Pictures of Saros

Since its launch in 1998, Saros has been based in many marinas around the English canal system, and the owners have between them probably covered many thousands of miles of the English and Welsh canals. Here in the very centre of Leeds in October 2006 you can see her still looking great, even after a busy season's boating from our 2006 base at Shire Cruisers in Sowerby Bridge on the Rochdale Canal. From Leeds Basin, a short journey down the R. Aire takes you into another good mooring and from the Armouries Museum (free!) you can get this unusual view of Saros from above.

And if you're not already a committed boater (if you're looking at this you probably are), this picture sums up one of the many joys of narrowboating: waking up to a new view like every morning from your bedroom windows (note Saros' master bedroom is at the front). This particular shot was also taken in October 2006, just a few miles down the Calder & Hebble Navigation from Sowerby Bridge. To emphasise the notes in the layout pages, about the all-weather cruising capabilities, here is Saros in the depths of winter in December 2005 at Bollington on the Macclesfield Canal. It may not show too well in the picture, but the snow on the roof isn't melting, even though it was warm and cosy inside Saros, so the insulation is still working well.

But of course, summer, with its longer days, is very nice for long cruises too, and the insulation works equally well in the summer to keep the boat cool on hot days. The dark outer skin will get almost too hot to touch at times, but the heat doesn't get transmitted through the insulation and pine lining, so the boat remains a comfortable refuge from the sun's excesses. Here is just such a hot day at Newark-on-Trent in 2005. The ability to wind the boat almost anywhere on this big river, makes an interesting change from the narrow canals, but they have a charm of their own, as in this view on the Oxford Canal, in 2004.

While doing the Oxford trip, we also got to Inglesham Roundhouse near Lechlade on the R. Thames, the limit of navigation for boats the size of Saros. This is one of the more southerly places we've been to on Saros, the most northerly being Gargrave on the Leed & Liverpool Canal. The most westerly will be Llangollen and that's another possible destination for 2008, as Saros will be based in Whitchurch on the Llangollen arm of the Shropshire Union Canal for most of 2008.

The most easterly that we've taken Saros, has only been the Grand Union Canal, a bit south of Milton Keynes, but we know that with other owners on board, Saros has been through Northampton and a good way down the R. Nene. So, she gets about a lot! That's another of the nice things that we enjoy about sharing a boat with others: apart from sharing the costs twelve ways, moving Saros to a new location each year, means that we all get to see a great variety of the waterways, including rivers and wide canals, as well as the narrow canals. Saros can (and does) go anywhere!

Here's another, more northerly, picture while on the Bridgewater Canal. This again was late in the year, in November 2002 when we had some appropriate decoration around the name on the side. Note also in this shot, our very effective aerial mast. Although it's a bit worn, having been one of the fixtures and fittings for quite a few years now, it makes all the difference to the quality of the TV reception having the aerial high above the boat. And as of late 2006, we have a good new high-gain aerial as well as a new TV with built-in DVD player. Just what you need for those long autumnal evenings if there isn't a pub nearby, or for keeping bored children happy? While on the subject of entertainment, Saros has a good radio/CD-player, with (new in 2005) speakers in the lounge and master bedroom. And talking of children, we love to have our grand-daughter aboard and feel that Saros is a very safe holiday for her (I personally wouldn't be nearly so happy about a trad or semi-trad design). This picture of her feeding a swan was taken in 2003, when she was just four years old, and we were equally happy when she was only two.

Some other nice features are the crocheted Saros nets in most of the windows. These were lovingly made by Sheila Bate who, with husband Harold, were past owners who cared very much for Saros. You may also have noticed the planters on the roof? In the winter photos they have been trimmed back, but in the summer they add a lovely touch of colour, and need minimal maintenance. Here on the R. Trent, just south of Newark, you can see how they make Saros look much more homely than many shared boats, not to mention hire boats and many private boats. Most private boats in fact, are not nearly so well looked after as Saros, because their owners can usually only spend odd weeks and weekends aboard, whereas Saros is in use (and being cared for) for more than 40 weeks a year. Here on the Erewash Canal, we're sharing a lock with a typical private boat, perfectly well maintained, but left alone on her moorings for most of the year. Saros' flowers, as you can see, make a noticeable difference.

And to finish off with, not a great picture of Saros, but a nice touch of colour during another autumn cruise, this time at Alrewas on the Trent & Mersey.