Some of the most exciting, or is that just Adrenalin-inducing, parts of cruising our canals are the tunnels of which there are 48 still in use across the network. Some of the earliest tunnels no longer exist, many falling foul of subsidence but as they became more widespread, tunnels began to develop, becoming wider, straighter and longer.
The clocks have now gone back, it is getting dark by mid-afternoon and the temperature has noticeably dropped, which can only mean one thing... winter is upon us. While many people think of boating as a fair-weather pastime, there are some who are on their boat come rain or shine or even, for the very hardy, through snow and freezing conditions.
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has launched its new Heritage Campaign, which is celebrating all that is unique about our waterways, especially the canals with their industrial past.
Now that the weather is warmer, our thoughts happily turn to spending more time outside. For many of us, the lure of the water is strong and we look forward to taking time out of our hectic lives to relax on or by the many rivers and canals across the country.
