Be Guided

Most people who cruise the Canals today use one of the many guide books available, usually Nicholson's or Pearson's, these are full of colourful maps and local information including boat yards and pubs.

For pleasure boat user's in the Nineteen fifties the choice was more limited, some used an Ordnance Survey "1 inch" map or, for 2 Shillings (10p) you could buy a "British Waterways Inland Cruising Booklet" these were produced by the British Transport Commission which ran the waterways between 1948 and 1962, there were 14 guides covering the system.

Guide to the Oxford Canal.

As the British Transport Commission also ran the Railways the maps drawn for the guides were diagrammatic same as a Railway guide map.

If the Romans had built the canals they may have really looked like this.

All in Black and White.

Look at those 3 digit phone numbers

We have been getting No Direction ready for our planned cruises, I have cured a very small oil leak on the engine and was going to replace the rubber mounting bushes on the Python Drive, but after checking the price with Midland Swindlers Chandlers (£49 +12.90 delivery ) I had another look and decided they were OK, I have also replaced the water pump impeller in the Generator so that we don,t have a problem like we did last year.

Jayne is going through the food storage drawers and making lists ready for a very bit shop.