So, we tend to have to identify slipways in advance and head for those. But finding slipways using a combination of the current canal guides, relevant websites and Google is proving problematic.
The bad news is that listed slipways sometimes turn out not to be or sometimes belong to private marinas who will charge you more to launch and recover than our entire British Waterway (BW) licence for the year. The local BW office (when we call or email them) are usually polite and friendly but seem bemused by the strange notion of launching anything smaller than a narrowboat (for a season) or larger than a canoe (for a day). They are even unaware of the existence of some slipways – even when these are on their towpath. If BW want to encourage more day visitors onto the canals, then they need to provide more slipways and provide better information about those there already are.
However, the good news (we are discovering) is that, if you are lucky enough to find a slipway, you can pretty much guarantee to be the only boat launching there all day (or all week or month maybe) so it’s a delightfully low stress activity and very quick and easy to execute. If only finding them was similarly hassle free. We have so far had to call off two trips because we simply couldn’t find anywhere without making the long journey to look.
Anyway, having been told about a delightful 8-9 mile stretch of the Kennet & Avon canal which is lock free from the Eastern outskirts of Bath to Bradford on Avon, it looked like a perfect Winsome day outing. We called the Bath & Dundas Canal Co. at Brassknocker Basin but discovered that their slipway is only available to the public for 3 days mid-week and then only, they said, with 3-4 days notice. (Having visited here by car and seen how narrow and busy this boat park and hire spot is, we were not surprised).
Fortunately, we then found the Bradford on Avon Marina who were very happy to accommodate us for a very reasonable £10 (including parking).
With so much space and no interruptions, the boat was off the roof, assembled (engine, seats, fenders, lines, etc), launched and ready to go in 20-25 minutes. Perfect.
Heading West, our hope was to get through Bradford lock (unfortunately, the only available slipway landed us the wrong side of this) and head for Bath over the famous Dundas Aqueduct. After ¾ mile, we reached the lock and moored up to go and inspect it from a Winsome perspective. The lock itself looked fine but it was very busy with a small queue of boats waiting and (not surprisingly) an expectation for two boats to fit into the lock at a time. So, we watched the first two boats go through and could suddenly see where canal “barges” get their name from – especially when driven by people who have only been in charge of a boat for, perhaps an hour. For example, the skipper of the boat on the left happily employed the other boat, the lock walls and the exit lock gates as ready alternatives to engaging reverse gear.
We decided that we weren’t happy to risk Winsome sharing such a ‘barging’ space. Also, it brought home to us that queuing for locks might be fine when you are boating for a week but, when you only have a few short hours and hope to complete a 10 mile or so passage, then queuing (and the risk of further queues on the way back) is not an attractive option. So, we executed a neat 3 point turn and headed East instead vowing to return this way on a quiet mid week day, in say, November when, hopefully, there will be no queue and no “barges” to share the lock with.
The passage East was attractive but a bit less varied and interesting than the one towards Bath. However, the good news is that it was a nice clear run of 4.5 miles before the next lock and we spotted two water voles (which we understand is the preferred marketing term for water rat)one on the bank and one swimming across our bow. We also found the number of live-aboard boats fascinating having never seen so many before. We wondered when this guy last took his boat anywhere.
A rare half hour of blistering sunshine gave the crew a chance to try out his new golfing umbrellas as a putative Winsome sunshade – he seemed pleased.
One of the diversions en route was the impressive Staverton marina where, pedalling under its impressive bridge entrance,
we found an entire modern housing complex attractively located around a marina. What a perfect spot for a Winsome owner (we thought) but disappointingly (and slightly unnervingly) the place seemed to be a ghost town – despite the sunny afternoon, we saw only 1 inhabited balcony and 1 inhabited boat – where were all these people?
We were also intrigued by one person’s approach to docking their 60 foot narrowboat conveniently outside their house.
After an hour, we reached Buckley’s lock and the junction with the derelict Wilts and Berks canal.
A helpful boat owner advised us that the local pub sold excellent ice creams and he was right – mango or strawberry made with clotted cream. Yum.
Suitably iced, we turned for home – pleased that the erstwhile sunshades work equally well as umbrellas given a sudden downpour.
We had one slightly tricky moment on the return journey, as we speeded up (on a long, straight stretch) to overtake a 60 foot narrowboat which was travelling just slightly too slowly for us only to struggle to pass him (given the dragging effect of his wake) before encountering another narrow boat heading towards us. That took some puff! Phew. We have noticed this dragging (almost sucking) effect before when passing narrow boats (on narrow strips of water). We close a boat in front very quickly (if it’s travelling at 3mph, say) but then, once abreast of it, we struggle to pull past it.
Anyway, all in all, not quite the passage we had planned but still another enjoyable day’s cruise of around 11 miles.
1 comment:
Excellent overview. We have same situation but live at the other end of the canal (near Reading). We have even smaller boat (about 10ft) with small electric outboard.
I'll look forward to posting any slipways at this end. Let me know if u head this way...
Post a Comment