Blue skies, white fluffy clouds and river banks lined with leafy greens, I’m reminded of Wind in the Willows as we set off on our canal boat adventure down the River Avon.
Jumping aboard Jacy we’re in no rush as we set off down the meandering river, travelling at nothing more than walking pace, taking in the sights and sound of birds.
We pass other canal boats along the way and witness the way of life for those who spend their everyday on the river, enjoying a leisurely lifestyle of slow travel, punctuated by cups of tea and sunbathing on the deck in the summer sun.
Traveling along the canals makes you appreciate the natural beauty of England; surrounded either side by wildlife, woodland, fields of wheat, beds of wild flowers and reeds. Historic bridges cross over the river above our heads and locks swing open allowing safe passage to higher or lower ground.
The canals seem to be friendly places where people say hello and wave at one another. You can hire a boat for the day or a week and try your hand at being captain or amble alongside the canal on the tow path, greeting other fellow walkers as you go.
With 15 of us in the party, we all had a go at driving the boat down the river and alternated who walked alongside on the tow path, stopping off for a BBQ lunch in the summer sun (before the rain clouds returned!)
Driving the boat proved to be more difficult than it looked for me – it turns out I wasn’t quite a natural when it came to steering, but I had a really fun time trying all the same!
After a few hours, it was time to moor up the boat and stop at… you guessed it, the pub! Canals are quite often lined with pubs to stop off at along the way, albeit we only managed one, but I’m sure you could squeeze a lot more in if you had the time.
We had a lovely day on the river enjoying being outside, enjoying the fresh air and taking in the scenic countryside. It’s a lovely way to spend a day with friends or family if you want to try something new!
The canal boat we hired was from Sally Narrowboats near Bradford on Avon.
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