I mean the dog

Thanks - glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for helping my dad land the monster fish he's been catching!

I agree!

I remember our first time...you are in for a treat. The boats are great to handle and have plenty of storage space compared with other boats we've hired so take plenty of warm clothes. You will get wet and muddy...the towpaths are very boggy in places...wellies a must! Would also recommend taking hot water bottles as the overnight temperatures were cold...it is toasty warm when you have the heating on however. We couldn't get any TV signal on most days so either a) went to the pub b) played games or c) took plenty of DVDs to watch. On every canal trip we have made over the last 5 years, we have always found lots of lovely people who were only too happy to help us whilst we were learning. The canal community is a very friendly place. I think this stretch of canal is very special - I love the open scenery, the smell of wood smoke from live-aboard boats, and the colourful boats...check out their names. Final tip - we always but a Pearson's Canal Companion guide for the waterway we are journeying on. They sell them in reception at Silsden for about £10. They are excellent guides, showing all features of the canal together with historic information which is fascinating, and info about where to eat out/shop etc Have a great trip- go slow and enjoy it....this could be the start of a new obsession!