Basingstoke canal

19.08.2023

On Sat 19th Aug a come and try was organised by Davepaddles on the Basingstoke Canal, with Dave showing Jai (who is now a paddlesport instructor) the basics of running a trip with people who have not been in or on a craft before,

We all arrived in plenty of time, Changed into our paddling clothes, fitted our crafts and were ready to go well before 10am, the get in time.

Dave did the usual hazards and safety brief before his stretching of the muscles with an righty lefty throw bag warm up.

On the water we went, as well as lots of traffic, it took us all a while to get on, and head upstream towards Ash.

But once going as a group, people started to relax and have conversations to take their mind away from paddling.

We all made great progress and were soon at the sunken boat lake, a big wide area of the Canal that has hidden things to see if you spend the time. Paddleboarders had a better view as up higher than a kayaker. but lots was seen. we took a short break here to admire the views, refresh, practice staying in a straight line, turns, and sweep strokes.

We continued to the Aqueduct were we had lunch,

From then we returned to the Mytchet centre , where we dried and cleaned or crafts, changed, used the loo’s and said goodbye’s,

This was a 6 hour come and try session, That I would definatly do again. a lovely stretch of the cleanest canal, maybe in the south.

Write up by Dave