Another brief sojourn at home to assist daughter Ho but also to see my brother before he returns to Austria having come over for mum’s Thanksgiving service. We returned to the boat on Tuesday morning in time to get the boat ship shape before the arrival of some ukranian guests in the afternoon. First we had to move the boat, which was double moored to the orange carrot – health and safety regulations would have been broken trying to let anyone get aboard, such was the precariousness of the stern entrance in relation to K’s boat. K needed to fill her tank with water but was facing in the wrong direction so R helped her reverse down the cut, a tricky manoeuvre. Meanwhile I found a more suitable mooring for Naomhog where our guests could board with ease even though they still had to walk the plank. They arrived armed with a homemade apple cake, which tasted delicious and much appreciated once we had cruised the cut for a couple of hours, which included involving them in operating a lock. They were a couple with a teenage daughter who spoke very good English, it being her third language – russian was her first followed by ukranian. She spent most of her time acting as a translator for her parents and I was struck at what a burden that was on her young shoulders. The father did also used a translator app – he was fascinated by the boat and it’s engine so had lots of questions that I was relieved R was around to answer! We had a lovely afternoon, in glorious weather, but by the time they left us we were tired by the long day and fell into bed, only to be awoken in the early hours by thunder and rain. Too late I remembered that we had not erected the pram stern cover and because the night had been so warm, I had left the side hatch open and one of the sides to the bow. Oh dear, there was a lot of water everywhere and a few sodden items, some of which I threw out! Lesson learned – look at the weather app before bed!
We were due to have more guests in the morning but it was raining steadily and looked set in for the day. However Ro, who was coming for a second visit with her young grandson, was not put off as she had plenty of waterproofs! We agreed to meet in the afternoon along with her ukranian lodgers. It was lovely to all meet up again and to have two grannies with their grandsons. So much commonality and yet such different backgrounds and circumstances. Miraculously the weather improved and we all enjoyed a dry trip to the water tap and back, stopping for a picnic tea en route, near to where we had parked our car. R took the opportunity to off load excess belongings which need to return home. I am realising how easy it is to just accumulate too much stuff on the boat, so every so often we have to declutter, which is very good for us! Where I had moored was pretty precarious – our plank was only just long enough to stretch to the tow path. I had moored in a similar spot last Friday when four girl friends from home had come to visit me. That day we alighted for a late lunch, managing to find a picnic bench with seats but they also had to walk the plank as mooring here is quite precarious! I am getting very familiar with this stretch of the river as I pootle up and down and to date we have been very blessed with the weather. The Lea valley is a hidden gem and well worth a visit.
We invited our neighbours for a drink as I have met them a few times on the towpath but never long enough to have an involved conversation. It transpired her 50th birthday was on Wednesday so it was a good excuse to celebrate with them. They bought their widebeam a few months previously having tired of paying rent for a house that would never be theirs. They run a business from home, computer based, so have no need of being in one static location. Prior to their purchase they had never been on a canal boat so it has been a steep learning curve for them! It’s been pretty steep for us but at least we had a six month trial run and still have a house we can escape to when necessary. This couple seem very relaxed and happy and Ti especially is enjoying all the DIY. I wish I could say the same for R!
Today has been a day of rest, with no movement of the boat. We visited a recommended coffee van with excellent vegan carrot cake which has only been operating for six months. The location is perfect, next to the Amwell reservoir, with tables where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful view and appreciate the peace and quiet. We then wandered around Ware which is a very pleasant, if slightly sleepy town, with many one-off shops in the high street. The library was a particularly good find – a short walk from the boat, free wi-fi, a specific area where you can plug in and work on your computer, many magazines to just sit and read in comfy chairs. A large children’s section where parents and carers can bring their young ones. On reflection all libraries should be like this and it seems to me important to support them so that they do not become a thing of the past. The atmosphere is so soporific I might even fall asleep before I finish this blog!
NarrowboatTLC 