Exploring English waterways: the canals of the country
When we first wake up on a narrowboat in late July, we are greeted with total silence, gorgeous green canopies of trees above us and the gleaming sunlight filtering through onto the deck. The peaceful atmosphere and the complete lack of civilisation on the Kennet and Avon canal make us believe we could be anywhere in the world. We get a complete break from people and technology. When on the narrowboat, we have all the time in the world to just relax by reading or just sitting and staring around at the undergrowth. The way the sunlight glitters across the water is so captivating and breathtaking, I could stare at it for hours.
The canal locks (which allow the boats to be raised or lowered from one water level to another) are something else entirely. They make us work, but we don’t mind - it’s something I look forward to. The smooth sweep of them opening is satisfying, even though some are harder to open than others. It makes me think about the way that these used to be operated regularly; the idea that they are falling out of use makes me want to do something about it. Opening them is completely and utterly worth it. Watching the cool water rise and fall in each one is oddly calming, and I would happily watch it forever.
On the rare occasion we do pass through a village or town, we hop off the boat to buy the essentials. This gives those who aren’t shopping for food a chance to explore the town. Most of them are rural, and some are just like they were years ago, when canals were used more often. Of course, modern shops have been added, but in one village we visit, there is an old-fashioned bakery, with treats galore! There are Chelsea buns, tiffin, Eccles cakes, brownies, as well as homemade breads of all kinds. All delicacies are made right there in the shop, which means we are transported right back in time, surrounded with the delicious, mouth-watering smells of a traditional bakery.
For me, the evenings are the best parts of the week-long trip spent in seclusion. Once we moor up for the night, we can relax and do whatever we like. My family often fish in the canal. We are not allowed to take the fish, but there is something relaxing about sitting there, staring at the water, which, in late July, is completely still. Other wildlife on the river includes the ducks and swans which glide gracefully alongside the narrowboat. We are lucky enough that they come right up to the side of the boat, allowing us to throw them bread. It reminds me of my childhood as I stand there, flinging crusts to them whilst simultaneously trying not to fall in!
We wind our way through the leafy trees, slowly, surely, watching the world go by, and imagining what everyone else is doing. We sit, peacefully surveying the countryside, and a feeling of complete and utter bliss comes over us. Watching the birds fly far ahead, I feel as one with the water, gliding slowly through the clean canal. The whole time we are here, there is not one bit of litter obstructing the beautiful picture that is the English waterway. The I get a feeling of pride to know that there are people who care about keeping the community of the waterways alive.
Our boat is a gorgeous red and cream. There is a small living room, an even smaller kitchen, two bathrooms and four beds – two double and two single. It is quite narrow, being a narrowboat, but surprisingly spacious. Despite this, the endless buckets of fresh air outside make me want to leave the confinement of my room and relax outside. I spend most of my time at either end of the boat, either watching my dad steer or at the other end with everyone else, reading my book or talking. Then when a lock comes up, we jump off the boat and help it through.
The freedom from the hustle and bustle of general life, in which noise and people are constantly around you, is one of the best things about a canal holiday. It is not a conventional holiday with sea and sand and sun, but an escape from the stresses of everyday life. The feeling of relaxation and freedom is like no other.
Izzy Bonnett, Year 12
The canal locks (which allow the boats to be raised or lowered from one water level to another) are something else entirely. They make us work, but we don’t mind - it’s something I look forward to. The smooth sweep of them opening is satisfying, even though some are harder to open than others. It makes me think about the way that these used to be operated regularly; the idea that they are falling out of use makes me want to do something about it. Opening them is completely and utterly worth it. Watching the cool water rise and fall in each one is oddly calming, and I would happily watch it forever.
On the rare occasion we do pass through a village or town, we hop off the boat to buy the essentials. This gives those who aren’t shopping for food a chance to explore the town. Most of them are rural, and some are just like they were years ago, when canals were used more often. Of course, modern shops have been added, but in one village we visit, there is an old-fashioned bakery, with treats galore! There are Chelsea buns, tiffin, Eccles cakes, brownies, as well as homemade breads of all kinds. All delicacies are made right there in the shop, which means we are transported right back in time, surrounded with the delicious, mouth-watering smells of a traditional bakery.
For me, the evenings are the best parts of the week-long trip spent in seclusion. Once we moor up for the night, we can relax and do whatever we like. My family often fish in the canal. We are not allowed to take the fish, but there is something relaxing about sitting there, staring at the water, which, in late July, is completely still. Other wildlife on the river includes the ducks and swans which glide gracefully alongside the narrowboat. We are lucky enough that they come right up to the side of the boat, allowing us to throw them bread. It reminds me of my childhood as I stand there, flinging crusts to them whilst simultaneously trying not to fall in!
We wind our way through the leafy trees, slowly, surely, watching the world go by, and imagining what everyone else is doing. We sit, peacefully surveying the countryside, and a feeling of complete and utter bliss comes over us. Watching the birds fly far ahead, I feel as one with the water, gliding slowly through the clean canal. The whole time we are here, there is not one bit of litter obstructing the beautiful picture that is the English waterway. The I get a feeling of pride to know that there are people who care about keeping the community of the waterways alive.
Our boat is a gorgeous red and cream. There is a small living room, an even smaller kitchen, two bathrooms and four beds – two double and two single. It is quite narrow, being a narrowboat, but surprisingly spacious. Despite this, the endless buckets of fresh air outside make me want to leave the confinement of my room and relax outside. I spend most of my time at either end of the boat, either watching my dad steer or at the other end with everyone else, reading my book or talking. Then when a lock comes up, we jump off the boat and help it through.
The freedom from the hustle and bustle of general life, in which noise and people are constantly around you, is one of the best things about a canal holiday. It is not a conventional holiday with sea and sand and sun, but an escape from the stresses of everyday life. The feeling of relaxation and freedom is like no other.
Izzy Bonnett, Year 12