Prior to potty duty we fortified ourselves with coffee and a muffin at the marina coffee shop, and also as a chance to escape the morning rain. Trying to access the internet proved a problem both for us and a young man sitting socially distanced from us in the cafe. So we fell to talking and he told us that he had just spent all his savings on a narrowboat hull, which would need total renovation. Although he had some of the skills needed, he was feeling daunted by the task ahead of him. We offered a positive slant to his adventure and to encourage him as we thought it very enterprising and hope he succeeds, finding fulfilment in his creativity.
We didn’t get far along the canal before I asked to stop very near to a small shopping outlet called Heart of the Shires. Leaving R to his accordian practice I walked less than 5 minutes whereupon I came across said outlet with the most amazing and satisfying kitchen shop! We didn’t have a bread knife (sale £5); eggcups (little tin ones at £1.50 each); a birdie that sits on a pan edge letting the steam escape, as well as doubling as a spoon rest; canisters for tea and coffee made from recycled plastic at £3.50 each and some metal hooks for hanging coats etc in the cabin to dry them out. Arrived back at the boat very chuffed to have found so many useful items for making life aboard a little more organised! We travelled further along the canal, stopping the night at a place called Weedon where a local recommended The Narrowboat put for a meal. Although the food was OK we were more impressed by the ambiance and how Covid secure we felt with the staff doing a very good job under their difficult circumstances. Walking a mile or so back along the towpath in the pitch dark was no mean feat as it felt especially slippery under foot!
NarrowboatTLC 