Having spent a few days getting my new (to me) Mega Outlander 16 kitted out to my satisfaction, I then had a frustrating wait for some decent weather to coincide with some free time. At last, towards the end of January, I had a few hours spare on a day when it wasn't actually raining, and decided to take the canoe for its first trip. I chose a pleasant stretch of the Chesterfield Canal, from Kiveton Park to Thorpe Triple locks and back - just a gentle stretch of easy water, but one of my favourite short local trips. This boat is so much lighter than my others, so I didn't bother taking the trolley for the portage, and was soon setting up on the towpath. There was frost in the shadows still, but a winter sun was trying its best to give some warmth to the afternoon. Past Albert's Dock, a narrow boat was shut up for the winter. Sheltered from a moderate wind, I enjoyed the reflections as I passed by. The wind was mostly behind me on my journey out, but in places the canal Continue Reading