That 4,700 miles of navigable waterways

AS WE struggle through the undergrowth that is now the Oxford Canal, my thoughts go to the 4,700 miles of waterways, writes T. Lang.

Used to exaggeration

We are so used to exaggeration these days, with the number of waterway visitors springing to mind, but don't you think that some bright bod either in the ABC Hire lot or CaRT has the idea that as a boat can travel both ways on a waterway that means there are 4,000 miles available not just 2,000?  Then add another 700 for luck?

Considering the stuff that is churned out these days I wouldn't be at all surprised.

But back to finding our way along the Oxford—"no not that way, that's one of the old loops—it's 'through' that tree there!"  Here's a photograph.