Website Visitors from Abroad

Our Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides useful statistics on the operation and use of our website and blog.  I monitor these to ensure the website is working and to look for any changes in usage.  I’m pleased to see how many visit the site from abroad.

There are separate statistics for the main website and for the blog.

While I expected the UK to be top on both charts I hadn’t expected the 12% difference between the two tables.

And why do we have so many more readers of the blog from New Zealand - and less from Australia?

I’m hoping that some of our blog readers from outside the UK will be kind enough to leave me a comment - perhaps saying what attracts you to the blog and the website - or perhaps suggesting improvements or changes

Perhaps you are from a country which doesn’t appear on the lists at all.

My biggest surprise was the neither the United States nor Canada appeared on either list.  I know I dispatch orders for DVDs to both of these countries yet I’ve never dispatched orders to Russia, Moldova, Japan or Poland which do appear on the list.

I don’t expect the statistics to be perfect because there are so many assumptions about where the visitor is from - mostly assuming that the visitor is from the same country as the ISP that has registered the IP (Internet Protocol) address - but they give a useful indication.

So, especially if you’re reading this from outside the UK, please spare a moment to click on the link below and leave me a comment - perhaps just confirm the country and town you are from so I can monitor the statistics.

Which country will leave the most comments?

Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 at 09:11
Comments (1) Category(s): News

Photographed under the bridge

In my earlier post I mentioned that we were spotted on the Stratford on Avon Canal and snapped by several photographers from a local canal and railway historical society.

Michael Thomson, one of their members kindly posted me a copy of one of his photos, showing us passing under Bridge 26.

Thank you Michael.

Posted on Monday, May 26, 2008 at 21:51
Comments (0) Category(s): Stratford on Avon

Bywater’s Hotel Boats - Rose & Karnataka

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Rose & Karnataka, Bywater’s Hotel Boats at Oxford.  They were making finishing touches to the boats before their first guests arrived later that evening.

The bedrooms were all made up ready for the guests and the lounge area on Karnataka was about to receive its finishing touches.

Hanna & John operated Rose (the motored boat) on its own last year.  We filmed them at Hurleston Junction and they appear in our Llangollen Canal DVD.

They have leaflets for the Waterway Routes DVDs on board and can take orders from guests which we will post directly to their home addresses.

This year they have also have Karnataka the (unpowered) butty.  Their first cruise started at Oxford on 8th May and they are already onto their second from Warwick to Nantwich by the time I’ve written this.

Their schedule takes them onto the Llangollen Canal again, before continuing on their journey around the country.

They have lots of bookings for this year, although they still have some spaces, particularly towards the end of the year, so why not check out their 2008 schedule and give them a call (07775 850 098) or send them an email.

Their 2009 schedule is already published and you can book those cruises too.

Don’t they look great in the sunshine with Rose on the outside and Karnataka next to the towpath.

The final few items are still on the bank and waiting to load onto the boats.

Hanna’s father Stephen runs horse drawn holiday cruises on the Montgomery Canal, with more attractions for Bygone Time Breaks and Water Wheels Holidays.

Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 15:13
Comments (0) Category(s): Hotel Boats

I spy Skyy

Heading south along the Worcester and Birmingham Canal we cruised through Wast Hills Tunnel past the Hopwood Arms and towards Alvechurch.

I was woken from my daydream with a call from the towpath asking if I was Paul.

I glanced at the couple on the towpath, who looked a little familiar, desperately wondering where I’d met them before.  I’m hopeless recognising people out of context and standing on a muddy towpath in the middle of nowhere wasn’t much of a clue.

It was Mac and Jacquie from Skyy.

We’d never met before but I’d put a comment on one of their early blogs to wish them well with their cruising adventure.

They’d done well to recognise us and remember my name in time to flag us down.  We just had time to exchange a few words - hopefully we’ll have time for a few more next time we meet.

By then my brain had started working - but too late to take a photo of them - and I assumed that, as they were walking along the towpath, their boat wasn’t far away.

There’s no name on the bows so if we had been cruising by we’d have nearly passed them before realising.  It looks smart with plants on the roof.

Now I wonder why their last three blog posts were at 04:29, 04:30 and 04:36 - it must have been three really good evenings to finish that late - or was it just one a batch of blogging.

Posted on Sunday, May 4, 2008 at 18:48
Comments (0) Category(s): Worcester & Birmingham

Gongoozled

Bridge 26 is a windlass operated lifting bridge and as we approached we could see lots of people walking around.

When we got there we were photographed from all angles and seem to have made their day by arriving at just the right time and working our way through the bridge.

It was a trip by a local canal and railway historical society - if one of them leaves a comment I’ll be happy to give them their correct title and a link to their website.

We continued on to the next bridge where we winded the boat and once again they were their, gongoozling (watching) from the bank.  Once we’d safely winded I grabbed my camera and turned the tables - pleased to see the gongoozlers smiling back at me this time.

I handed out a few business cards and if any of them care to email me a picture or two I’d be happy to add them to the blog and give them credit for the photos.  [Update:  see new blog entry]

Posted on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 21:57
Comments (0) Category(s): Stratford on Avon

I spy Debdale

Heading south from King’s Norton Junction on the Stratford on Avon Canal near bridge 22 I thought I spotted a familiar name heading towards us and grabbed the camera.  I was right.

It was Debdale, although not with Adam onboard, heading northwards.

Sue, on No Problem, had previously reported Debdale near Marston Doles on the Southern Oxford Canal.  Adam had then mentioned this on his blog.

Now it’s our turn (and I don’t mind if Adam pinches these pictures too.)

Perhaps Adam can identify his fellow boaters from the pictures, or from a rota for the boat which is an Ownerships managed shared ownership boat

Adam was intrigued by my earlier escapades and the notion that a blogger who publishes their intended journey through a difficult flight of locks may find me walking along the flight to meet them - read the comments on Sue’s blog.

Posted on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 21:38
Comments (2) Category(s): Stratford on Avon

Moving at Last

Rather later than last year we finally set off on our first cruise of the year.  First the train to Birmingham, then shopping at Tesco for a few days supplies.

After winding the boat, and replacing a used Calor Gas cylinder we were off.

The rain couldn’t decide whether to start or stop, but we hardly got wet in the end as we mostly travelled in the dry.

We passed almost silently through the centre of Birmingham, chatting easily to the passers by and were soon leaving Gas Street Basin behind.

A short journey this afternoon took us to the quiet mooring spot near the University.

When the sun came out it was time to make the most of the opportunity to sand down the paintwork ready to touch it up before we start filming for this year’s DVDs.

Posted on Friday, May 2, 2008 at 21:57
Comments (0) Category(s): Worcester & Birmingham