Lovely to see the Canal boat! Lovely walk Dave and Logan!

Back in 2000 we moved to Hook, from a little village in Mattingley... I am the eldest of 3 brothers, they yonuger two had moved away and got married and the house was now just too big and Mum and Dad were retiring. I never left home and so along with my parents we moved, from the house I have lived in for almost 36 years... IN 2006, I decided I wanted to walk the Basingstoke canal. I had no idea how far I would get. I just packed my camera, a couple of bottles of water and some sandwiches and off I went.. Yes I walked from Hook, through the to the bridge on the Hook road, in North Warnborough, onto the canal and the journey proper began. The early part was a bit tatty, but once I got into the fields, it improved immensely and the rest of the walk was One of the best I have ever done and one of the longest walks in one day I have ever done.. It was a glorious summers day and the canal was in excellent condition.. I finally stopped and turned around at Mytchett Lake.. I must admit, it was getting a bit late so I jumped the canal and got on the train at Ash Vale back to Hook. Was not exactly confident of walking along the canal at night, with no torch Still that's a good long walk, of almost km or a little over 19 miles. I was 46 back thenI kept saying I would get the train to Ash Vale and do the other half of the canal from Mytchett lake, but never did.. Then my father passed away in 2011 and then along comes the pandemic in 2020, in 2021, mum want into hospital with an infection in her hip..In late July she came home, she could barely walk but was just glad to be back. It did not last and in mid August she was back the hospital, this time with intense pain in her neck and the infection had returned. Sadly mum was not to come home again and passed away, in her sleep, in the hospital on 18th September 2021. Now it's just me, in a house that feels very empty now and worse until probate in granted, there is little I can do, so have to do my best to keep the money coming in and pay the bills.. So many people saying that getting out in the countryside, during the pandemic, was the best medicine and that was so true. But with mum being in her 80's she was not stuck isolating herself from everyone, even when rules were relaxed for others, so I made a promise that I would shield along with mum, until it was all over... Lot of good it did and now that I have to work every hour I can, just to keep this hose going until I can sell up and get somewhere cheaper, so now long walks along the canal for me. I've also had to sell a lot of my camera equipment and other things just to stay on top of the bills... I'm keeping my DJI MIni 2 drone though. One day I'll get back to the canal and take that with me....Have been binge watching your walks in Hampshire and when I got to this one, I'll admit it bought back many memories, not just of that walk, but still having mum and dad around, and the walks we would go on and the fishing trips with Dad.. When Dad passed away, that was the last year we had a holiday away, so having the countryside around was great.. I now it'll all work out ok in the end but just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for this video. It's made me realise, that work and money are not what are really important in life. I am now 61 and I shall be getting back to my long walks as soon as the nice weather returns.... and after seeing several of your other videos, I have seen a few places I must visit..Thanks again and keep the videos coming

Thanks Dave,picked a nice day for it. Lovely area.

Hi Dave. I live in France, and I've watched many of your walks. It's as if I'm really on the walk. You make the walks very interesting, enjoy the historic. And I find them all very relaxing to watch. Thanks. Wayne

I’ve done this walk myself and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone, it’s a lovely stroll along a good path with lots to see!

This is a fabulous video and inspired me to walk the The Basingstoke Canal. Very informative and a big thank you for sharing!

nice video looked a great walk

Nice walk and video thanks

Glad to have found your walks, will be visiting many of these areas with my wife dog and caravan . Thanks

Goodness me. Imagine receiving orders to man a pill box not expected to stop an invasion, only to slow it down. Gulp! What a gorgeous spot to make your last stand though. Maybe your loveliest walk yet Dave. Thanks again.

Nice one Dave. I know of the Basingstoke canal, but I didn’t think it was linked to the rest of the network. But after watching this video, maybe it is. The old pill boxes are always interesting and those were in remarkably good order. I do like canal bridges. They are so attractive.

What a delight to see the ducks and a barge as well.

Hi Dave, I have just discovered your channel today! Really enjoyed watching this walk. I have walked parts of the canal since childhood, mainly the section nearest to Odiham Castle ruins (King John's Castle). Would love to explore more of it one day but being a non driver it's a bit tricky! Just gotta say as well what a gorgeous boy Logan is! ;-))

I did this walk only last week , I extended it a little which involved a trip to The Queens head in Dogsmerfield

Dave, great video.. I've done this very same loop/walk many times but never researched all the fascinating facts you highlighted. Many thanks! Look forward to more.

What a wonderful walk along a gorgeous canal! Just loved all of those arched bridges along the way!😍 Beautiful estate w/ the Dowager House & what a marvelous thatched cottage that was!!! How did Logan like all of those cute little ducklings?!😊🦆 Btw...when you showed that horse statue I thought "oh, what a beautiful gray mare!!!" Until you said something I thought it was completely real too!🤣🤣🤣

Well done awesome video Dave ford .brilliant Logan Did Logan enjoy his walk . Just to let you know that I have done another video.

What a glorious walk. A really enjoyable start to the day. I just wondered if you might be venturing into south Wiltshire for your 2021 season?