave the chequered flag, visit the stewards room. It was a free motorbike day when we went and a bit drizzly so ‘interesting’. Our ‘coach driver’ discovered that on the far side of the circuit they were drift racing so we all piled on board and raced, not against other coaches, boo hoo there. Watching the racing and the various cars being prepared made us somewhat late back to the boat but our Captain just complained that he didn’t get to go. Now even us ladies enjoyed that day it was a bit special.

Mix and match, e.g. 3 pairs of trousers/skirts + 3 tops = at least 9 different outfits add a wrap and bingo!

The science of water is a wonderful thing!

Has anyone read ‘Narrow Dog to Indian River’? By Terry Darlington a follow on to his ‘Narrow Dog to Carcassonne’ the dog is their whippet, but it’s a flavour of cruising in the USA.

I’m pretty sure that in any city in the world one has to be alert and watchful. Once on the outskirts of Cape Town (during the Mandela era) a lady who ended up on our Safari (worse luck) was leaving a restaurant after having just paid and was mugged, okay not a nice experience but if she had put her wallet in her purse before exiting and not had her concentration on doing that, such a little thing then maybe she would have been okay. Pity there are no cruising rivers there, it’s a beautiful country.

Fantastic, scorching, we had rain in Cornwall but none where we are in Wiltshire.

Not a surprise at one time it was not mandatory for the French to have car insurance - most didn’t but to watch them park a car was interesting - just shunt it backwards and forwards until it fitted regardless of the front and rear damage.

Thank you so much jazz and jazz brought back so many memories. As CPT said but we were given poppies for each WW cemetery we visited including the Pont du Hoc American where we were allowed to wonder at will to place our poppies which we did for ‘Those only unto God’. I owned from new a 2CV, it was a Dolly, yellow and maroon, so it was nicknamed, rhubarb & custard, the salesman explained that changing gear was ‘just like tromboning’ and as the doors were so close to each other it had ‘central locking’. Faboulous car.

There was an absolutely horrific accident on the Maine before covid caused by the wheelhouse not being retracted low enough, so I for one am more than happy with the restrictions, although I know it’s annoying at the time.

We’ve been warned about Green- Grey Algae especially in our canals it’s very nasty if ingested or it gets into eyes or cuts.

Here you go. Weeeeeed? Those of my age will understand.

It’s only that bargain price because it’s full cost up front, you’d pay full price if it was the usual terms 90 days out pay in full. Oh it’s worth talking to Scenic air staff but where the flights are to and from could be tied up with bargain price.

Try the real Herbs!