Mick and Mag's Asked: "Have you ever spent any leisure time on the canals and rivers that make up the inland waterways. If so I wonder what you found to be the best bit?"
Canals were a part of my childhood. I spent many happy hours skimming small flat stones across the surface. Fishing for the little tiddlers and also making makeshift rafts to sail on. I used to enjoy the sight of working barges carrying all kinds of goods passing through the local locks. A bygone era. Now the only boats I see are the occasional cabin cruisers, narrow-boats and converted barges. The rivers by comparison to the canals were much dirtier when I was a kid. Almost nothing could live in the poisoned water.
What could have continued to be used for transport was allowed to fall into decay. Bridges were often damaged. The locks sprouted leaks and all kinds of plants in their rotting woodwork. The canal itself was often ill used by the people living in the vicinity as a convenient landfill site. Then there were small groups of people who would occasionally turn up and try to clear the canal rubbish away. Often these groups were made up of caring people who lived nearby, who used the area for fishing and for dog walking.
Later, other environmental groups got involved and efforts were made to improve the canal. The boats started to come through again in the summer with families enjoying a boating holiday. Some repairs have been made to the locks and they are working once again. The rubbish still seems to end up in the canal. It must be disheartening to families on holiday to sail your boat through such areas.
As for me, its not my idea of a good holiday. Not only that but now that the canals have been transferred into the hands of a charity. I have the foreboding that over the next few years we will ultimately see the canals fall once more into disrepair and disuse. When it comes to supporting charities, the canals and rivers would be very low down on my list for a donation. If the money given to charity does not come, then the closure of the canals will follow on behind.
Regards.
Uncle Mort.
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