Through Canal-Land in a Canadian Canoe | Page 7

cool leafy canopy, while the water was so clear that we could
distinguish objects lying upon the bottom quite distinctly, although the
water averaged a depth of seven or eight feet. Our silent approach
allowed us to come upon shoals of fish, which only darted away when
our bows cleared the water immediately above them, a sight that roused
all our angling instincts.

At other spots along the canal the towering hills, with their crests
enshrouded in mist, combined to make up as impressive a picture as
can be conjured up by the imagination.
Wild-flowers, blackberries, and sloes dotted the banks in profusion, and
the occasional starting of a hare or the putting up of a rocketing
pheasant from out of the woods, through which we passed at intervals
conveyed to us a charming impression of Nature in all the glorious
wealth of an early English autumn.
At Hest Bank the canal approached the coast, which we followed for
some distance allowing us to obtain an interesting view of Morecambe
Bay.
Arriving at Crooklands about seven in the evening, we left our canoe in
charge there and walked into Milnethorpe, a distance of some three
miles, and sought shelter for the night, with the consciousness that next
day would see us at the end of our canal journey.
Early next morning we are out and about and, breakfast despatched, we
get afloat once more, with the sun shining, the birds singing, and a soft
wind blowing from the south, making the last part of our trip every
respect.
We paddled along past the varied scenery on the banks, dotted here and
there with villages and hamlets and occasionally a town. The last day
on the canal we made a regular picnic of, landing on the grassy banks
when we wanted to rest and eat, and pushing onward again when we
were so inclined.
In this manner we progressed past Hincaster, Sedgwick, and Natland,
and at about three o'clock in the afternoon reached Kendal, where the
canal system curiously ends in a sheer wall. We were now practically
of our destination, and after carefully bumping the nose of the canoe
against the headwall of the canal, we landed at the steps.
Obtaining the assistance of a man with a horse and cart, we conveyed
our craft to Kendal railway station, and after tea took the train (with the

canoe stowed away in the guard's brake) to Windermere station. Now a
difficulty arose as to how to get the canoe safely to
Bowness-on-Windermere, a distance of about a mile and a-half. We
were nearly at our wits' ends for want of a suitable conveyance, when a
kindly disposed 'bus-driver offered to take the canoe inside the 'bus,
which offer, needless to say, we literally jumped at; and seated outside
with our craft stowed away inside the vehicle, we proceeded to our
journey's end in this novel fashion, much to the amusement and
edification of the numerous onlookers.
After a short stay by the lakeside, we took our canoe by train back to
London, and so brought to a close one of the most health-giving and
enjoyable holidays it has ever been my lot to spend, and which I shall
always recall with the liveliest feelings of delight.

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