BOATS AND CANALS

Jun 12th 2007

We've just had a long weekend trip to Brinklow. We decided to take my Mum for a cruise. Out on Friday, back Monday.

We've just had shore power put into the boat so were pleased to see it all connected and a full set of batteries for just about the first time since we bought the boat. We were also surprised to see it in backwards and a new mooring ring to stop the rudder going under the walkway.

Everything went well until we left the mooring!

Chaos, another boat had left just before us and was waiting at the exit from the old marina, we ended up waiting at the exit from the new one into the old. There were 4 boats going up a load coming down and more on the way. We got to know Gunther from the other boat, a nice guy who declared that he was 5th and we were 6th and woe betide anyone who argued with us. To make the point he left the marina and queued up next to the new arrivals (after the first 4). He then waved us out next to him and in the end we got going up the locks. We moored just past Napton Junction and stayed put for the night.

The next day we were off and went pass Gunther, he is a nice guy! We cruised up to Braunston on the way saw a very overloaded day boat with toddlers ( in life jackets) hanging on the sides and loads of people on the roof every time it turned it rolled horribly I was convinced it would roll over but it wasn't in the news so I guess they made it. After the junction we got shouted at for nudging a boat moored on the bend opposite the water point. There was no room at all and we only just touched.

Anyway on we went and much to our surprise went past a work colleague who I hadn't seen since 1994.

Down Hillmorton locks, nice and quiet until the last which was pretty busy, we went into the waiting left hand lock and discovered a boat moored so close that we couldn't get out. They 'couldn't move' 'cos everyone else had queued up behind. We managed in the end by me imitating a bow thruster with a rope and heaving the front with the back still in the lock. Jo wasn't happy but the other boat seemed to think it funny.

We moored at Newbold and had dinner in the Barley Mow.

The next day we went onto Brinklow, had the loo pumped out at Rose Narrowboats and filled up with Diesel. We are tying some new gunge in the loo, it's called Clean 'n Green by Lee San. It cleans the bowl and then does the tank. Boy was the bowl shiny! We've got biomagic in the other loo and will see which does best. Being an engineer I want to keep records of what goes in each one.

We did a multipoint turn at the entrance to Stretton Wharf and set off back south, mooring for the night at Tarry's bridge south of Hillmorton. It was a lovely evening, drinking wine in the cockpit.

The next day it was back to Calcutt and we did a brilliant entrance and backed in!!!!!! Yeah!!!!

A great weekend, Mum wants to come again.

Cheers Graham