The Basingstoke Canal 24th March 2024.
Our River Stour trip was cancelled two weeks ago due to the weather, floods in the area and just the condition of the river really, I had gone the week before to recce the route etc and to be honest although a lovely stretch I wasn’t satisfied due to the flow washing the banks away that it was actually safe. Therefore I cancelled it, and good job as it hammered down with rain almost all week and never stopped raining on the planned Sunday of the trip, so it would have been pretty miserable.
Anyway onto the Basingstoke Canal, We were all set to be on the water by 10am as is the normal, Coco and Fifi accompanied Phillip and snuggled up looking quite content to be back on the water again.
The sun was out and there were only patchy clouds in the sky so it was really pleasant.
We decided to go the other way this time, a bit like paddling a lake anti clockwise but we like that, and we did test the paddling backwards, forwards, sideways that was fun.
The water was calm and still and made for some great photo’s.
Lunch was at the staircase, where we sat on the benches with copious amounts of vitamin D coming from the skies, we sat eating lunch and chatting for over an hour and a half with only the sound of a compressor painting a boat to disturb us.
The Basingstoke canal is normally quite clear and the bottom is visible, only bout 2/3 foot deep. (not including the silt)
On the way back we explored some (off the track lagoons)
It was such a nice paddle that, and with the better weather here, we have decided to add another trip to this years membership.
The river Great Ouse in Bedford. Lots of paddling things are going on behind the scenes to bring you a great club.
Write up by Dave.