On the canal with Mencap - April 2026

The day dawned unusually warm for April, bright and sunny and ideal for a day on the water,  By 11:30 we had assembled at Waterways Experiences wharf at Nash Mills; 42 from Mencap, including some of our old friends who used to come on the trips we did from Pitstone a good number of years ago, leaving space for just five from Harpenden Lions Club.  We received the safety briefing, boarded and promptly at noon we cast off and proceeded down the canal at a stately 3 knots.

By time we reached the first lock most people had eaten their packed lunches and there was a surge of enthusiastic volunteers to leave the boat to open and close the lock gates.   Back on board, Clare was kept busy making tea and coffee and judging by the hubbub of conversation, everyone was enjoying the outing. 

The weather was so good that some people preferred to walk from one lock to the next, and it felt as though there was a steady flow of passengers on and off the boat. There was never a shortage of people to open and close the lock gates!  In what seemed like much less than the two hours we had actually been travelling, it was time to turn round and go back to Nash Mills for a few more photos, thanks and applause for the Waterways crew and a smooth ride back home.

Mencap have told us that it was (in their words) a fabulous day out and the Lions who went on the trip (and others in the Club) are looking forward to doing it again.

photos courtesy of Harpenden Mencap