Where did September go?






I am still here and having so much fun that I have forgotten to take a moment to share. So, today I will tell you about the Grand Union Canal.






I was introduced to the Canal exactly 30 years ago when I was pregnant with my first child and living in England. The Grand Union Canal leaves the River Thames at Brentford and climbs over fifty locks up into the Chiltern hills. It descends then climbs again to a new summit in Birmingham, 137 miles and 166 locks. When we took our first trip, my parents were with us and we traveled 15 miles (up and back) in 3 days. We rented a narrowboat that slept 6 and our proxy godparents went with us. The rivers have a limit around 4 mph, (about walking pace) with some wider rivers having a faster speed of 7mph. When working out the timing of a route, you need to also allow about 15 minutes per lock as well. This means that in one hour you should expect to cover either 4 miles, or do 4 locks, or a combination of them both! We operated our own locks and slept moored along the water edge. It is a great way to enjoy the country side. On the weekends you will see picnickers along the waters edge, watching the canal boats and watching the "boat people" operate the locks.






When John and Diane, friends from Bozeat, invited me for the weekend we went to Stoke Bruerne to see the canal boats. We took a short ride in one of the canal boats and visited the town. We had a beer at the pub and then ate the picnic lunch that Diane packed while watching the "boat people" operate the locks.



Comments

Nice canal bit, Flygirl. I would like to hear your analysis of what the problem is with Heathrow Airport. We have heard about it but could you explain? -===The Observer
Anonymous said…
Very nice post. I hope it encourages others to have a vacation on the English canals.

Anyone planning a trip should take into account that 4mph is the legal limit. You will not cruise anywhere near this speed on average, 3mph is a much more pleasant speed for cruising along, and you will often be going slower (shallow water, or passing moored boats). You will be stopped very often (waiting in a queue at locks, or for boats coming the other way through narrow bridges) and you will want to pause at nice villages or pubs on the way or just to have a picnic on deck (otherwise, why come on the canals at all).

You will probably only do about 18-20 "locks plus miles" per day (ie a distance you can drive in less than half an hour. If you have an urge to do more, rent a car instead.

Chris Jones
Sheffield

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