Want to see a different side of the UK? Book an affordable boat cruise on the River Thames like Sam Basch did, and experience rural waterways and old towns.
Not many tourists are aware that ancient waterways still wind through the southern parts of the UK, dating from an era before proper roads were built.
My wife Anna and I recently visited our son Alwyn, who lives in England. We wanted to do a fun but affordable activity with him and his British girlfriend Lisa, so we booked a four-day boat cruise on the Thames and its canals. You pilot the boat yourself and you also sleep on board. You make slow progress – like cycling or walking – which allows you to experience so much more of the countryside.
DAY 1 Learning the ropes
At the town of Benson, about 77 km east of London, we stepped aboard our boat after a short training session. We were taught how to moor the boat, how to “turn on a sixpence”, how to handle traffic on the water and how to control the engines, the electrical system and the water supply. It sounds much more complicated than it is.
Our plan was to travel from Benson to the university town of Oxford and back – about 35 km on the water.
At the first bend in the river, we steered towards the bank to practise mooring the boat. We did this many times during the course of our journey and in time even learnt to parallel park next to other boats.
We took it slow, travelling at around five miles per hour, and gained confidence as we progressed upstream. We reached the first lock just before the keeper went off duty and he let us through. (A lock is a point in the river where the levels are controlled – you enter the lock and you’re either raised or lowered before exiting the other side.)
Upstream of the lock we found a good overnight mooring spot next to a WWII bunker, below a hill-fort dating from the Iron Age.
DAY 2 Lovely Caprice
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 2017 من go! - South Africa.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 2017 من go! - South Africa.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Rolling out the big guns
If you're still scanning the horizon for a Chinese automotive invasion you're looking the wrong way. It's already happening, and the new GWM Tank is the off-road spearhead into the highly lucrative and hotly contested lifestyle market.
TAKE A HIKE
The beautiful agony of Tienuurkop
Time out in Dullies
A long weekend in Dullstroom is just long enough to make you realise you need to spend several more weekends here! There's food, drink, art and action in abundance. Here's your guide.
Gallivanting in the Galápagos!
The Galápagos Islands are on many a traveller's wish list. They were on Hanlie and Vivian Gericke's too, even though the price of visiting made their eyes water. Was it worth it? Read on...
BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN
How many times have you driven through a landscape and wished you could have seen it centuries ago? In 1811, the English artist and explorer, William John Burchell, travelled through South Africa. Join us as we follow in his footsteps.
Long live the Hibiscus Coast
The KZN South Coast is a national treasure. It's still the place to go if you want a classic seaside holiday complete with warm waves, cold beer, soft serve and good vibes. Here's your guide.
The island at the end of the earth
Imagine adlace-with the cleanest air arid:the clearest seawater, where_no human.oranimabwants to:harm you: A placewhere the climates balmy. year-round:-with a sekrhistory ahd wwild scenery. A place like this:exist8” and it’s called St Helena.
A day on the road
You never know what the road will bring. Toast Coetzer heads south on the N1 and discovers South Africa.
The wilder shore
The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...
A river runs through it
Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.
