We’ve had a few fun happenings today! First off R managed to lose what we call a ‘nappypin’ – it’s a metal pin that inserts into the canalside aramco steel sheeting enabling us to thread through a rope and moor the boat. We usually use chains but not this time. I think it slipped out of his hand when he tried to remove the pin from the sheeting. We only travelled for less than an hour before reaching the boaters services where we moored up to empty the cassette and fill the water tank. I suggested to R that first I wash my hair, then I do some more hand washing and once I had thoroughly rinsed everything he filled the tank. By then it was 11 o’clock and time for ‘Baby Breathe’. 50 yards from the boat was a lovely canalside cafe and a narrowboat serving drinks and icecreams. R went to investigate and I started my Zoom call. A boat passed us which I thought nothing of, but the reception in the boat was poor so I went outside to see if it improved. I found us almost straddling the canal – when the boat had passed it rocked us and loosened our mooring rope. When filling for water we just tend to use the midrope at the mooring bollard – this came loose and we floated away! Hurriedly I went from bow to stern, started up the engine and returned us to the edge just as R returned. I left him to tie the boat up and returned to my call. Once it was over we decided to have lunch in the cafe. We were near enough to the boat to see if anyone came along wanting to use the facilities in which case we would move (which, by the way, were excellent – not only did the CRT provide toilets, which were spotlessly clean, they also provided showers!). Seating ourselves on a vacant table, sitting in the sun was glorious. However there only appeared to be a couple of waitresses, who were having to sanitise tables and benches as well as take food orders, so I did wonder how long we would have to wait. I spent the time fantasising about which ice cream flavour I would have for dessert and whether I would push the boat out and have two scoops rather than one. I could see the lovely biscuit cornets half covered with dark chocolate and was getting very excited! Eventually a waitress appeared, very apologetic for the wait and took our order. R in addition to fish goujons in a cob (posh way of saying fish fingers in a bun!) ordered a ‘dressed’ side salad and triple cooked chips. Meanwhile I had couscous with mediterranean vegetables. The food was surprisingly quick to arrive and I have to say, was absolutely delicious! Especially the triple cooked chips. The side salad did not disappoint – plenty of spinach and rocket leaves with sundried tomatoes, radishes etc. Sometimes side salads can be so predictable and dull (I sound just like my mother!).
We tucked in and were really enjoying the food (thankfully I had nearly finished) when a couple approached us, asking if that was our boat that had drifted to the opposite side of the canal? They had recognised us as we passed their boat earlier in the day. We thanked them profusely – although from where we were sitting we could see Wind Rose, we couldn’t really see it’s angle so had failed to notice it had moved! I took the key and headed to the opposite towpath and then saw my problem. Although on the opposite side of the towpath, the boat was prevented from going close to the edge because of the weeds. Short of striding into the canal I could not reach it! As I was trying to assess my alternatives, in the distance I saw a boat coming towards me. If that boat could grab hold of our midrope and throw it to me I could sort our problem. Infact the skipper had a much better idea. Thankfully his boat had a bow thruster which gave him additional steerage. He suggested I returned to the opposite towpath where he would pick me up and reverse me to WR! R by now had finished his lunch so we both hitched a lift on the bow of this kind man’s boat, got aboard and headed off, too embarrassed to return to the cafe mooring to pick up my longed for ice cream. Lesson learned – moor up securely if you leave the boat for the shortest amount of time!
We only went a short distance along the canal when I suggested we moor up near a glass and pottery studio. Bad idea. The mud was thick and we could not get close to the edge. In addition another boat behind us was getting into difficulties trying to turn around. It was a day boat, much shorter than ours with 4 elderly novice boaters aboard. They had to about turn to get their boat back before the hire period ran out. We suggested they go further along to a wider part of the canal in order to safely turn, which they did. Meanwhile we moored, a foot away from the side, and left the boat to see if there were better moorings ahead, which there were. There was also a farm shop selling ice cream so I bought a tub of chunky chocolate – it was delicious. It also sold good quality meat so we bought some of that. We did have a long wait. When we arrived another couple was already waiting for the farmer to arrive, who could operate the contact less payment as the man in the shop only knew how to take cash payments. Eventually a tractor pulled up transporting the farmer and then we had another wait as he didn’t really know how to work the contact less payments either – it was a system installed by his son at the start of lockdown! However it was cheering to know how much business this small farm shop has procured over the past 15 months. They supply all sorts of groceries, enabling the locals to avoid the supermarkets if they so wish. We returned to move the boat and I found R had used another nappy pin. Unaccustomed as I am to them I pushed it down rather than pulled it up and so we lost our second nappy pin of the day! We did then moor much more successfully although another boat nearby didn’t seem pleased to have his patch invaded. He was running a generator that R thought might go continuously all night. Fortunately he turned it off about 7.30pm! A couple of ladies were sitting on a bench by the boat (the Ashby canal has a plethora of benches, all enscribed, so I presume they are in memory of someone who has died) so I offered them a cuppa. As they had just had one, they declined, but one of them had pulled a muscle and was not sure she could continue walking back to the car. We chatted for ten minutes and they set off but knew, if needed, the injured lady could wait with us whilst her friend fetched the car. We haven’t seen them so hopefully all is well.
NarrowboatTLC 