Testimonials 2016

Dear Dorenda and Gordon

As first-timers on the waterways, this wonderful experience has given us the bug, and we very much hope it won’t be our last!  The boat itself, and the food, were wonderful – and your service, warmth and company were too. As I am writing this I am sitting out on front deck and we have just seen a beautiful kingfisher – another first we will never forget.

And how could I get this far without yet mentioning the locks! For us helping with the locks was one of the holiday highlights – our girls (aged 9 and 11) were able to help, and no doubt will be something they will take with them too – until the next time!

Thank you so much for everything, I have not relaxed like that in a very long time. You have a very special boat – and Bonnie is adorable!  Until next time, Very best wishes

Jessica, Adrian, Holly and Daisy xx         Easter Monday 28th March 2016

Dear Dorenda and Gordon

We cannot thank you enough for making everything about our stay on Kailani PERFECT.  We have had an amazing time- a truly fantastic experience.

Thank you for your very kind hospitality- especially the gorgeous food (yum) and continuous supply of tea and coffee.

Sailing the Grand Union Canal is an adventure we will always remember especially helping with the locks.

Thank you once again…. Best wishes and until next time…

Vicky and Chris  –    31st March 2016

Our 3 day break was everything hoped it would be.  We thoroughly enjoyed the boat, the company and in fact the whole occasion!

Thank you for your hospitality and superb food – especially the Bread and Butter Pudding.

P.S. Thanks for organising  such good weather as well – That was the icing on the cake

– Peter and Lesley      Wed 6th April 2016 –

Really good to be back on Kailani after the dark days of winter.

As relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable as ever

–     Alan Sanders, Cranbrook, Kent      9 April 2016  –

Linslade to Berkhamsted

What a wonderful trip!  The scenery, food, hospitality, company were excellent and you even managed to provide us with Kingfishers along the route.

Kailani was luxury itself – Thank you Gordon and Dorenda for making us so welcome……….and for keeping the surprise.

– Christine and Andrew Motley, Grimsby   –

Best wishes to both of you and of course Bonnie until we see you again.

Many thanks for the relaxing few days with you, enjoyed every minute!

A special thank you from Honey for all the walkies she had with Bonnie.

All good wishes for the future

–  Ruth, Bill and Honey      April 12 – 17 2016  –

Berkhamsted to Little Venice

We’ve had a really good time.  You think you know Hertfordshire and London well but seeing it from the canal is an eye opener  – quite rural and peaceful.

The food has been excellent throughout and thank you for letting me (Keith) help with the locks.

Never had such comfortable beds in a hotel and certainly not in a boat!

Very best wishes and hope to see you in Ware when you visit.

– Keith and Lindsay, Ware, Herts   –

The London Ring

Thank you for a wonderful few days exploring the waterways of London.

–    Philippa, Peter and Alan (dad)   19th – 23rd April 2016 –

Dorenda and Gordon the Little Venice trip to Ware journey was glorious.  Thank you for your excellent captaining and stories of the locks Gordon.

Dorenda your 5 star cheffing and delicious meals left our mouths watering daily..

We will return to Australia singing your praises.

–  Donna and Jo Eshuys     24-29th April 2016  –

We have had a wonderful time on Kailani – with good company, good food and lovely surroundings. The highlight of our trip from Ware to Kingston was coming through London when even Big Ben struck 10 for us

Thank you, Dorenda and Gordon you looked after us really well.

–  Jacqueline and Mavis   5th May 2016  –

A lovely week cruising the Thames but unfortunately cut short by weather conditions. Dorenda and Gordon made sure that we still had a great time and looked after us wonderfully.  Can’t wait for next year

Gill and Derrick   14.05.2016

Dorenda        Master chef.  Jack of all trades and master of all of them.

Gordon         Master Mariner.  (In favour of restoring flogging for disobedient passengers)

Bonnie            Guard dog and security advisor

Jill                    Part time crew.  Holder of (Holder of the year award 2016)

Derrick           Master Photographer. Expert on big birds

Claire              Master navigator and map reader

Bill                   River gambler and general lay about

Bill and Claire Siddall      14.05.2016

Our 3rd wonderful holiday.

Many thanks for looking after us so well.

David & Janet Yull       25th May 2016

A very restful holiday seeing the Thames as never before.

Lovely host and hostess who took great care of us and fed us well.

Jean & Terry O’Neil     June 12th 2016

Thank you for a very nice five days, should have been longer.  Going home to diet after all the lovely food

Misty says thank you for having her

All the very best

Jean & Misty Ginn      12th June 2016

This was our first holiday on Dorenda and Gordons hotel boat “Kailani” and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  We were on the 6 day Kingston to Kingston trip and although the weather was mixed it didn’t spoil our holiday enjoyment.

We both participated at the locks although Keith did some at the Hanwell flight, we didn’t both participate until the final 3 locks into Limehouse basin.

Dorenda produced some lovely meals throughout. Bonny is a very friendly dog. We were amazed at the changing scenary we encountered on the Thames /GUC/Thames and the variety of birds.

Thank you Dorenda and Gordon for a lovely trip and we’ll see you next year on a different river/canal route.

Janet & Keith Burston      13 – 19th June 2016

A wonderful week —————  just as before——————-

Exceptional in the words of the song————It’s Delightful, It’s Delicious ————-It’s De lovely.

Will definately come again.

Margaret & Bryan Whittle    Selsey, W.Sussex     18.06.2016

Dear Dorenda and Gordon

This was our first experience of a hotel boat cruise and the three night trip from Caversham to Windsor far exceeded our expectations. We have been so well looked after, we can only “Ditto” all the previous guests comments.  Nothing was too much trouble. Gordon even getting us close to Windsor Castle for those Kodak moments.

All of our meals have been fabulous, it has just been a fantastic experience and we will certainly be making another booking.

Don’t want to leave tomorrow!!

Rob & Jan Shadbolt  (Longport Somerset)  and Nick & Marilyn Kennedy (Radley, Abingdon)                                                              29th June 2016

6th July at Newbury, it’s been a wonderful experience since leaving Windsor.

Our sincere compliments to Gordon and Dorenda for their absolute professionalism  and skill in looking after us and introducing us to the river and cruise experience.

We shall remember our time on Kailani with great affection.

Sincerely                                   Peter and Irene Hamling   Auckland, New Zealand

Thank you for a delightful holiday

See you again next year

Cyril and Olive Bolster      6th July 2016

Newbury to Devizes

A superb holiday in all respects with everything taken care of.  We have so much enjoyed it.

The cooking especially was so original and flavoursome.  So much to see on the canals too.

Nancy & Barry Willington  Wantage, Oxon  8th – 13th July 2016

Congratulations to you both for another fantastic canal experience.  From the very warm welcome to the excellent pampering, to the wonderful food and service.

We have had a brilliant week and are already looking forward to our next trip.

Thank you both for all your hard work and for giving us another week to remember!

Big pats to Bonnie for being so good!

THANK YOU

Tony & Dawn     21st July 2016

Thank you very much, Gordon and Dorenda, for giving us such an enjoyable week aboard your lovely boat.

We were very comfortable, the company was most pleasant and the food the best we’ve ever had anywhere.

Our final evening was great fun – Thanks to you and we look forward to seeing you again in the spring.

Billie & Gerald Gold  ( “The Two Cans”)   21st July 2016

Last morning of our cruise so sad to be leaving, had an excellent 7 nights on .board.  What can I say about Gordon and Dorenda they make you very welcome, lovely food and Kailani what an excellent boat to be cruising in.  Bonnie is so good you don’t even know she is there.

Look forward to cruising again next year.  All the best

Sandy & John (Littlehampton)    29th July 2016

PS  On this cruise from Bristol to Devizes we were lucky to see our first Kingfishers

John

Dear Dorenda and Gordon

A five star holiday in every respect

Thank you both so much for making it such a memorable time.

We look forward to our return cruise next year.

Sally & David     10th August 2016

Bath to Devizes

We leave with very full tummies” Thank you Dorenda for such delicious meals.  As you see from our plates we all enjoyed every mouthful!

Kailani is very comfortable indeed and Bonnie is the best dog on the canal!

So delighted to have seen 5 kingfishers!   Dave thoroughly enjoyed working the locks! Enjoy San Francisco!

With best wishes from Derek, Jenny, Judith and Dave x                18.8 – 23.8.2016

Thanks Dorenda and Gordon

Another fantastic cruise with you, this time from Devizes to Newbury. The food and ambience was great just like our last cruise.

We loved helping with the locks and the walks between them.

– Dave, Amy and Lucy  –

Newbury to Caversham

I could just put a great big “Ditto” to all the previous comments.  And do indeed do that!

But thanks anyway for good boating, good food, good ‘American’ company.. et. al.

Here’s to next year!

–  Alan S            Sept 2016 –

Gordon-Dorenda, a most charming pair, offer their boat and there’s none to compare.

They navigate waters right down in the city or out into nature in country so pretty.

The comforts of home, you’ll find them all there, including a blower for drying your hair.

Sheets ironed to perfection like Mom used to do, and towels fresh each day in your bathroom for two.

Delectable dining – course one, two and three, mid-morning and afternoon biscuits and tea.

Eat all that you want, sleep well in the night, for opting to work locks takes all of your might.

There’s walking the towpath, of both worlds the best, luxury, adventure, fine dining and rest.

Good humor, instruction, some magic, some dance? some schedules, some freedom and some left to chance.

From reading these tidbits i hope you can see how perfectly lovely Kailani can be.

Ted and Betty Maddox   2nd Sept 2016

September 2016

Caversham to Kingston

Superb journey!   Relaxing pace through beautiful countryside.  Excellent care….. with ‘loves’ from Bonnie.

Thank you so much for such wonderful memories… for soothing our souls… and making sure we didn’t lose any weight!

Cheers

Ken and Faye from Vancouver, Canada

Kingston to Kingston

Wonderful journey along Grand Union Canal and Thames.

Fantastic Hospitality from Gordon and Dorenda.

Both are very welcoming and a mine of information about boat, locks, buildings, wildlife and everything you need to know on such a great trip.

We will definitely be back again as we are keen to see more of the waterways and have new adventures.

Janet and Mike (Worcsester UK)    September 2016

The first trip on Kailani was so good that we had no problem deciding to come again this year.

Food as brilliant as ever.

Many thanks for the consideration given to Janet who is not in the best of health.

David & Janet Devereux   September 2016

We have had a marvelous time on the boat!  The care for every need and the wonderful food were beyond our expectations.

Being on the canal for the first time was lovely (for the most part!)  Watching the birds and seeing trees alongside that we are not familiar with in San Diego was fun.

Do write your cookbook with anecdotes!  The gluten-free accommodation was certainly appreciated by the Taylors and we enjoyed trying everything.

All of us send our most grateful thoughts your way.

Candy & Richard, Gill & Peter Taylor

2nd to 6th October

Berkhamsted to Linslade

4 days of luxury and enjoyment.

Celia and Trisch

2nd – 6th October

One of the best holidays we have had.

Accommodation 5 star , Food gourmet and hosts anyone would be lucky to get.

Angela & Derek Woolley

9th October      Linslade to Stoke Bruerne

Our four day trip on the Grand Union Canal has been so enjoyable.

We got on very well with the other guests – and your hospitality – and planning was outstanding.

We are so glad we are coming again next April

Mike and Ann

6th – 9th October 2016

We are so grateful to Dorenda and Gordon for our wonderful holiday on the Grand Union Canal.  The quality of the food and their unstinting attention to our comfort and needs was unsurpassable. Thank you so much!

Heather & Michael Earey

Stoke Bruerne to Napton    (11th – 15th October)

Looked after wonderfully by Dorenda, Gordon & Bonnie.

Tunnels and locks much enjoyed being a new experience for all of us.

Cake at morning coffee and afternoon tea kept our energy levels up in case we flagged between meals! (And apologies for being late for Dinner @Weedon).

Rosemary, Derek, Sue and Keith