In photos: A day canal boating on the Wey

Before we left for really cold climes, NewMan and I joined my parents on their beautiful narrowboat Lily Rose to cruise a mile or so up and down the Wey Navigation. Less than an hour away from the zones of London, this little spot in Surrey feels much more remote than it actually is and that's worth a lot, even to this city girl.

It was a cold, crestfallen but calm day and the water was curiously brown in a way it isn't usually - something to do with the recent rain stirring up the silt and stuff that lies beneath the water. At least that's what my Dad said and I've never had any trouble believing everything he tells me. He's that kind of wonderful Dad.

I fear the colours in these photos don't paint the best advertisement for UK travel and tourism, however,  if there's one thing I've learnt over the last twelve months or so, it's that there is so much more to a place than the colours it holds.
While canals and narrowboats aren't my passion like they are to my parents, it's perhaps because of their joy that I am happy to seek waterways and canals out wherever I go. It's the reason I loved Amsterdam's canals a little more than the average tourist. I see the way just being on Lily Rose soothes my Mum, like this boat is an old friend she can spend hours and hours with in silence and feel completely content.

It did cross my mind as we chugged along at 4 miles per hour that canal boating is to my parents what travel is to NewMan and I but I didn't dwell on this in much more detail because this was the moment when coffee and biscuits were brought out. Either way I do believe that everybody's got to have their something and I'm glad that canal boating is my Mum and Dad's something. So, now I want to ask you. What's your something?