Visited a farm shop that was so tempting, but expensive, that I think R was relieved even I realised we didn’t have much room for anything else on the boat! So leaving temptation behind I got to work and while R helmed the boat I set about working 8 locks. Who needs any other kind of workout? Still, that was nothing compared to the 7 double locks R had to then do after lunch! We felt quite exhausted by the time we arrived back in Marsworth and moored up by the Grand Junction Pub. We were expecting to see my sister and bro-in-law about 6pm, so after dark, but realised there was no way we could meet on the boat. The towpath was like a mudbath and we had images of them slipping into the canal as we had not prepared them to bring their wellies!
Undeterred, we had a great evening with them in the nearby pub which fed us all royally. The waitress, a young girl, was very accommodating when we asked her to witness my signature (the main reason for the urgency of the visit was because I need to sign a document before lockdown started!) but obviously she was a bit perturbed because a few minutes later her manager appeared wanting to know what she had signed her name too! Saying goodbye was rather sad knowing that lockdown was round the corner and they didn’t even get to see the boat (and I’d cleaned it!!).
NarrowboatTLC 