Friday 29th March
It’s good Friday and it has been – a fairly good Friday. We were just up this morning when a coal and diesel boat appeared. With this weather the way it is we thought we’d better have a stock up with coal and decided to get some diesel while we were at it. Unfortunately the coal and diesel boat didn’t have very much coal or diesel aboard and what he did have he was saving for his regulars, which was fair enough I suppose. We did manage to get a couple of bags of Supertherm which was better than nothing. Pity we couldn’t have got more because it was only £10 a bag but never mind.
After filling with water again we set off breaking the ice as we went and ripping the new blacking off with gay abandon! We have travelled about 7.5 miles from Hawkesbury Junction to Brinklow and are moored between Easenhall Lane Bridge (34) and All Oaks Wood. When we passed Rose Narrowboats hire base at Stretton they were busily preparing all their boats for the Easter Weekend.
While mooring up Ken had a little accident (a regular occurrence this week) when a boat came past as he was stepping back on to what he thought was the tow path. As said boat came by, our boat moved away from the bank and instead of stepping back on to the ground he stepped back in to first, thin air and then into the water and got his foot and leg soaked! Fortunately he didn’t fall right in or hurt himself too much, just bruised his knee and ankle a bit.
We walked in to the village this afternoon, went to the shop for a paper (no luck though) and visited The White Lion which is quite a pleasant local pub. They have Max there, a HUGE golden labrador who was very keen to have a pat, bless.
Later on, after we returned, all Hell broke loose with boats coming past in both directions every few minutes for a couple of hours as the Easter revellers from Rose Narrowboats were let loose to mingle with the Viking Afloat and Napton hirers as well as other boaters braving the weather for their weekend cruise. Bet they never thought they would need to bring their thermals with them!
Tomorrow we are going to wait for someone else to break the ice before going on to Hillmorton.
