Local Care Home Residents Cruising on the Canal

Residents of Ashcombe House in Worting road Basingstoke enjoyed a three hour trip along the Basingstoke canal on a sunny bank holiday Monday. Boarding ‘DAWN’ in Odiham , residents enjoyed the beautiful scenery, wildlife and wonderful weather sharing memories. Canal Barge DAWN has wheelchair access and is run by Assessible Boating. We were captained today by Volunteers Gordon & Jenny Keyte who gave us all a brilliant day.

We set of West, taking in the beautiful scenery, cruised through the lock and moored up by odiham castle to enjoy a picnic lunch onboard. The canal was busy on a sunny bank holiday Monday and residents enjoyed talking and waving to lots of people along the way.

Michelle Martin, activities coordinator said
“Its lovely for residents to be able to get out and enjoy the beautiful scenery to enjoy the history of the canal and have a great time enjoying the sunshine, everyone has had a lovely time.”

Peggy Gary resident at Ashcombe was sharing her stories of the canal as her late husband was one of the many workers who helped to restore and dig out the canal back in 1977. “This trip has brought back lots of memories for me. Today I was able to steer the barge to visit the castle, I really have had a truly fantastic day with good music, great food and lots of laughs along the way”.