Phill
Well-Known Member
NB’s of course.
Took a few days off whilst the kids were on half term and hired a narrow boat on the Basingstoke Canal. It was our first time on such a boat and after dropping “middle child” off to stay with one of her friends (well two kids always argue less than three), we arrived at Galleon Marine in Odiham.
After a quick familiarisation tour of the boat we were off. I’m embarrassed to say, I was quite nervous, after all the biggest I’d ever helmed before was 33ft in the wide expanses of the Thames and now I was at the stern of a 47ft boat on a waterway barely wider than a footpath. But, I needn’t have worried.
We headed west to spend our first night on a newly built mooring at the limit of navigation near the now derelict Greywell tunnel which houses one of the largest colonies of hibernating bats.
An evening walk along the towpath, into Greywell, found the Fox and Goose, whose local inhabitants were as welcoming and entertaining as the local beers and freshly cooked food.
OUR FIRST EVENING.
Next morning, after a walk round the ruins of Odiham Castle or King Johns Castle (from where he rode to Runnymede to sign the Magna Carta) which was built by William the Conqueror, we were to re-trace our steps back down the canal and past our starting point.
THIS IS THE CASTLE.
This first involved turning the boat around in a widened area of the canal known as a winding hole. Once my 10 point turn was executed we headed east towards Fleet. The weather was warm and sunny (just as well with no internal helm) and the scenery was ever changing.
I’d never really thought about canal levels before but as this stretch has no locks in it, the canal remains the same height regardless of the surrounding countryside and therefore gives way to some lovely scenery through stunning, wooded, autumnal coloured and sometimes, quite deep valleys as well as over open countryside with distant views.
Fleet from the canal was lovely, as we passed small canal-side properties with boats at the bottom of the gardens. As quickly as Fleet appeared, it disappeared and we were back in open country.
CANALSIDE AT FLEET.
The canal passed through the rifle ranges of Aldershot and gave us a good view of Farnborough Airfield.
Now we’d been told you can stop and tie up anywhere along the canal providing you’re on the towpath side so that’s what we did that evening. We came across a beautiful spot in the middle of nowhere and spent the night there. Mooring was fun as the canal is shallow and the sides are quite silted up. We couldn’t get any closer to the bank than 18” so with the hull on the bottom, we used the gang plank to get ashore which seems quite normal on this canal. No TV reception and all asleep by 9.00. Great.
After turning at Ash lock the next morning, then extracting Jake our clumsy Collie from the canal we headed back towards Fleet. The kids had now become dab hands at jumping off the boat prior to, and having the swing bridges open for us as we approached.
SWING BRIDGE
It was so easy to step on and off the stern as we went through bridges that Minnie, my wife and Jake (now dry) would walk the tow path, often leaving only me on the boat.
I have to say, I was really enjoying this. I had forgotten how close you can be to nature and standing on this stern a few inches above the water level, took me back to the days of our first boat, a little Freeman 22. Reflecting on this, I now feel that as our own boats got bigger, we got further away from nature and I had now returned to boating in water rather than on it. Does that make sense?
SOLITUDE
The other thing I really liked about this boat was having proper radiators to hang towels over to keep them warm. How decadent is that?
After mooring at Crookham and walking into the village centre for supplies we carried onto Winchfield, where we were told about the Barley Mow, a short walk from the picnic area mooring. A fantastic Gastro Pub that offered exceptional quality food at such reasonable prices. The décor was fabulous and roaring open fires reminded us that winter approaches.
All full up on local produce, drink as well as food, we retired to the boat for the night.
Next morning we were up at 6.30 and set off before 7.00. This was our final morning as we were due to return the boat, but the Basingstoke Canal had saved its best till last.
The canal was an absolute picture as the sun broke through the trees and filled the valley with a golden hue that you only ever get during the autumn. The water was literally carpeted in leaves of every shade of green, brown and gold and produced an unforgettable sight. Unforgettable smells rose from the cabin doors and wafted onto the stern as breakfast was being cooked.
OUR FINAL MORNING
After returning the boat, we drove along a road that follows the canal for a few hundred yards, but the canal and all that goes with it couldn’t be seen from the road and I guess that’s what makes it special. It’s a lovely, well hidden, Hampshire secret.
As for my first foray in a narrow boat, I have to so say I loved it. It felt right for the canal but then that’s the environment for which it was designed. I loved helming so close to the water and being able to see so much and feel a part of the surroundings.
Wife up front with a book and me at the stern with a pint worked quite well.
And as for a weed hatch above the prop, why don’t we all have those?
Finally you always seem to appreciate the............wake shot.
Took a few days off whilst the kids were on half term and hired a narrow boat on the Basingstoke Canal. It was our first time on such a boat and after dropping “middle child” off to stay with one of her friends (well two kids always argue less than three), we arrived at Galleon Marine in Odiham.
After a quick familiarisation tour of the boat we were off. I’m embarrassed to say, I was quite nervous, after all the biggest I’d ever helmed before was 33ft in the wide expanses of the Thames and now I was at the stern of a 47ft boat on a waterway barely wider than a footpath. But, I needn’t have worried.
We headed west to spend our first night on a newly built mooring at the limit of navigation near the now derelict Greywell tunnel which houses one of the largest colonies of hibernating bats.
An evening walk along the towpath, into Greywell, found the Fox and Goose, whose local inhabitants were as welcoming and entertaining as the local beers and freshly cooked food.
OUR FIRST EVENING.
Next morning, after a walk round the ruins of Odiham Castle or King Johns Castle (from where he rode to Runnymede to sign the Magna Carta) which was built by William the Conqueror, we were to re-trace our steps back down the canal and past our starting point.
THIS IS THE CASTLE.
This first involved turning the boat around in a widened area of the canal known as a winding hole. Once my 10 point turn was executed we headed east towards Fleet. The weather was warm and sunny (just as well with no internal helm) and the scenery was ever changing.
I’d never really thought about canal levels before but as this stretch has no locks in it, the canal remains the same height regardless of the surrounding countryside and therefore gives way to some lovely scenery through stunning, wooded, autumnal coloured and sometimes, quite deep valleys as well as over open countryside with distant views.
Fleet from the canal was lovely, as we passed small canal-side properties with boats at the bottom of the gardens. As quickly as Fleet appeared, it disappeared and we were back in open country.
CANALSIDE AT FLEET.
The canal passed through the rifle ranges of Aldershot and gave us a good view of Farnborough Airfield.
Now we’d been told you can stop and tie up anywhere along the canal providing you’re on the towpath side so that’s what we did that evening. We came across a beautiful spot in the middle of nowhere and spent the night there. Mooring was fun as the canal is shallow and the sides are quite silted up. We couldn’t get any closer to the bank than 18” so with the hull on the bottom, we used the gang plank to get ashore which seems quite normal on this canal. No TV reception and all asleep by 9.00. Great.
After turning at Ash lock the next morning, then extracting Jake our clumsy Collie from the canal we headed back towards Fleet. The kids had now become dab hands at jumping off the boat prior to, and having the swing bridges open for us as we approached.
SWING BRIDGE
It was so easy to step on and off the stern as we went through bridges that Minnie, my wife and Jake (now dry) would walk the tow path, often leaving only me on the boat.
I have to say, I was really enjoying this. I had forgotten how close you can be to nature and standing on this stern a few inches above the water level, took me back to the days of our first boat, a little Freeman 22. Reflecting on this, I now feel that as our own boats got bigger, we got further away from nature and I had now returned to boating in water rather than on it. Does that make sense?
SOLITUDE
The other thing I really liked about this boat was having proper radiators to hang towels over to keep them warm. How decadent is that?
After mooring at Crookham and walking into the village centre for supplies we carried onto Winchfield, where we were told about the Barley Mow, a short walk from the picnic area mooring. A fantastic Gastro Pub that offered exceptional quality food at such reasonable prices. The décor was fabulous and roaring open fires reminded us that winter approaches.
All full up on local produce, drink as well as food, we retired to the boat for the night.
Next morning we were up at 6.30 and set off before 7.00. This was our final morning as we were due to return the boat, but the Basingstoke Canal had saved its best till last.
The canal was an absolute picture as the sun broke through the trees and filled the valley with a golden hue that you only ever get during the autumn. The water was literally carpeted in leaves of every shade of green, brown and gold and produced an unforgettable sight. Unforgettable smells rose from the cabin doors and wafted onto the stern as breakfast was being cooked.
OUR FINAL MORNING
After returning the boat, we drove along a road that follows the canal for a few hundred yards, but the canal and all that goes with it couldn’t be seen from the road and I guess that’s what makes it special. It’s a lovely, well hidden, Hampshire secret.
As for my first foray in a narrow boat, I have to so say I loved it. It felt right for the canal but then that’s the environment for which it was designed. I loved helming so close to the water and being able to see so much and feel a part of the surroundings.
Wife up front with a book and me at the stern with a pint worked quite well.
And as for a weed hatch above the prop, why don’t we all have those?
Finally you always seem to appreciate the............wake shot.
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