The cruising season is in full swing.
Our canals remain a haven of England of yester year.
People have time to chat and the schedules of our week are downsized to a former era.
When our trip of 70 miles is planned to be achieved in a week or more....
If we venture onto the bank we marvel at the speed of the traffic!
During those times when we need to stop and wait why not enjoy the novelty of meeting new people and chatting about our love of the canals.

Summer has officially arrived.
With it the prospect of long summer cruising hours and the planning of our main holidays.
The canals offer a respite from our busy frantic lives.
Just cruising at between 2 and 4 miles per hour enables us all to enjoy the beauty of nature.
We can stop and listen to the bird song.
Just notice flora and fauna that eludes us during our normal lives.
The ebb and flow of the day can be appreciated.
The canals give us back our connection with the natural world and helps to calm our minds and sooth our souls.
Enjoy!

What a fantastic start to the summer.

Ownashare joined the three other management companies in running a joint Boat Share Show at Braunston over the weekend of the 12th and 13th of April.

The event was well attended and Ownashare owners and staff greatly enjoyed welcoming prospective owners aboard 4 of our syndicate owned boats during the weekend.

It is always a great pleasure to meet up with our syndicate owners and enjoy some fun and laughter, even during the out of show hours.

April has arrived and the land is fast awakening and the boaters are now out enjoying the spring.

Now is the time to dust off the boating clothes and the walking boots and make a bee line for the nearest towpath.

Even if you are unable to take a boat out the peace and tranquility is still available on the towpath at no charge.

I do hope you have enjoyed the lovely boating program "Grand canal journeys" with Timothy West and Prunella Scales.

This wonderful program was so true to the canal spirit and was a great antidote to the usual TV documentaries.

"Feed the birds tuppence a bag"
It is at this time of year the birds enjoy fat balls, nuts and seeds and although it costs a great deal more than tuppence (two old pennies) it is well worth the expense and effort.

If afloat or on dry land you can be well rewarded for your thoughtfulness with wonderful close up sightings of birds.

If you are uncertain what food to provide try look at http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/

The nights are fast drawing in and cruising hours are restricted. We have been busy preparing our managed boats for their annual preventative maintainance. Several syndicates have already moved marinas ready for their 2014 cruising season and are looking forward to new cruising areas.
Just a gentle re byminder about leaves around the propeller during autumn.

Here we are entering the season of mists and fantastic autumn colours.

As always at this time of year I like to remind us all of the leaf fall effect on propulsion.

If your revs are increasing and the boat speed is decreasing try placing the morse controller in neural and glide for a moment to allow the leaves to fall away from the propeller.

If this does not work try a short burst of reverse thrust.

The main thoughts in October are focused towards the building excitement of "Heartsease" launch.

Autumn is now fast approaching and we are busy preparing for the launch of our new boat.

It is always exciting as we watch the build starting to take shape.

All of the planning and buying of the equipment and inventory is almost complete.

The boat has been painted and the sign writer due soon.

It is at that point that you can see your new boat in all her glory.

We are now taking early bookings to view" Heartsease"

If you think she is your dream boat let me know and I will arrange for you to see her.

August Cuttings
Ownashare staff and the owners that are joining us are really looking forward to our show at the end of August.
With 2 Ownashare managed boats, a hire boat and a corporate hire boat this should be a very interesting event.
We always enjoy the hospitality of the Fradley marine staff and love the buzz of the location.

What a sudden transformation in the weather.
They are promising wall to wall sun shine.

It is in July that we meet with our syndicate representatives and enjoy lunch and a chat.
This is our syndicates and Non executive directors chance to chat to each other.
The Ownashare team always look forward to our owners feedback and we like a chance to discuss our future ideas.

We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all of our owners for your continuing support and encouragement.