The Little Trip Boat - at the Aylesbury Basin

24/02/2024

The Last Post!!

I’m sitting here watching the moon set by the council offices (can’t get a good picture on my phone so have borrowed one!)

This time tomorrow me, Phil and his son Sean will have already set off to cruise to Linslade where the trip boat will be craned out and continue her journey ‘oop norf’

It will be a ten to twelve hour cruise through twenty-eight locks and a very, very long day. (Twenty minutes in a 🚗💨)

I’ve been reflecting on all the happy times with great passengers, and a couple of times when we have had to drag the boat backwards when it broke down at the furthest point… both times with Phil!

All the weather we have had to endure/enjoy and I won’t miss rain trickling down the back of my neck, or sweating buckets in 29 degrees!

I doubt I will step on a narrow boat again as sooth sayers say you you never go back to a place where you were happy, it’s not the same…

Adieu and all the best and thank you for the memories made with all the passengers I have met along the way!

23/01/2024

Ahoy there! 🏴‍☠️

Nothing lasts forever, and it has come to pass for me and my little boat. (If I can get to the end of writing this post without crying, it’ll be a miracle!)

I have found increasingly that for varying reasons it is not viable for me to carry on, and coupled with reaching retirement age, this seems a good time to stop.

My eternal thanks to everyone who partnered me on the trips in all weathers, it’s been great!
The cakes, coffee, chat and giggles will not be forgotten.

To everyone who came on trips, and several more than once, thank you for making me smile when I can hear you laughing, popping Prosecco corks as we go along! You’ve all been lovely, but I won’t miss watching little people lean too far over the bow and nearly giving me a heart attack!! Thank you for giving us slices of birthday cake, and on occasion practically a whole meal!

I tried to find someone to carry it on, but it was too big an ‘ask’, therefore she is sold and will be going ‘oop norf’ to be a day boat. Her name and livery will change and she will leave the basin in the next couple of weeks to be craned out and driven to her new home on a lorry.

I was going to put a pastiche of photos from over the nearly seven years I have been doing this, but in the end, here is Milo being a very good ‘boat dog’.

Cheers and all the best.

Liz

25/12/2023

Me and my little team would like to wish all customers, past and future the greatest of days and the most peaceful of New Years! Hoping to meet more of you next year… weather dependent!! 😉. Cheers! 🥂

21/12/2023

Coooeee!

Love it or loath it Christmas is nearly here and me and my little team would like to wish you the best of times! 🎄

I haven’t advertised in AGES as the canal has been closed for six weeks as the second lock on our route desperately needed the menders in!

So we are open now!!

Our 1.5 hour adventures travel through two locks, turn and return and at the last one we invite you to learn how to do it with us. We have a dressing up box of hats so you can be captain or a pirate! OOOARRR! 🏴‍☠️

You are welcome to bring snacks and drinks and 🥂 is a must for special occasions, or any occasion really!

All this for £75 for up to six people and thereafter £12/adults and £8/children to a maximum of twelve.

Just call me on 07939 331890 for availability and booking or message via this page.

06/12/2023

If you fancy some fresh air and meeting new people!

It's a great way to meet other like-minded volunteers and get to hear about other volunteering opportunities if you fancy getting more involved.

15/11/2023

I haven’t advertised trips of the boaty kind for a while as I was aware that the canal would be closed for several weeks. I took a walk up to Lock 15 with my little white fluffy friend and it is all going on! Had a chat with two of the guys working on it and although things haven’t gone entirely to plan, it will open on 15th December….

So, I am looking at taking bookings from the above date onwards because birthdays and special days happen in the winter too!

Like it or hate it Christmas can be stressful and we can offer the perfect antidote! Being on the water and away from the hurly burly is very calming…

So, our 90 minute trips travel through two locks, turn and return and at the last lock we invite you to join us and learn how to operate one. We also have a dressing up box of pirate and captain hats for fun. You are welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks including 🥂!

All is for £75 for UP TO SIX people and thereafter £12/adults and £8/children to a maximum of twelv

15/10/2023

We had a fantastic trip yesterday, and, yes, it did rain briefly, but we wouldn’t have seen this amazing double rainbow if it hadn’t! Silver linings and all that!

Mini adventures available all year round! 07939 331890 and I’m Liz!

25/08/2023

I am unable to take passengers in wheelchairs, so here is an excellent way to enjoy the waterways!

17/08/2023

Ahoy there! 🏴‍☠️

We, at the trip boat, love what we do. It’s a privilege to offer something different, away from the routine of life and a break in the busyness of it all! We are so lucky to have the canal and basin in the heart of the town and able to offer our mini adventures!

Our 90 minute trips travel through two locks, turn and return and at the last lock we invite you to join us and learn how operate it.

We have a hat dressing up box for wannabe pirates and captains and I can give you a short history of the canals….this one opened in 1815!

You can bring as many snacks and drinks as you like and alcohol is a must for special occasions, well, any occasion!

We also welcome dogs on board, and have a waterbowl.

All is for £75 for UP TO six people and thereafter £12/adults and £8/children to a maximum of twelve. I can only accept bookings in advance of your trip. Please call me, 07939 331890 or message via the page.