Waterways World Vol. 1 No. 2 (October 1972) had an article which began:
It's been described as "motion asleep". Certainly, it's something like that. Lying on the cabin top with your eyes closed you are completely unaware that the boat is on the move. There is no noise, no vibration, no surging of wash, no "stirring up the mud and knocking down the banks". Open your eyes and the trees overhead are passing by at a hypnotic rate. What is the secret?
The secret, of course, is the horse at the end of a cotton towline.
The article had several photographs of horses in canal scenes; here are two of them with their original captions:
One horse power pulling a day trip boat on the Grand Union Canal near Berkhamstead - picture WW
There are complications - Jack Roberts, ex. Shropshire Union fly-boat skipper, hands in the towing line to pass a pair of moored narrow boats in the Potteries. - picture WW
(edit) Sorry, this published originally as a title only!
2 comments:
Hi Halfie, I've just been catching up with a few of your posts. I like your new bike! And especially, I like these posts of the history of the waterways. I suppose being horsedrawn is the canal equivalent of sailing on the wider waters. Drifting along with no engine going and only natural power to keep you moving must be a very special feeling! Hope you and Jan are well.
I have only once experienced it, on the trip boat at Llangollen five years ago. The silence was the most amazing thing. Even quieter than sailing as there are no flapping sails and only the gentlest of water noise.
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