We had decided to go out on sunday the best part of a week before, theres a few birthdays and the sister in law plus hubby haven't seen the boat yet, so the plan was go up early, get some domestics out of the way, then set sail for the second nearest pub for a carvery. (The nearest pub is right outside the marina, and whilst its a quick trip, you really don't feel as if you've been cruising, when you arrive. Cos you haven't.) Anyway, going to the Dog and Duck means passing through a lock which can be exciting, and herself likes to be in charge of locks so that's cool, its a chance to park up, (moor) watch her struggle manfully with 19th century engineering, whilst irritatingly annoying her with a slow methodical textbook advert like opening of an ice cold can of Kronenberg, (other beers are available, like the ice cider slush, left) Then sit on the roof basking in the sun drinking a tinny whilst she pushes the lock gates around! Sounds good, right? Till she reads this anyway!So Sis in law bails on friday, we still set sail, but had a nice lunch in the pub at base, set off around 2 and headed due east ish. The river was quite full after the crazy weather of the last few days, she handled a little sluggish actually and it had been 3 weeks since we last voyaged so I wasn't the best helmsman Ive ever been. But exited the tight bends out of base and upstream ok, past all the narrow boats moored along the river bank into the open bit which was a bit like one of these computer games avoiding overhanging trees, fishermens lines canoes etc etc. Don't ever argue with a barge coming the other way, they are really heavy, built of steel and don't take plastic boats as prisoners. But everyone has been really friendly on the water, its as if its a different world or time. So far! When I had a spitfire, we spitfire drivers would wave at each other, it was like a code, and its the same on the river.
These beauties came looking for either financial advice or food. Think it was probably food as they left before I had finished talking footsie to them.
Went up to the next lock, just past it there's a service mooring place, stopped had a rest and a tin, sorted out our brand new lfebuoy (present from S-i-L) on he bow (front) turned round, back through the lock, parked up by the railway bridge, (that doesn't really describe the trauma of mooring -- the current kept dragging us away from the side, meaning I needed extra power, but wanted to approach slowly because lots of little kids on the jetty with their feet dangling. Made a right mess of it, got a line to a fellow boater on the jetty and he stood there whilst the current dragged the boat right around till we were pointing upstream. Then in front of everyones' watchful gaze had to pretend that was the plan all along!) Watching the kids jump in, another tin, stayed til we thought they'd forgotten our arrival and left with a u turn!) and back to base. Very pleasant, and as a bonus extra got a very nice man to help sort our electrics out. So now we can use 240v ac on board, first job? Hoover.
View from our back bedroom window (sorry, aft cabin) back at base.
***CANAL BOAT NANCY
Thanks for Reading!
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