Kennet and Avon

[Sid Charles]

Why is this canal full of weirdo's

 

Yes it's the title Kennet and Avon, it seems overflowing with hippie types who hardly move is it because there are very few locks, or is it because it's close to Bath and Bristol? I won't air my views because this is a canal boat forum, not a political debate

Edited November 6 by Sid Charles

[Arthur Marshall]

Weirdo's what?

[Jen-in-Wellies]

They are weirdos because they are in the canal in November, instead of on the towpath, or in boats. 

[b00ke23]

1 hour ago, Sid Charles said:

Why is this canal full of weirdo's

 

Care to elaborate? 

[Alan de Enfield]

1 hour ago, Sid Charles said:

Why is this canal full of weirdo's

 

Its an alternative lifestyle / universe

[MtB]

2 hours ago, Sid Charles said:

Why is this canal full of weirdo's

 

And how would you know this? 

 

Lemme guess... you are on the Kennet and Avon... 🤣🤣🤣

[Jen-in-Wellies]

If you are on the K&A and don't think it is full of weirdos, you are probably one of them!

😀

[Sid Charles]

10 hours ago, Sid Charles said:

Why is this canal full of weirdo's

I think I have been edited?

[cuthound]

You have to be weird to have a boat in the first place... 😂🤣

[Mike Todd]

18 hours ago, Sid Charles said:

Why is this canal full of weirdo's

 

Yes it's the title Kennet and Avon, it seems overflowing with hippie types who hardly move is it because there are very few locks, or is it because it's close to Bath and Bristol? I won't air my views because this is a canal boat forum, not a political debate

You clearly haven't atempted to cruise very much of the K&A - it is 87 miles long with 107 locks, most of which are quite heavy and with a concentrated section at Caen Hill. Lock free???

 

It is possible in some areas that at this time of the year there is a greater proportion of boats with no home mooring (NHMs) than at other times of the year. However, my experience of the canal between Pewsey Wharf and Semington is that there is a declining number of boats being used continuously by people who might conceiveably come into the perorative category you use. Most boaters with No Home Mooring have jobs like the rest of us. But life on the towpath for much of the K&A is quite hard, especially in the winter, when sections not adopted (ie tarmaced) by the cycling world become very muddy and hard to walk. Unsurprisingly, most of us in that situation will be seen, whether moored or crusing, in something less than our best finery.

 

Failure to comply with the NHM rules has long been an issue on the K&A in a small number of locations (but often high profile). Considerable work by CaRT has reduced the incidence although there is some indication that the hot spot moves somewhere else. Around 40% of all NHM are on the K&A and also a similar proportion of all boats with an equality adjustment are also on this canal.

 

I trust that you are not trying to draw conclusions based on a superficial reading of people's visual appearance. I am not a CC but when out on the water I usually take the opportunity to wear out clothing that might otherwise be discarded (often after a life of several decades!) Whilst I am not hirsute, does that make me a wierdo? I am pleased to say that the K&A manages to support one of the more diverse boating groups and has avoided becoming a shiny boat monochrome!

 

And yes, the proximity to Bath and Bristol has been a factor in the rise in the number of NHMs over a long period. Most are only doing so in a perfectly lawful manner - a long stretch of moored boats may not indicate a flouting of the mooring rules, just that it is a popular place! 

[phantom_iv]

19 hours ago, Sid Charles said:

it seems overflowing with hippie types who hardly move is it because there are very few locks

I always thought they hardly moved because there's so many locks (not to mention the swing bridges), thus it's a real pain if there's no space in the next pound as it's full of CMers!

[Mike Todd]

1 hour ago, phantom_iv said:

I always thought they hardly moved because there's so many locks (not to mention the swing bridges), thus it's a real pain if there's no space in the next pound as it's full of CMers!

The OP did not mention the swing bridges which further limits his possible experience of life on the K&A!

[MtB]

On 05/11/2025 at 19:40, Sid Charles said:

Yes it's the title Kennet and Avon, it seems overflowing with hippie types who hardly move

 

I wonder if you could expand on how you know they "hardly move", please. 

 

Unless of course you are moored amongst them and "hardly move" yourself, also. 

 

Much obliged.

 

 

[Tigerr]

At the end of the Lord of the rings, the lovely colourful hobbits, wizards, elven kings and noble warrior dwarves all got on boats to the ringing of fair music, and went west to the setting sun, which is also where Camelot and King Arthur lie. This has led to a lot of them getting stuck in the reeds on the western waters, hence the phenomenon you notice. Many are called, but only a few reach Totnes, or Penzance. 

The Vale of Pewsey is part way to the Vale of Avalon. 
In contrast the grim satanic mills of the north, massive smoking dark citadels and stagnant eastern wastes of Mordor, are full of empty eyed orcs and soulless slaves of mammon, toiling in the money mines, what you might call normal people. Denizens and lost souls of Essex, the drear midlands, the bleak northern moors, eking out lives of grey void. 

To these sad soulless wage slaves, the faery folk of the vale of avalon are an affront, dressed as they are, neither from Next nor M&S, but in minstrels rags, nor bound to Sauron's status engine.

Two Tribes.  
Thus it is written and lo how it is to be seen. 

Edited November 7 by Tigerr

[Allan(nb Albert)]

Never realised Brinklow was on the K&A ... 

 

[Mike Todd]

9 hours ago, Allan(nb Albert) said:

Never realised Brinklow was on the K&A ... 

 

Cryptic