BOATS AND CANALS

We went for a paddle on the Basingstoke canal today. Very idyllic.



Shortly afterwards we met an aggressive swan. Jo wanted to turn round but I thought once we are past it it will be fine. Remind me to listen to her in future!!

We passed it and it tried to keep up with us. We could easily go faster than a swimming swan so outdistanced it. It took off and landed just behind us and proceeded to attack the boat and to try and attack us. We kept it away by putting the paddles between us and it so it couldn't reach us.

A passing runner stopped and told us it was a single male and was very aggressive and she had been attacked by it in the past. She recommended that we come to the bank.

We couldn't go anywhere as we needed the paddles to keep it away depriving us of traction.

We got to the bank and got ourselves and the canoe out of the water.

The Swan calmed a bit.

Fortunately the canoe has wheels in the form of a collapsing set we use for moving from the car to the launch point. We put the canoe on the wheels and set off back down the towpath (to the surprise of some cyclists). The Swan followed for a while but then got distracted by some walkers who it now regarded as a better target.

After half a mile or so we launched the canoe again and went back to the car.

Remind me not to go canoeing there again.

Cheers Graham

An idyllic scene as your picture shows.

I am not surprised if you paddled along the towpath

I know just how scary some swans can be having come face to face with them on the towpath, fortunately neither of you were hurt although very wary.

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Maurice

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I've just had a chat with Accessible Boating's maintenance manager who tends to know everything about the canal. The swan is well known and has even attacked a car. He has asked me to write to Fiona Ship the canal manager to suggest that some signs are put up as either the swan or some kids are going to get hurt. I've just emailed her - I know her quite well and she will take my point seriously.

Cheers Graham

I've received a reply for Fiona, she is putting up warning signs for towpath users and posting warnings on social media. That is all you can do really. Cheers Graham

...and you have highlighted it here.

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Maurice

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Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

I can sympathise.

I recall as a teenager hearing a huge commotion downstairs, with my mother making an awful racket, shouting and screaming. I ran down to discover that two swans had come into the kitchen, and were trying to steal anything they could eat! We lived in Cropredy at the time, and the swans were regular visitors in the garden, but it was the first (and only!) time they got into the house.

Last summer we had a pheasant on the village green that attacked passing cars. That had a funny side ... and there were several occasions when we spotted cars that had actually stopped, because the thing had been running alongside and then throwing itself at the wheels! Amazingly, it survived for several months, before the inevitable happened.

Swans can be rather vicious. I often take my grandsons' to the local park to feed the ducks. There are swans there also. They look so nice, but looks sure deceive. The swans try to attack us as we throw bread into the water. They are not content with that. Oh no! They want the bread BEFORE it is out of the bag. Now it is no bread for swans

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G
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