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How far do you expect to travel on your narrowboat
break? Should you spend every waking moment driving the canal boat
to a specific destination? Or should you take things a little more
slowly...?
The Diligent Deckhand tries to travel as far as possible during his
time on board. He will ruthlessly wake at dawn to start each leg of
his journey and will cruise for at least ten hours every day. Long
before Diligent Deckhands begin their holidays, routes are plotted
and daily mileage is calculated. Distance is everything.
At the other end of the scale is the Bar Bosun. The Bar Bosun spends
just a few hours travelling down the canal and stops at the first
sight of a cosy canal side pub. Bar bosuns don't usually get far at
all. They're interested in relaxation at the highest level. Tasting
the local ales is of high importance on their list of cultural activities.
These caricatures are the two extremes of canal holiday folk, but
you're sure to spot them on your narrowboat break, even if you lie
somewhere in the middle!
Planning your pace isn't really necessary. The best thing to do is
to simply turn up and play it by ear. You can moor (park) your boat
nearly anywhere along the canal so it's really easy to decide as you
go along.
It is important to remember that the leisurely speed
of a canal boat is only around three miles per hour, and locks can
take a fair amount of time to traverse. If you're a budding Diligent
Deckhand, remember that canal boating is a slow process- rushing isn't
an option! If you're planning to undertake one of the famous 'ring'
routes on your narrowboat break, will you still be happy to man the
tiller (the steering mechanism) on a rainy day?
Likewise, for Bar Bosuns, there are plenty of other activities to
try out. Plus, if you have to retrace your steps to return to the
marina, you'll want to pop into some pubs you didn't go in before!
Narrowboat breaks are all about relaxation and enjoyment. Whether
you spend plenty of time in the historical canal side pub (which once
provided for the canal workers of the industrial revolution), or make
the most of the cruise through the abundant lush British countryside.
To see some suggestions of routes and holiday options, see our page
on marinas.
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