Counting my Blessings!

[KeithD]

I've got out in the canoe more this year so far than in all of last year - partly because of the weather and partly because (from information and inspiration from this forum) I no longer hesitate at the thought of getting the canoe on/off the car on my own. As a result I am very quickly exhausting all the portage free trips local to me.

So yesterday I did one more lock free section of... Yes, you've guessed it! - the Basingstoke Canal. Aldershot is the home of the British Army and to many conjures up images of barracks, the sound of rifle ranges and other negative connotations often associated with an army town but this trip has none of that.

I started from a little known canalside car park at Wharf Bridge to the west of the town.

Setting of right, I was instantly passing through what seemed natural woodland (not a pine tree in sight). I was in no hurry so I made a start on collecting floating bottles /cans. There didn't seems to be many - there certainly weren't the unsightly accumulations that you seem to get on many rivers but they were still there, ticked away in the reeds or held in the branches of overhanging bushes/trees and by the end of the trip I had over 50. Too many for the two carrier bags I had brought. (mental note to take a dustbin liner next time).

So for the next few hours I paddled along, gently zig-zagging from bottle to bottle, enjoying the peace and birdsong. There were a few people on the towpath but unlike other stretches of the canal there were few dog walkers and more joggers - perhaps maximising fitness before their next trip to Iraq or Afghanistan.

So for two miles it was just woodland and more woodland.

with occasional military style bridges. Some people think of them as ugly and whilst I wouldn't argue for them on aesthetic merit, I just accept them as part of the wonderful diversity or our waterways.

The southern bank is a nature reserve with small creeks guarded by unobtrusive notices asking "boaters" not to enter. This is surely meant for narrowboats rather than canoeists but I respected the request nontheless.

North of here is the Defence Evaluation & Research Agency at Farnborough (home of the Franborough Air Show every two years) The owners have just been refused planning consent to make more commercial flights which I think is right. You cant help but be aware of the noise of jet engines as you approach the end of the runway but since flights are not that frequent I found the bursts of noise brief and acceptable and they in no way spoiled my enjoyment of the trip.

Passing under another military bridge the canal broadens into Eelmoor Flash, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

I gather that its main claim to fame is the proliferation of dragonflies in the summer but despite the summer-like weather there were none visible. The woodland gives way briefly to heathland here and the lack of trees combined with the topography of the area can create a wind tunnel effect here. I was very aware of the wind as a made a tea stop but by the time I was back on the water the wind had dropped and it was no problem.

Before long the woodland returns and shortly I turned for home still collecting the bottles I had missed on the outbound trip. As I reached the start point another solitary canoe was just launching. Its paddler was clearly relishing the prospect of what he said was his first paddle of the year.

We should all count our blessings and one of mine is the freedom to enjoy my canoe much more frequently than I could in the past and another is the countryside I get to paddle through.

I returned home thinking of the many other things I can be grateful for.

[MagiKelly]

That is a terrific looking area for a paddle. I do envy you the option of mid week paddles.

[KeithD]

Its easy!

All you have to do is work hard for 40 years and then decide that time is worth more than money.

[John]

Beautifull country

[wayne]

Great blogg. A lovely trip that's not too far for me.

[Matto]

That canal is starting to look really appealing. If only it were a bit closer, and getting there didn't involve the M25.

[KeithD]

That canal is starting to look really appealing. If only it were a bit closer, and getting there didn't involve the M25.

There is an alternative route but it involves the Medway, North Sea, Thames, and River Way and I'm not sure that you'd feel like more canoeing when you got there!

Or you could just come on the A25 via Guildford.

[Hughie]

I was born next to the Canal at Zephon House, Crookham. Perhaps that is why I love boats!!

[NIKON FE]

I am going to paddle this very one soon. I have paddled the Odiham end a few times, and obviously need to see some more of this water judging from the images. Maybe see you out there again Keith.......
Thank you for sharing that one, any good pubs?
Richard.

[solo canoer]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

Sam

[slamdunk]

Thanks very much - looks very inviting......and not too far. Look forward to paddling with you.

(And I think much of the military that used to reside in Aldershot are now based up in North Yorkshire so it should be a little quieter!)

[aslan]

Who would have thought that such great trips were possible in the crowded south of England.

Many years ago I hired a canal boat for a week and toured along the Grand Union Canal. We were never more than a stones throw from the M1 but it was like stepping into another world. My abiding memory is of playing the part of postman for one of the itinerant canal families and delivering the mail to his mate in the next canal side village; the delivery instruction was something like "it's the second moored boat on the left - put it under a stone at the stern"