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Where the time stands still
Some words of
Finland
As
introduction I want to tell little where we come from. Our
native language is finnish and Finland is member of EU and our currency
is Euro. Approximately 5,2 million people are living in Finland and
our area is 338000 sq km. Our home in Finland is situated on the bank of Kokemaki river, 200 km from Helsinki (capital of Finland). Our river has only little motor boats and rowing boats because of power station dam which limits traffic. In
Finland we have traffic mostly in lakes (we have thousands of lakes and
also huge amount of rivers with power station dams). Canals connect
lakes to each other and the biggest canal is Saimaa Canal, which
connects our commercial waterways to Russia. You
can get good information from Finland in website http://www.finland.fi I
hope that when you are reading this, my english is good enough. Our way to
Ireland
Seven
years ago we wanted to know more about Ireland. I had not internet to
help in this and so we got very good information from Irish state
tourist office in Finland. Now
my personal purpose is to promote canal cruising holidays for finnish
people in Ireland, because there is no rush in canals and rivers. It
took after this contact almost 2 years until we had our first canal
cruising in Ireland. We
had dream to steer our own barge, to operate 200 year old locks,
navigate under beautiful stone bridges, stopping off in a town for
supplies and overnight and have a friendly chat with the locals and
enjoy a pint of Guinness and relaxing in this atmosphere we like.We
have had many chats and friendly meeting also with private boaters. Green
valleys, mountains, flora and fauna just like we like. That is good
holiday and we can enjoy tranquility. Cruising as
beginners
Before
our first cruising over 5 years ago, we had very little information
about boat rental companies. When taxi turned to base it was very exciting to see canal boats mooring side by side. After reception and tuition we were alone onboard our barge. Tiller steering and heavy boat were not familiar for us. Boat was not going always like we wanted but after driving carefully and getting experience, boat is your friend and just like you want. Very important persons to us are Karin and Michael and after 14th july 2001 also their son and our godson Pieter in Rathangan. First memory is when Karin gave to us in Rathangan potatoes and rhubarb many years ago and already then Katriina liked very much small puppies in their base. (not cruising then Canalways Ireland). I
remember especially expression: “If you have hurry, canal boat is not
for you, you must take car”. I have been always interested in technics
of boats and that is why diesel engine and all systems on board are
fascinating me. Our family on board has been always good crew and almost
in the beginning my son has worked as best captain. Freedom
to come and go has pleased us from the beginning. I hate fixed schedules
during holiday. More experience Canal
cruising is best to see flora and fauna and farms along canal banks,
different sheeps and cows and horses are also good atmosphere for us,
although our home in Finland is also in countryside. When we have more
experience, service from boat owner is all the time very important and
chat with them is also part of your holiday because they have good ideas
there you can go and stop and where are good pubs and restaurants. When
you have more experience, a pint of Guinness or hot whisky is in the
evening part of your unforgettable holiday. Fresh air and activities before evening are best life before stopping for overnight alongside canal, near villages, towns or locks. When
we got information about the River Barrow, we were at once interested to
go there, but we were thinking very accurately and evaluating our
experience before we asked from boat owner: “Can we go to Barrow”. It
was our second summer when we reached Goresbridge and turned around. My
personal problem has sometimes been Lime works turbin before Coresbridge.
And one time Waterway service had falled stones by excavator near
Ratvindon lock so that our boat got strong touch on these rocks
althought we were going according to navigation map and instructions. We
had luck that not damage happened. Near
Rathellin lock happened so that pool got through the window and we
repaired it by wide plastic tape. As we were doing repairing a pyjamas
of our friend falled into canal for ever. Bagenalstown
has been very interesting place when filling watertank. Water tap was
broken once when we were mooring in Bagenalstown and we got advice from
technical office of Bagenalstown that we could carry water from their
office yard tap nearby(too far for water hose). We did so and we made
funnel from Sprite bottle. It was very heavy job but we got water. One
summer weir after Bagenalstown lock was broken and Waterway Service
helped us as follows: In
the evening we made agreement that after lock we stop and when their
boss gives sign, we drive with full throttle through very strong current
until weir canal is behind us. I
succeeded, boat was cruising about one minute like car on ice, but
everything was going okay and workers of Waterway Service clapped their
hands. When we were returning to Bagenalstown after some days the point
near weir was not deep enough and current was very strong and weir was
not finished yet. I increased throttle, but boat stopped on rock and it
didn’t move. We gave rope to Waterway Service boss, but he falled into
water and boat was moving again. That
man is our good friend and I hope to see him again.
Strong
current in the river Barrow has been sometimes exciting experience and
we have had luck with our boats that engine has worked okay. Technical
problems have not been problems for us because maintenanceservice has
always been perfect.
Locks
White
and black lock constructions and especially double locks have always
been very attractive and in the beginning also frightening stops. Operating
locks has been very pleasant activities after cruising slowly many miles Now
when we are over 50 years old we are cruising just the two of us we have
more activity getting throught locks and my wife wants to open locks
because she doesn’t want to drive. Last
autumn I wrote to IWAI mailing list by asking about some locks (maintenance
and if they are at this time tight and I told that my wife opens the
locks if there is no lockkeeper). One
friendly member of list wrote “It is not illegal in Ireland that you
operate locks and your wife is steering the boat” We did so that I was
steering and my wife was operating the locks. I
want to send special thanks to lockkeepers Peter and Joe Moore from
Monasterevin because we have had very much chats with them and they have
helped us in many things, even from window of car when we were walking
in traffic of Monasterevin We
remember also one friendly old man from old 19th lock (Old
Barrow line) and lockkeeper from 20th lock in Mainline,
Ticknevin.
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He
asked us to give sign by horn when we are approaching the lock and he
wanted to give also his cat to us because it was looking food inside our
boat. I
hope also that one special lockkeeper in the River Barrow understands Summary
In
this article I have tried to express our feelings and experiences and to
tell that we like Ireland, Irish peoples, Inland waterways and want
to come again. We
have many good friends in Ireland and we have lost our heart We
try in our own ways to promote canal and river cruising is Ireland. We
hope also that maintenance budget for waterways big enough
My article in IWN spring edition Inland Waterways Association of Ireland If
you don't have Acrobat Reader, load it free from link below
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