CATCHING UP

This year, we quit Brinklow Marina, accompanied by nb Clarence, with a view to seeing whether we can get along together. Should we achieve this, we planned to head off to France together in early 2014.  Briefly, we nipped up and down the Welsh Canal, on up the Bridgewater, and so, after Wigan we paused.

I cannot now recall when we heard the bad news that work priorities would de-bar Clarence from crossing the channel.  Indeed, Clarence headed back to Brinklow, whilst Fanny and I made a more leisureIy cruise back down to the Oxford canal, winding below Banbury.  Then back up the Oxford to Napton Junction to turn up onto the Grand Union, and so to the The Blue Lias for a most excellent boaters Rally.

After the Rally we headed to the Fenny Compton Marina, where Bob the Boat plies his trade as a boat fix-it man, as Rosy had a few iffy bits that needed attention. He had been recommended to me, and I now recommend him to others in the vicinity.

Errrr.  That, really, is my year. I am now back in the vicinity of Rugby, with a myriad of doctors, dentists, opticians and vets appointments.

Sadly, there were not many humorous incidents during the voyage. The best was approaching a blind, left-hand bend. I had a premonition, so slowed right down just as an approaching boat shot FAST straight across the bend and buried itself into my embankment. I managed to pass by on the off-side and was greeted with a tirade from the other steerer for not stopping to help un-stick him. I suggested that he could help himself by SLOWING DOWN on tight bends; his opinion was that he did not know it was so tight, and I rallied that therefore he should have been going even more slowly. I thought I was helpful by suggesting that he move his crew from the front to the back, but I think that this was lost on him.

I am now moored beside Rugby golf course, carefully placed to minimise the possibility of being hit by a golf ball. Its a convenient mooring, near a bus stop to get into Rugby town for all those dentists etc etc.

It is still my intention to go to Europe next year.  I'm toying with the idea of retracing my previous early steps in Europe, by getting trucked to Ternuzen which is just in Holland. They have an on-site crane there, and the people running it were extremely helpful. Watch this space!!

Toodle pip!!