h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello: I am located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I paddle my Folbot Aleut folding kayak (www.folbot.com) on local lakes and rivers including the 200 km Rideau Canal. Have any of you had experience kayaking in Britain's canals? I am thinking about taking a holiday in Britain and paddling on some canals - but I would like to hear from others who have done it. For example, is it true that many of the locks have to be operated by those who are paddling?

Cheers, CanukKayaker

Hi there CanukKayaker. I don't know what brought you to my page as I don't kayak I'm afraid, but as it happens I do have a fair bit of experience on Britain's canals (in my case with a 36' narrow boat). Yes, most locks, apart from those on the largest waterways and at a handful of other busy locations, are self-operated. As it's necessary to get out of your boat to do this most people with kayaks find it easier just to carry their boats to the far end of the lock. In fact as most of the locks are manually operated using windlasses to raise the sluices and human leg power to move the gates this is actually rather less energetic!