On to the end of the Basingstoke

Another bright chilly start, leaving my mooring at 8:30 to meet the Ranger at 9:30, the water was low through the Woking section and I struggled a bit rubbing along the bottom and picking up weeds and leaves,

 frequent quick bursts of reverse revs seems to clear the prop for a while then repeat the exercise a few hundred yards later,

  it wasn’t all like this though and some very pleasant properties along the Sheerwater stretch

 and quite a few houseboats along the Woodham section, some nice, some apparently unloved, but all different.

Although the weeds and low water slowed me down I arrived at lock 6 at 9:45 ( the picture may not be no 6, I don't remember which it was),and as with yesterday, the Ranger had opened the lock ready for me. By about 12 I had finished the last lock and moored up for the day.

I had very kindly been invited to dinner by my sons partner Natalie’s parents they live literally a 20 minute walk from my mooring, so I gave Adam a call and he and Natalie walked down the towpath to meet me with Natalie’s dog “Buddy”, after a brief chat we headed off to the Pub for a quick drink before dinner, then it was back for dinner which was lovely, thank you Natalie’s mum and dad :-)

So that is my first weeks cruising finished along with the Basingstoke Canal, I have enjoyed it and can imagine in the summer it would be a beautiful way to spend a couple of weeks, the lack of water was not as bad as I expected and to be honest nor were the weeds, but I did find having to arrange my schedule around lock opening times a little off putting, fortunately I was not in a hurry so no real problem.

To Date : 29 Locks : 1 Swingbridge : 30 Miles