One of my little obsessions is Narrowboats and canal holidays
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrowboathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_British_canal_systemIt's really sort of a fuddy-duddy thing to do, and you don't get too many young folks on the canals. Or, if you do, they're all on some dreadful, screaming, drunken holiday and you get bottles thrown at you.
Nor do I really enjoy the urban canals where you're jockeying for spots and creeping around narrow, busy waterways. Coming into a city on a weekend is just asking for trouble as canal boating has skyrocketed in recent years as a viable vacation choice, and most of those folks stick to the crowded areas where they can gleefully hop off and see the sites from the back door.
That said, coming through London is always incredible. You pass behind the zoo, and you glimpse parts of the city you would never expect to see. There are points along the London canals where you almost feel like you're in the dead countryside... And other points that can be downright scary.
The true charm of canal boating, for me, is the exploration of the country. Long, lonely days on a canal that cuts eccentrically across the countryside. Mooring up along an unimproved towpath, dragging out the portable grill, and looking up at the stars as the silence seeps into you. A quiet night on the water, then up early. Along the way are small towns to explore and country pubs. Stop for the day and hike into some little village that, otherwise, you would never bother with.
All this at an average speed of four miles an hour, and a few miles may take most of the day if you're working locks or just in no particular rush. (Which is exactly why the holiday folks stay in the crowded areas -- you could spend a week just going 20 miles if you're stopping to smell the roses.)
Canal boats are, pretty much, self-sufficient. You need to do all the RV stuff -- moor up at water points, and empty out the septic tank, and get gas. But, otherwise, you've got all the mod-cons on board. Full kitchen, dishwasher, shower, TV...
The idea is that you're on your own. You stop off at a supermarket (and many canal-side chains have moorings) and stock up. Then away you go. Pull over whenever you want for lunch, decide to stop at noon if the day is getting too hot, or push on till dinner. There's a timeless freedom on the canals. And, again, along those deep country routes, there's escape. Find the right sort of spots and you can be alone for days out in the woods or fields with all the comforts of home.
Now... My favorite canal blogs! Most of these follow the daily adventures of "live-aboards" and a few aren't really aware of the idea that more people than just their grandchildren are reading.
http://balmaha.blog.co.ukhttp://www.grannybuttons.com(And here's a picture of me on a boat in 2006:
http://www.grannybuttons.com/granny_buttons/2006/06/noonie_a_granny_1.html)
http://www.moore2life.blogspot.com/http://noproblem.org.uk/blog/http://nbsanity.blogspot.com/http://seyellas-journey.blogspot.com/index.html
