To Bradford and back

Shangri La at Bradford on Avon

Semington to Bradford

After our drydocking at Semington(See this post), as were were already half way there, we thought we would continue on down the Kennet and Avon canal, to Bra…

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Shangri La at Bradford-on-Avon

And off to Dry Dock at Semington

Outward Trip

The trip on Shangri La down to the dry dock was pretty straightforward – 6 locks, 5 swing bridges – Set out at 12.20 on Sunday, and arrived at 17.25

Karen had to do all the hard work – she hadn’t done locks or swing bridges for a while, but she soon got back into it – and…

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Shangri La

Meanwhile - more repairs and improvements

Delays

The Citizenship approval is taking longer than expected, so not moving on just yet. But using the time for repairs and improvements.

Over the past few weeks, I have replaced one of the wheelhouse windows, started cleaning up and painting the engine bay, fitted a brand new oven, and had…

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Shangri La

Shangri La - back to blogging

Shangri La – April 2026 – K and A Canal

I have not posted anything here for ages! Mainly because we have not been going anywhere.

Shangri La, our 58 x 11 ft widebeam barge, has been moored up here on the Foxhangers private moorings since August 2021, while my wife Karen is doing carework …

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Shangri La Drydocking 2023

Shangri La at Semington

Shangri La Drydocking 2023. So in August we made the huge trip from Foxhangers down to Semington to give her a much needed drydocking.

5 Swing Bridges and 6 locks. We set out on the Sunday late morning, and arrived there mid afternoon.

Overnighted aboard, and th…

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Into Dry Dock

On the Midland Waterways

Normally my posts are about trips on our own boat, but recently I did a boat moving trip, mostly on the midland waterways, from Eynsham to Tardebigge. Purpose of the trip was repositioning some hire boats – so a bit of a free holiday.

The 2 boats we moved

The route took us down the Thames, v…

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“There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” … as the Water Rat said to the Mole in “Wind in the Willows”. And how right he was! I hope I can share the pleasures of boating by recording the trips myself and my wife Karen have taken on the journey to actually buying our boat, and now on our very own Dutch Steel Motor Cruiser, Shangri-La 2.

This blog is an online journal of my various boating activities that have happened over the last few years, from the numerous boating holidays we have taken, some interesting work related events and the journey to buying our own boat

Latest Adventures

Barging in France – River Saone – Lyon

Barging in France – River Saone – Lyon

To Chalon-sur-Saone and back - 11th to 17th October 2016 Part 3 - Day trip to Lyon Why then take a train trip to Lyon? It's all to do with planning the next few years on Shangri La. A while back, quite some time before we bought Shangri Lawe did a section of the Canal...

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Barging in France – River Saone – Chalon-sur-Saone

Barging in France – River Saone – Chalon-sur-Saone

To Chalon-sur-Saone and back - 11th to 17th October 2016 Part 2 - On to Chalon-sur-Saone Thursday it rained all day. Fortunately we were heading downstream, and there were no locks to negotiate, so we made good speed and arrived in Chalon-sur-Saone after about 2...

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French Inland Waterways – River Saone

French Inland Waterways – River Saone

River Saone - To Chalon-sur-Saone and back - 11th to 17th October 2016 Part 1 - to Verdun-sur-le-Doubs We really have not done a lot of boating this year, mainly due to my work commitments. And we have usually wintered Shangri La by end of September, as it can start...

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French Waterways – River Saone

French Waterways – River Saone

Last part of the trip - Dole to St Jean-de-Losne It was lovely to have our friends El and Mo an board for the next few days. El got the full lock experience, with 9 locks in one day, down the canalized part of the River Doubs. The weather was great and all locks...

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French Waterways – Canal du Rhone au Rijn

French Waterways – Canal du Rhone au Rijn

Back down to St Jean-de-Losne 20th to 28th August 2016 And so we headed back down the Canal du Rhone au Rijn towards St Jean-de-Losne, 78 kms and 26 locks all over again! We wanted to break the back of the trip to Dole so planned a hard days boating, with a view to...

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French Waterways – Canal du Rhone au Rijn

French Waterways – Canal du Rhone au Rijn

Wednesday 17th to Friday 19th August Besancon Having tied up we made a quick exploratory walk across the town and found the alternative marina. Much better - floating pontoons, with security gate. Next morning we took Shangri La up through the lock and tunnel under...

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French Waterways – Canal du Rhone au Rijn

French Waterways – Canal du Rhone au Rijn

Part 2 - St Vit to Besancon Tuesday 16th August Locks on Canal du Rhone au Rijn We wanted to get to Besancon not too late in the day, so made an early start - or as early as the locks open which on this canal is 08.30 am. It was also a pleasure boating early, before...

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French Waterways – Canal du Rhone au Rijn

French Waterways – Canal du Rhone au Rijn

Part 1 - Dole to St Vit Monday 15 August 2016 The canal du Rhone au Rijn The Canal du Rhone au Rijn, as it's name suggests, connects the Rhine in Germany to the Saone and thus eventually to the Rhone in France. It follows the valley of the Doubs River and is the...

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French Waterways – Canal du Rhone au Rijn – Dole

French Waterways – Canal du Rhone au Rijn – Dole

August 2016 - Time out in Dole We spent three nights and two days in Dole. The first evening we located the tourist office where we got the usual city map, as well as the walking tour. Most French towns have a self guided walking tour marked out on the street by small...

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French Waterways – Canal du Rhone au Rijn

French Waterways – Canal du Rhone au Rijn

Canal du Rhone au Rijn - St Jean-de-Losne to Dole - Friday 12th August Finally, we left St. Jean-de-Losne and on our way. After a leisurely start to the day, we left the H2O marina around 10.00 am. Compared to when I was here a couple of months ago, during the rains,...

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Trips by Date

About Me

My love of boats goes back to my early years when I went on holiday with my parents to Knysna in the Cape. We stayed at a hotel on stilts, and I played in rowing boats and little motor boats on the lagoon.

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