Sunday 28th August
We haven’t moved today because just as we were going to leave Brian and Anne Marie on Alton, the coal and diesel boat, turned up and B and B decided to get a pump out, as they missed out yesterday. We needed a gas bottle and thought we had better get coal and sticks as the Summer seems to have passed us by and we are now into Autumn! There were 3 other boats moored along here with us and they all wanted something so by the time the diesel boat had left it was gone 10 am. B and B suggested we stay here today and do the locks in the morning. The weather was not brilliant either, breezy and pretty chilly too, so we did.
We all went in to town and did a bit of shopping then went to the pub. The chef in the Navigation was trying to tempt us into having a meal by showing us the ones he was bringing out for other people! The food did look and smell lovely but we stuck to the crisps and nuts!
We have been hit twice today, quite surprising considering we haven’t moved from this spot! We aren’t moored in a particularly awkward place or on a bend or anything and it’s not narrow but we seem to be in the firing line. It has been a bit windy but not that bad really. We narrowly escaped being bashed by one of them this morning when they were showing their mate how to drive but he got us on the way back anyway! This was after another one scraped all the way down the side with one of the crew walking along our gunwhale trying to push off. Both times I thought these boats were coming in to moor in front of us but no, I don’t know why they had to get so close to us in the first place but there you are.
So tomorrow we are definitely doing the Marple flight.
