Apologies for the radio silence to those who actually get some entertainment value from hearing about my exploits! It’s been a bit hectic, more off the boat than on but now in the peace of the early hours I can gather my thoughts and reflect on the past couple of weeks.
A train trip to London on Tuesday 2nd August, to briefly visit daughter Ha in her new home, was a further trip down memory lane as I arrived at Liverpool St from St Margaret’s train station. We used to try and persuade dad to drop us at Broxbourne for the fast train into town but as St Margaret’s is only a couple of miles from our old home, it was the more usual route and easily walkable. Not that I did that too often, being far lazier than I am now about walking! I was relieved to hear from my brother that the beautiful reservoirs adjacent to the River Lea were not here 30 years ago – they used to be disused gravel pits! So happy that I hadn’t actually failed to notice them in my youth. Am still pretty shocked that I don’t remember taking myself off for walks along the riverside. Partly due to the fact that it wasn’t as attractive back in the day but also, the New River runs almost parallel to the River Lea so we would walk that path. There’s a small picturesque island below St John’s church in Gt Amwell next to a bridge and my memories of piling onto the bridge, to listen to madrigals being sung once a year in July, are very clear. Sadly one of the two stunningly beautiful willow trees on the island, has had to be removed, so the island is not looking quite as magical as I remember. It is still a local beauty spot and Gt Amwell itself, a very pleasant village to take a walk around.
On the Monday morning of that week I met with a group of Ukranian mum’s and children which resulted in a mum, her mother, her child and a teenage boy coming on the boat for a trip to Hertford in the afternoon. On Tuesday morning of that week another mum with two small children joined me for a trip towards Stanstead Abbots, which included an impromptu picnic lunch on the stern. The discovery of a pot of Nutella, left onboard by daughter Ho, was an added delight to the children! Then on the Thursday one of the host families came aboard as I moved the boat to moor next to the ‘orange carrot’ so K could keep an eye on it. The joy on the faces of our Ukranian visitors made me feel I was using the boat to good purpose. Although verbal communication is limited with some of them, their eyes reflected what they felt. It still amazes me the effect that a trip on the water can have. Somehow the peacefulness and the beauty of being so close to nature soothes the soul. All the adults said they had had an unforgettable day allowing them to briefly forget their troubles. For me, the best part is sharing food together and learning more about my guests, although being careful not to ask questions that may bring up painful memories and thoughts. My hope is that, now back on the boat, I shall be able to offer more short trips before heading back into London in September. I am in no hurry to leave as this is such a lovely place to be and Ware is an attractive small town to walk around.
I was very grateful to have my friend K to help though, with the trips, as R went home to assist Ho with her broken foot and associated immobility. An extra pair of hands is vital to operate the locks and manoeuvre the boat safely as the mum’s with children need to be aware of where and what their kids are up to at all times! Fortunately we have life jackets of varying sizes which the children wear but they are fairly bulky and in the recent extreme heat, not very comfortable!
The trip to Hertford was not without its challenges, the first being the dreadful state of the Ware lock paddles. Each had their own attached windlass, only one was missing making one paddle inoperable. Of the remaining three paddles, one of the paddles didn’t operate at all and one took me about a hundred turns of the windlass to get it to move! I seriously thought I was going to get stuck in the lock overnight at one point!! However I rang the CRT to alert them (as I am sure plenty of other boaters have done before me!) and today I heard from another boater that the lock has been sorted although it still takes an age to fill. I shall at some point give it another go because I would love to spend a couple of days exploring Hertford. We did find some fantastic blackberries, only accessible from the boat, fairly precarious to pick, but worth the stretch. I made pots of blackberry compote – very satisfying with my limited galley facilities. It was a step too far to make jam – probably would have used up my gas bottle!
There was a hairy moment when I came across a tree trunk in the water and a tiny sign indicating to go left, which I didn’t see until far too late and ended up having to reverse the boat whilst trying to avoid the tree and get back on course, all in front of some picnickers who wondered what on earth I was doing!
With no further trips on the immediate horizon, I unexpectedly returned home to help R with his nursing duties! K was more than happy to keep an eye on my boat, which she moored alongside her own and her mum came and stayed a night on, which was helpful for her. The fuel boat passed by and K got them to top up our tank. A few days later she noticed a bit of diesel in the water. Investigating, she found a small leak coming from my boat – very kindly she took the boat to the nearby marina. Meanwhile she was updating me whilst I was by now at the seaside for a week. It’s a bit nerve wracking whenever you find your boat has any kind of leak especially the older it gets as rust scenarios creep into your head! However they found the cause relatively easily – one of the rivets inserted to hold the canvas up and over cover has pierced the diesel tank. Due to the extremely hot weather the two metals have expanded at different rates causing a leakage, only an issue when the tank is fully filled! Some diesel was syphoned off and the boat booked in for repair yesterday.
I returned to Naomhòg on Tuesday and moved the boat opposite to the marina, fortunate to get a mooring right outside the pub. Wednesday was the Thanksgiving service for my mum, which was an emotional but uplifting day, as we met up with so many old friends and family who we hadn’t seen for years, mainly due to them living abroad and not able to get home because of covid. We stayed the night with the family at a local hotel, but had to nip out before breakfast yesterday to move the boat to the boatyard by 0830! I returned at lunchtime to see what was happening, dropped off by my brother who then left me, along with the rest of the family, so I very much felt a nomad as I couldn’t access the boat. I left my belongings in the marina office and walked back to Ware feeling bereft of both family and boat! Fortunately my good friend De was still in the vicinity because she, along with three other friends are joining me for a boat trip later today. So De and I spent time in Ware, even buying a bit of jewellery in the local jewelers, a memory of mum and early years spent in this neck of the woods. Then returning to the marina, unsurprisingly as it is the boating world, we find the repair not done, as it’s not urgent, the diesel level being below the leak. All that effort to get the boat to the right place at the right time. Mick, the mechanic, is now away for ten days so I rebook for another date and De and I move the boat back to Ware. That entails two very slow filling locks and a crash course for De who has never set foot on a narrowboat before! Luckily the weather is beautiful and we have a pleasant meander back to the town centre. Passing a boat under construction a head pops out and the guy aboard says ‘I built your boat’. What are the chances of that?! After mooring up I go and chat to him amazed by the coincidence considering it was built over 15 years ago and Liverpool Boats no longer exist. Small world!
NarrowboatTLC 